Should Spanking Be Banned?

Question

A bill was recently introduced in California that makes spanking your child a misdemeanor, punishable by 1 year in jail and up to $1000 fine. Do you agree or disagree? What are your thoughts about it?

Answer 1

I totally disagree with this bill. Kids are already out of control with the current laws and school programs that conform our kids to today's modern immoral liberal standards. None of them has helped, if not made things worse. My parents said that schools in their time never had problems with kids shooting each other. That's all you hear today on the news. My dad said that kids brought their guns to school everyday. He said that he once took in a shotgun for show-and-tell and nobody thought anything about it. This bill is just another step to total government control over our kids. The government doesn't want us to discipline our children, but then they hold us accountable when they get in trouble.

I was spanked and smacked upside the head by my parents from the time I could walk. I was an ornery little snot head who thought I could do whatever I want. I deserved to be spanked. As I grew up and the bare hand wasn't enough, my parents resorted to wooden paddles, hair brushes, and even the good ole leather belt. My parents were determined to teach me respect for my parents and other people, something that kids today totally lack. Kids today have no respect for their parents or other people. They think they can do whatever they want without any consequences. If you want proof, all you need to do is watch a few episodes of Dr. Phil. Some of those kids need some serious whippings.

There's a difference between spanking and beating. When a child is black and blue with bruises, then that's when the law needs to step in. A little red sting mark on the butt isn't considered beating. If you want to hear beatings, you should listen to my mother's stories as well as my grandparents' stories. Now those were beatings. We already have laws against beatings. This bill needs to be chucked out the window.

Answer 2

I abasloutly disagree.
Some kids need a spanking sometimes, and if we can not discipline our children then society is going to go to hell, far worse than what it is now!
There will be no order, but then when the kids act out because they know they won't be punished, once again, the parent's will be fined!
It's a no win situation. I will spank my child. It's not abuse, it's not neglect or being mean. But when we see a situation is called for a butt spank, we will do it. But, we will not touch the skin.
Besides, that law prohibits spanking children under the age of 3, i still think some 2 or 3 years old needs a tap on the hand or on the behind. Not always, and i'm not being mean, it's just i know, as a parent, some instances do call for a spank or slight swat.

Answer 3

yes, it should. I completely agree and would comply, simply for this reason and this reason alone: "By law you would have a hard time differentiating between a responsible parent who thinks about parenting and then hits and one that does not," Lieber said. "Responsible parents have to give up the privilege to physically discipline their children for the sake of protecting children that aren't being hit once in a blue moon or in a light way, but are really being hit day after day, many times a day." I hope it's passed in california (though they've surprised me lately with passing prop 8) because if it can't pass there, it can't pass anywhere. I'm in NY, I'd absolutely vote for that law. technically, will the government be able to ban spanking? no, it will still be done behind closed doors, like illegal drugs and drinking under 21 and the like. BUT the article is so true -- "But for Lieber, who hears criticism daily from prosecutors, judges and pediatricians that children are being beaten and their parents are getting off on a technicality, the law doesn't even come close to being enough." some parents are abusers and are allowed to continue to do that because it's not illegal to spank. if it were, the abusers would be able to be punished and not let off -- some people think it's okay to spank on the bottom if a kid is in danger, some people think it's okay to spank to discipline OFTEN, some people think it's okay to hit with objects, some people think it's okay to hit with objects often. all of this is 'okay' because it's legal to spank your kids, right? where is the line drawn? I hate spanking and I will never do it. I was never spanked and I am NOT and was not a spoiled little brat running around nor was I disrespectful to my parents. being spanked does not make a kid respectful.

Answer 4

I would find out who introduced this bill. I would contact them and tell them how you feel about it. I totally disagree. Government has no right to tell us how to raise our children. Spanking is not bad if done properly. I got spanked when I was little and there is nothing wrong with me today. That is what is wrong with the children of today, everyone tries to dictate what happens in the home. If you look at people in general for the most part. It's usually children that have had no discipline and love that society usually has a problem with. I spoke with a guy on death row and his mother was so cruel to him. I wonder where he would be today had he had a family that genuinely cared about him. It's so sad. I think that more people should have their butts spanked. This world is not in decay because of butt spanking. Trust that!!!

Answer 5

Im sure a little swat on the butt gets their attention and lets them know u mean business. Theres a huge difference between a spanking andd a beating. Our son is now 16 and he has only been spanked twice. Once for playing in the road when he was 3. and once for playing sharp knives in the drawer to make MUD PIES' There r just soooo many different ways o handle it. U cant exactly growned them to his room0 he would love that@ Computer-tv-stereo-game systems,,,,,,,So normally I give him one woarning and then a sedond. Then I just calmly take his game system PS3 out of his room along with the Xbox 360 and the key board to his computer and hide it all. Its amazing how quickly it was over and how nicely he has learned to pull hias own weight in this house. I think a child should have a quick swat on the butt if u need their attention- but never never abuse! The kisds r our future so we need them to know what love is si hey love him to peices! Good luck to u

Answer 6

I disagree. Kids today are so out of control because effective discipline has been gradually reduced for "politically correct" reasons. My husband was an absolute hellion from the time he could walk and my in-laws started spanking him from the age of 2. He finally straightended out in high school and graduated salutatorian and is now in the top 5% of the University of Delaware class of 2008. Before he went to college all of his employers (he worked as a mechanic) said he was a courteous and reliable employee. So spanking can't be that bad when its done correctly.
These weren't beatings, just quick hits to get the message through. My in-laws are an Air Force family and many military parents utilize spanking as a highly effective last-resort means discipline for children that are other wise uncontrolable.

Allowing the government to dictate how parents raise their children is akin to communism. We already have laws on the books that prevent excessive discipline. One quick hit to the buttocks is not going to damage a toddler physically or emotionally. If this law goes through, we can blame Nancy Pelosi directly for the increase in juvenille crime in the next 10 -15 years.

Answer 7

I disagree. I'm not a big advocate for spanking or anything (I've done it, but only as a last resort. I'm not proud of it.), but I think this is a private matter and the government should stay out of it. As parents, we have enough to worry about. Do we need to be worried about being fined for losing our cool and swatting your screaming toddler on the bottom? That's crazy!! Let the parents be parents!! The government should work on making our schools better and making good child care more readily available, as opposed to finding more ways to infiltrate our homes and personal lives.

Answer 8

I strongly disagree in the government telling parents how to discipine their children. It's none of their business. The government has a job to do and it's not to stick their big brother noses into our homes. We lose more and more personal rights every year. The right to raise our children as we see fit is being taken away from us and the outcome is a bunch of murdering, self indulgent, self centered, lieing brats. If a child is abused then there should be help for them but spanking is not abusing and this liberal minded idealism about spanking being abuse is trash.

**The age of the child has nothing to do with anything. A child that is able to walk is old enough to learn and if you wait until they are older than 3 to start disciplining them then you are one of those people I see in the stores who has an uncontrollable brat on their hands pitching a fit because they don't comprehend the word no.

Answer 9

Disagree!
The government has no business telling parents how to raise their kids!
This is just over stepping the boundaries. And where will it stop?
I feel that making a law of such will just open the door for all sorts of interference into people's personal lives and child rearing (further than what is already there). Plus, like was already stated...look at how "bad" life and crimes are compared to the past.. and there is less respect and self control..
Lets really stop and think....

And the backing to it makes no sense- I was spanked (with wooden spoon and all) when I was a child... I did not go out and commit violence because of it.

Violence doesn't breed violence- Ignorance does!

Answer 10

There is a difference between spanking and beating. A good swat across th butt never hurt anyone (maybe his pride). However a good swat does not mean continuous hitting. That crosses the line into beating. I have never had to spank any of my kids ( I have five all adults now), but just the mere threat of a spanking worked wonders.