Spanking Laws

[iplaw]

I think sgrizzle had is right from the beginning:

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Yeah I would like to clarify that spanking and child abuse are two discernable activities. One can argue the usefulness of spanking but criminalizing it and categorizing it with child abuse is a stretch.

[tim huntzinger]

You tell me, does the OHP want to ban alkeehaul en toto? If they did I might agree with them.  Ask AA members if they would advocate prohibition - not them either. No reputable school of social work teaches or advocates spanking toddlers as an effective parenting tool.

Is it okay to drive drunk? No, what about driving .07? Is it ok for the underage to drink alkeehaul? No, what about a dad giving his son a beer on his 18th? Is it ok to shoot an unarmed man with a shotgun at close range, what if he has just kicked in your door?

Gotta draw a line somewhere. MLK said that laws may not change the heart of man but can change his habits. If someone wants to hit their child in their home, as long as there are no marks and no objecting witnesses no foul, I suppose.

Anti-spanking measures would give us one more tool to help at-risk parents to not even come close to that line.

[Breadburner]

Nothing wrong with a good butt-busting when needed.....

[iplaw]

quote:
If they did I might agree with them.

I'll take ineffective laws for 100 Alex...

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by iplaw

quote:
You clearly are the one in favor of brutalizing children and I am clearly the one who cares for children. /guilt trip off.

Yes waterboy, you hit the nail right on the head, I love to BRUTALIZE children and love it when others do it.  Thanks for winning the debate for me without me even having to respond.

I don't know whether you're just frustrated with debating at this point, or you actually believe that spanking is BRUTALIZING children, but either way I think you've clearly exposed yourself as an extremist on the subject.  

Check back with Guido's posts. I didn't write that one.[] Actually I gave up around the same time though. It was my effort to share thoughts rather than debate. Everyone's dearly held beliefs should be challenged on occasion. Otherwise they pass on from generation to generation without thought.

[iplaw]

Sorry about that Waterboy... I corrected it earlier to say Guido, but for some reason this forum won't update my posts unless I refresh the page....go figure.  Maybe the new software will fix that.

Anyways, I would never, ever condone the beating of a child, any age.  My wife and I volunteer time several times a year working with children at the Laura Dester shelter here in town. I too see the effect of child abuse and it sickens me.

I think spanking should always be a last resort and never done out of anger, and I think it has it's place and can be done in an appropriate matter.  

I think stating that everyone who spanks is brutalizing their child is counterproductive and polarizing, but so is calling people who don't spank kooks...hyperbole never helps.  I think we can all do with a bit of common sense on the issue.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by iplaw


I think spanking should always be a last resort and never done out of anger, and I think it has it's place and can be done in an appropriate matter.  

I actually agree with that. Wish that was a more common view. I swatted my boys once or twice when they were little to mostly get their undivided attention. I didn't think of it as spanking and it didn't need repeating.

[guido911]

Actually, IP, I was not being serious with my last post equating speanking with brutalizing children. I was trying to find a way out of this debate since neither of us was going to change the other's mind.

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

quote:Originally posted by iplaw


I think spanking should always be a last resort and never done out of anger, and I think it has it's place and can be done in an appropriate matter.  

I actually agree with that. Wish that was a more common view. I swatted my boys once or twice when they were little to mostly get their undivided attention. I didn't think of it as spanking and it didn't need repeating.

So all this has been for nothing...we actually are on the same page damn it...[8D]

[waterboy]

that's funny. It took us three pages to realize that. MDunn?

[tim huntzinger]

I think spanking children under three should be a ticketable offense: out of sight, out of mind; do it in public while you are yelling at the baby, though, and I think an officer should be able to ask a few questions if his nose leads him in that direction.

No reputable schools of social work or psychology teach spanking as an instructional tool, all evidence points to at-risk parents needing guidelines, and any law that gives law enforcement more tools for preventing child abuse should be advanced.

[iplaw]

Ugh...you've made those same 3 points umpteen times now.  I think this issue is free to die now.

[tim huntzinger]

I think spanking children under three should be a ticketable offense: out of sight, out of mind; do it in public while you are yelling at the baby, though, and I think an officer should be able to ask a few questions if his nose leads him in that direction.

No reputable schools of social work or psychology teach spanking as an instructional tool, all evidence points to at-risk parents needing guidelines, and any law that gives law enforcement more tools for preventing child abuse should be advanced.

I trust in the police to sniff the difference between a child abuser and a swatter.

[iplaw]

You finished yet?

[tim huntzinger]

I am unsure why your comments are not spam.

I started this thread because this is a political topic, and wanted to get some sense for the pros and cons.  

It helped get to know more about other Board members and develop a concensus for the thoughts of folk that care about the issue.