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'Spanking' Bill Is Government Intrusion, Conservatives Warn
Susan Jones
Senior Editor
(CNSNews.com) - "Good parents in California could be jailed," unless they rise up and oppose a bill intended to ban the spanking of children, a conservative group is warning.
The bill, AB 2943, is scheduled for a vote on Tuesday, April 15, and the Campaign for Children and Families is urging Californians to speak against the measure at a hearing preceding the vote.
"AB 2943 would label good, loving parents -- who occasionally use a little paddle, a ruler, a little stick, or a brush to correct their youngster's misbehavior -- as official "child abusers" in the eyes of the law," said Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families.
The bill is a repeat of legislation introduced last year by Democratic Assemblywoman Sally Lieber. "The vast majority of child abuse victims and fatalities are young children," Lieber said when she first introduced her Child Abuse And Infant/Toddler Protection Bill. "Too often the abuse begins as some form of 'discipline.' Existing law is clearly not doing enough to protect the youngest, smallest, most vulnerable members of our society."
The bill targets people who "willfully" inflict "unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering" on a child.
The bill says physical pain and mental suffering are presumed to be unjustifiable in cases where certain "implements" are used, including a stick, a rod, a switch, an electrical cord, an extension cord, a belt, a broom, or a shoe.
The bill says it is also unjustifiable to throw, kick, burn or cut a child; strike a child with a closed fist; strike a child under the age of three on the face or head; vigorously shake a child under the age of three; interfere with a child's breathing; or threaten a child with a deadly weapon.
People convicted of violating those provisions could get prison sentences. They also would be put on probation for at least four years and be required to complete either a "nonviolent parental education class" or a child abuser treatment program. In some cases, the court would order offenders to stay away from the child in question.
The Campaign for Children and Families believes the bill is aimed at "good parents who occasionally spank their children." The group warns that police and prosecutors will view all parents who spank their children as suspected child abuses worthy of investigation.
Because the bill equates parental discipline with child abuse, it is flawed and must be defeated, Thomasson said. He and other conservatives say the government has no business telling parents how to raise their children.
Moreover, because California already has laws making child abuse a crime, critics question why this bill is necessary.
The bill, AB 2943, is scheduled for a vote on Tuesday, April 15, and the Campaign for Children and Families is urging Californians to speak against the measure at a hearing preceding the vote.
"AB 2943 would label good, loving parents -- who occasionally use a little paddle, a ruler, a little stick, or a brush to correct their youngster's misbehavior -- as official "child abusers" in the eyes of the law," said Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families.
The bill is a repeat of legislation introduced last year by Democratic Assemblywoman Sally Lieber. "The vast majority of child abuse victims and fatalities are young children," Lieber said when she first introduced her Child Abuse And Infant/Toddler Protection Bill. "Too often the abuse begins as some form of 'discipline.' Existing law is clearly not doing enough to protect the youngest, smallest, most vulnerable members of our society."
The bill targets people who "willfully" inflict "unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering" on a child.
The bill says physical pain and mental suffering are presumed to be unjustifiable in cases where certain "implements" are used, including a stick, a rod, a switch, an electrical cord, an extension cord, a belt, a broom, or a shoe.
The bill says it is also unjustifiable to throw, kick, burn or cut a child; strike a child with a closed fist; strike a child under the age of three on the face or head; vigorously shake a child under the age of three; interfere with a child's breathing; or threaten a child with a deadly weapon.
People convicted of violating those provisions could get prison sentences. They also would be put on probation for at least four years and be required to complete either a "nonviolent parental education class" or a child abuser treatment program. In some cases, the court would order offenders to stay away from the child in question.
The Campaign for Children and Families believes the bill is aimed at "good parents who occasionally spank their children." The group warns that police and prosecutors will view all parents who spank their children as suspected child abuses worthy of investigation.
Because the bill equates parental discipline with child abuse, it is flawed and must be defeated, Thomasson said. He and other conservatives say the government has no business telling parents how to raise their children.
Moreover, because California already has laws making child abuse a crime, critics question why this bill is necessary.
Most Recent User Comments
pmajka1
4/13/2008 12:48 AM
It is truly a sad day when the government has such control on families, and how parents raise their children, expecially when they are leaving God out of it. Yes, It is wrong to abuse your child, But biblically chastising your child is not abuse. God has written out is His word how to instruct our children in the way of rightousness and by us rejecting that method or saying we don't believe in spanking is to say that God's word is wrong. "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him." Proverbs 22:15. Spanking in anger or frustration is a sin, spanking in Love (and there is a difference) will reach the heart of your child.
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nbeightol
4/11/2008 5:46 PM
I wholeheartedly agree with Sally Lieber when she states that "existing law is clearly not doing enough to protect the youngest, smallest, most vulnerable members of our society."
Especially when existing law permits the "youngest, smallest, most vulnerable members of our society" to be ripped apart limb from limb so as not to inconvenience their mothers by their birth.
On the other hand, anyone who observes small children can clearly see that God intended the aches and pains of life to instruct them. A child will stick his finger in his eye or stand up under a table just once because pain is such a powerful and unmistakably clear negative stimulus.
Of course, discipline is not punishing out of anger or with the intent to cause harm, but a small amount of judiciously applied pain in the context of loving discipline can quickly eliminate unhealthy and dangerous behaviors and actually decrease the frequency of future adverse encounters.
NB, Family Physician
Especially when existing law permits the "youngest, smallest, most vulnerable members of our society" to be ripped apart limb from limb so as not to inconvenience their mothers by their birth.
On the other hand, anyone who observes small children can clearly see that God intended the aches and pains of life to instruct them. A child will stick his finger in his eye or stand up under a table just once because pain is such a powerful and unmistakably clear negative stimulus.
Of course, discipline is not punishing out of anger or with the intent to cause harm, but a small amount of judiciously applied pain in the context of loving discipline can quickly eliminate unhealthy and dangerous behaviors and actually decrease the frequency of future adverse encounters.
NB, Family Physician
Brooke313
4/11/2008 2:05 PM
This is a scarey piece of legislation. I hope and pray that the people of CA stand up and say enough government intrustion. This is just another case where teh government thinks it know what is best for our children when in earlity, it does not. If we are not careful, we will be just as bad as other countries who tell people how many to have and what to do with them.
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