Details emerged earlier this week on legislation that would ban spanking for kids three years old and younger. A California state lawmaker plans to introduce the bill this week, but democratic support for the measure remains uncertain.
Assembly democrat Sally Lieber thinks it should be a misdemeanor to spank a child under the age of three. The speaker of the state assembly is not sure he supports the bill, but republican lawmakers are already coming out in full force against it.
"I wouldn't want some government agency to discipline my dad if he spanked me on my hand, and he can go to jail for a year or maybe prison," said State Senator Abel Maldonaldo (R-Santa Maria). "Where are we going with this? Is it a strike? There's a lot of things that have to be looked at the bill."
"I do know people feel very strongly about how they raise their children," said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles). "I don't think we want to play big brother, but at the same time, I'm open to see what Miss Lieber puts forward."
Lieber said current law does not fully protect children from abuse and she wants the law clarified to include spanking.
I understand where she is coming from, but making this a law is too far. I am totally against child abuse, but spanking does not necessary equate child abuse. You can slap your child on the hand if she reaches for a hot pot or use a slight spank to correct bad behavior. There is a difference between spanking and hitting and a new law should reflect that. Otherwise, we will be wasting valuable resources putting good parents behind bars. How parents disciplines their own child is up to themspanking should be allowed.
