Massachusetts: Ban Spanking?

[JohnRich 4]

News:

Lawmakers To Consider Spanking Ban

Lawmakers are set to consider a proposed ban on spanking children in the commonwealth.

The Boston Herald reported that State Rep. Jay Kaufman filed the spanking ban petition at the request of a nurse who wants Massachusetts to become the first state in the country to stop corporal punishment.

If this proposal does become law and parents are caught hitting their children who are under the age of 18, they could be charged with abuse or neglect.

Source: Boston Channel

Does that mean that their children would be taken away from them, since they would then be considered abusive parents?

While they're at it, maybe they should put together a list of state-approved alternative methods of punishing children, just so parents know what they can legally do to raise their children with proper discipline.

Can they be sent to bed without dinner? Can they be denied their TV-watching privileges?

[rushmc 23]

Idiots in action

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[Gene03 0]

Tasering is still okay, right?

“The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him.

Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906-1966)

[akarunway 1]

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News:

Lawmakers To Consider Spanking Ban

Lawmakers are set to consider a proposed ban on spanking children in the commonwealth.

The Boston Herald reported that State Rep. Jay Kaufman filed the spanking ban petition at the request of a nurse who wants Massachusetts to become the first state in the country to stop corporal punishment.

If this proposal does become law and parents are caught hitting their children who are under the age of 18, they could be charged with abuse or neglect.

Source: Boston Channel

Does that mean that their children would be taken away from them, since they would then be considered abusive parents?

While they're at it, maybe they should put together a list of state-approved alternative methods of punishing children, just so parents know what they can legally do to raise their children with proper discipline.

Can they be sent to bed without dinner? Can they be denied their TV-watching privileges?

Time outs. Don't ya know? My mom used to beat the crap outta me and I didn't turn out that bad.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[BIGUN 1,440]

You're not allowed to spank your kids anymore. Now, you have to put them in"time-out." Let me explain to you my understanding of "time-out." Every day, my Dad would take a little time out of his day to take off his belt and whup my ass.

-Jeff Foxworthy

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[ExAFO 0]

Doesn't say they cannot smack the shit out of them with a rusty fireplace poker...

Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW.

[skycop 0]

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Tasering is still okay, right?

I don't think that would be effective at least on teenagers, they have that weird (lack of) sense impregnable force field around them. I think he'd just look up with that blank teenage stare and say..... "huh....what.......can I still have money to go to the movies anyway"..........?

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[pop 0]

That's pretty rediculous. Spanking and beating a kid are two different things. Spanking shuold be one of a parents last resorts for taking control over bad behavior, but it shouldnbt be banned. Otherwise these kids will grow up to be spoiled wimps.

7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer

[Shotgun 1]

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Spanking and beating a kid are two different things.

So where should the line be drawn? When should a parent be accused of "beating" rather than simply "spanking"?

[skycop 0]

Beating is out of anger or spite and can cause injury. Spanking is used to correct improper behavior, and just hurts. It's not the cure all but it's a parents decision inside their own home.

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[pop 0]

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Spanking and beating a kid are two different things.

So where should the line be drawn? When should a parent be accused of "beating" rather than simply "spanking"?

i knew someone was going to ask that, and to be honest with you I dont know how to answer that. Using open hand vs. fist is a start, but how can you calculate the force at which to spank the kid? Visible marks is going too far. That's why there shuoldnt be a specific law stating spanking is illegal. Kids ar kids, and they have to be raised. I have two dogs too, and every book i read, and the training courses i went through also say dont hit a dog. But lets be real.

I dont have a definite answer for you.

7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer

[Glitch 0]

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So where should the line be drawn? When should a parent be accused of "beating" rather than simply "spanking"?

...when there's physical signs of trauma; bruising, cuts, broken bones, etc. A bright red welt across their ass is fine though. If parents don't teach their kids that they're responsible for their actions, who will? Society? A judge? A taser happy cop?

Randomly f'n thingies up since before I was born...

[pop 0]

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Beating is out of anger or spite and can cause injury. Spanking is used to correct improper behavior, and just hurts. It's not the cure all but it's a parents decision inside their own home.

Shotgun, I think skycop has a better answer than I do, and it makes more sense. It's all about intent, but then there is always the case where the intent was simply correcting behavior, but the result was a black eye and a broken arm.

7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer

[Shotgun 1]

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Beating is out of anger or spite and can cause injury. Spanking is used to correct improper behavior, and just hurts. It's not the cure all but it's a parents decision inside their own home.

So it shouldn't be a legal problem unless it causes (physical) injury? Would bruising be considered injury?

[pop 0]

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So it shouldn't be a legal problem unless it causes (physical) injury?

I would agree with that. It shuold not be a legal issue unless there is injury

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Would bruising be considered injury?

I dont htink kids shuold be spanked anywhere else but there butt. Some people bruise pretty easily. I would say that if bruising is on the butt then its okay. But if the bruising comes with cuts in the skin (like from getting whipped too hard with an object, then its an issue.

7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer

[skycop 0]

Relatively speaking,
A (slightly) red ass or a well placed red hand print is not really an injury. Bruising, which normally occurs several hours or a day later is injury.
It's a fine line, many social workers I deal with think ANY injury is abuse. It also depends on the situation and the families circumstances (other issues besides the corporal punishment).

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[Shotgun 1]

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If parents don't teach their kids that they're responsible for their actions, who will? Society? A judge?

Studies show that the majority of juvenile delinquents were spanked in their homes, so that seems to indicate that spanking (alone) does little to teach kids to be responsible for their actions.

I'm not saying that spanking should be banned, but I don't believe that children who are spanked are better behaved than children who are not spanked (in general). I think behavior has a lot more to do with parenting skills and earning respect from your children. And perhaps some people equate fear with respect, but I don't.

[pop 0]

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Studies show that the majority of juvenile delinquents were spanked in their homes, so that seems to indicate that spanking (alone) does little to teach kids to be responsible for their actions.

Do these same studies focuson all the succesful, well behaved and socially responsible people who too were spanked as kids? If so, did spanking have something to do with it?

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I think behavior has a lot more to do with parenting skills

Agreed

7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer

[skycop 0]

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Studies show that the majority of juvenile delinquents were spanked in their homes, so that seems to indicate that spanking (alone) does little to teach kids to be responsible for their actions.

Many times these kids have other issues that affect why they become delinquent. With that said, parents that use spanking as the primary means of discipline are making a big mistake.

I've always used a good swat only to make a point after all other means are exhausted, or the child is REALLY testing boundries.

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I think behavior has a lot more to do with parenting skills and earning respect from your children

Absolutely

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And perhaps some people equate fear with respect, but I don't.

A little bit of both doesn't hurt....

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[Shotgun 1]

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Do these same studies focuson all the succesful, well behaved and socially responsible people who too were spanked as kids?

No. The studies I'm referring to were focusing on juvenile delinquency. Whether they were spanked or not was just an aside, and even though the majority were spanked, they were not suggesting that spanking contributed to the delinquency. But it appears that spanking did not prevent the delinquency either.

As far as studies to show whether spanking makes behavior better or worse for most children, I've seen both sides supported. But I really can't imagine that any of those studies are accurate, considering how many other factors are involved.

[akarunway 1]

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Beating is out of anger or spite and can cause injury. Spanking is used to correct improper behavior, and just hurts. It's not the cure all but it's a parents decision inside their own home.

And to Mr. Cop. I took a belt to my kids ass (son) about 15 yrs. ago A couple licks. Never could bring myself to smack the girls and now they are all fucked up. Long story short. He said " I'm calling 911" I said "go ahead" He did, cop shows, wants to examine him, "go ahead". Not a mark. Son cries, gives big sob story. Cop hands my kid his card and says "If he ever hits you again call my personal #". Then I told the cop to get the fuck outta my house and handed his card back to him. Wonder why kids are so fucked up nowadays? NO DISIPLINE.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[akarunway 1]

Quote

Quote

Studies show that the majority of juvenile delinquents were spanked in their homes, so that seems to indicate that spanking (alone) does little to teach kids to be responsible for their actions.

Many times these kids have other issues that affect why they become delinquent. With that said, parents that use spanking as the primary means of discipline are making a big mistake.

I've always used a good swat only to make a point after all other means are exhausted, or the child is REALLY testing boundries.

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I think behavior has a lot more to do with parenting skills and earning respect from your children

Absolutely

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And perhaps some people equate fear with respect, but I don't.

A little bit of both doesn't hurt....

Damn. We finally agree on something

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[skycop 0]

Like I said,
Fine line, and nobody really knows where the line is, and it's a matter of opinion. But, make a law and all the officers discretion is taken away.
Domestic violence is a perfect example. In many states if the cops show up and suspect domestic violence then someone (useally the male) is going to jail. That sucks.

A law would also make every do-gooder, busy-body that thinks spanking is wrong call the cops at the drop of a hat. I've had these people call when they see a kid spanked in a store or in public.

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Wonder why kids are so fucked up nowadays? NO DISIPLINE.

Geez, ya think I agree, but again smacking the shit out of your kid (not talking about you, just in general) isn't really discipline.

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[SpeedRacer 1]

years ago when I was living in Boston, I was driving down this street in Allston. A fat lady was walking on the sidewalk with her little boy, about 4 or 5 years old. The boy suddenly ran out into the street in front of my car. I had plenty of room to stop, so it wasn't SO scary, but it was a little.

Anyway, his mama hauled him back up onto the sidewalk & whupped his little behind while scolding him. The boy started crying, but I would not call that abuse. She didn't BEAT him. It was just a normal spanking.

And hopefully it will keep the kid from running out into traffic again.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[Lastchance 0]

When I was a kid I got spanked with a hand, hairbrush, belt, razor strap, willow switch, oh yes and my Hot Wheels tracks and probably some things I don't even remember. But I'm sure I had every whipping I got coming to me. I grew up with respect for my elders. I sure as hell don't blame every little trial and tribulation that faces me in life on my parents for spanking my ass when I had it coming. WTF is wrong with these do goody goods these days? Now I don't condone BEATING your children but a spanking hurts pride more than your ass. Kids these days have a whole lot more going on in their lives than people my age did back then but they need to learn respect and a little ass whuppin might help.

I may be getting old but I got to see all the cool bands.