Massachusetts is proposing a ban on spanking children under 18 years old. Doing so in public or in their own home would equate to "child abuse" and neglect. A parent would be subject to prosecution under the law and their child could be taken away. I have several problems with this proposal. It seems like the government is no longer chipping away at parent's rights, they are very visably launching an attack on individuality and choice when it comes to raising our own children. This leads me to believe that it is no longer a government for the people, by the people. No, I don't believe in beating children, but I do think a swat on the butt, can embarrass a child enough to get them to stop bad behavior. Try telling a kid they're in time-out when they know they don't have to listen to you, because there is nothing you can do about it.

 

Another problem I have with this ridiculous proposal is how would it be enforced? Would the state spy on parents, would teachers question their students, would neighbors anonymously accuse people they don't like, or would they ask children to dial 911 to report their own parents. There are too many possibilities for false accusations here and way too much intrusion in private family life by the government. In my opinion, lightly spanking a child is not inhumane treatment, but rather a tool to teach kids right from wrong.