Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child; Use the Rod, Break the Law?

Call us old-fashioned, barbaric, or unenlightened — but this strikes us as a bit ridiculous. From ABC News:

Massachusetts lawmakers say a proposed measure that would ban parents from spanking their children, even in their own homes, is a way to protect kids from abuse. But many parents believe it’s an example of government run amok.

In all 50 states, parents are legally allowed to spank their children. But in 29 states it’s illegal for a teacher to practice corporal punishment, including spanking.

A Massachusetts nurse is hoping to change that and make the state the first in the nation to ban corporal punishment at home.

“I think it’s ironic that domestic violence applies to everyone except the most vulnerable — children,” said Kathleen Wolf, who wrote the bill.

Massachusetts lawmakers will consider the bill today.

Ah, the People’s Republic of Massachusetts. If Willie Horton had gotten spanked more as a kid, maybe he wouldn’t have turned to a life of crime.
More discussion, plus the obligatory reader poll — yes, we really do care what you think! — after the jump.

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Our tipster writes:

This story has already generated over 300 comments on ABCnews.com. Maybe it’ll generate a comment clusterf**k on ATL, with comments from attorneys who want to beat the s*** out of their bad-ass kids.

Although we support the right of parents to discipline their children as they see fit — short of child abuse, and a little spanking every now and then is NOT child abuse — we don’t know if we’d go that far. If stressed-out lawyers need to blow off some steam, there are better ways to do it than by walloping their kids.
Oh yes, here’s the reader poll:

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