Massachusetts is considering legislation, which would make it illegal for parents to forcefully lay a hand on any child under 18.  The nurse who found a legislator to submit the proposed legislation knows that it will not pass, but she is trying to make the obvious point that a few parents do get carried away while disciplining their children.  As pointed out in an AmIRight parody, this seems to be another example of legislators having too much time on their hands.

I just wanted to say that I used to work with a guy named Jon Jenkins


oh and good for MASS I don't believe in spanking.

That happened not so long ago here. Apparently the world was supposed to turn upside down and many innocent parents would be in jail by now. Never happened.  ::)

oh and good for MASS I don't believe in spanking.


I don't believe in a lot of things (including, in most cases, spanking). 

So I don't do them.  I don't need some arrogant government a-holes telling me what I may or may not do.  And I don't feel the need to force my beliefs upon others.

So no, not "good for MASS".  Bad for Massachusetts, bad for US and A, bad for freedom.

Ironically, the nanny state has moved against child discipline.

Parents need to discipline their children! I do not believe in spanking or in hitting at all, but with out a forceful discipline for the children, this country is going to go insane! Since the spanking has become taboo, many more children are turning to violent crime! Take a look at the stats.

YOU CAN'T PADDLE ASS IF YOU LIVE IN MASS!
:P

I know other countries have legally banned corporal punishment.  I don't favor corporal punishment myself, but I don't think the government should be able to forbid you from swatting your kid on the butt for setting the living room rug on fire!  This proposed legislation is a threat to individual liberty. 

Huckabee is for prohibition on cigarette smoking.  I agree, cigarette smoking is bad for you.  If you smoke in the home, it's bad for your family too. 

I recognize some parents will beat their children black and blue; some parents will fill the house with a cloud of second-hand smoke. 

However, I have a philosophical problem with the government bossing every family's domestic life.  What's next?  Legislation forbidding parents of minor children from possessing pornography?  Why not?  If you have porn in the home, your children will most likely see it, and it might damage their social values!    Maybe the state should regulate how much refined sugar and saturated fats are in your family's grocery list.  We've got an obesity epidemic here! 

See where I'm going here?

I grew up in an anti-Norman Rockwell home.  I was exposed to all kinds of horrible things before I was ten.  In fact, I've got PTSD from my upbringing.  I know first hand how crazy families can be.  However, if we want to live in a free society, that means living with risks. 

The advocate for this Massachusetts legislation who I saw on TV was quite evasive about enforcement and sanction.  She said on the one hand that all spanking would be prohibited, but on the other hand said the legislation would be more about "guidelines" and less about "punishment."  Too vague.  It won't cut the mustard in the legislature. 

To borrow from the Amherst quote:

Massachusetts: 10,555 square miles surrounded by reality.

To borrow from the Amherst quote:

Massachusetts: 10,555 square miles surrounded by reality.

Whoever said that doesn't know dick about Massachusetts.  I could do with a little less reality around here!
:-\\

How are they going to be able to enforce this ban?  It almost would have to go against privacy laws.  Also it has the potential of being abuse.  You hate your neighbor, tell authorities they spanked their kids.  Even if the charges are false, the accused still has to pay the cost of defending themselves.

How are they going to be able to enforce this ban?  It almost would have to go against privacy laws.  Also it has the potential of being abuse.  You hate your neighbor, tell authorities they spanked their kids.  Even if the charges are false, the accused still has to pay the cost of defending themselves.

Hmmm....how about we start a series of PSAs  with a cute sock puppet encouraging children to turn in their parents!  Kind of a "1984" thing!
:o

Don't worry this bill is D.O.A.

Hmmm....how about we start a series of PSAs  with a cute sock puppet encouraging children to turn in their parents!  Kind of a "1984" thing!
:o

Don't worry this bill is D.O.A.



I don't even want to imagine the PSA.  Gads.

Thankfully it is DOA.  How the heck can you retract a bill like that?

I don't even want to imagine the PSA.  Gads.

Thankfully it is DOA.  How the heck can you retract a bill like that?


Well, if it ever passed into law, litigation would follow.  If nothing else, the U.S. Supreme Court would rule it unconstitutional.  I can't imagine the Roberts court letting such a law stand.