Is it OK to Spank Your Kids?

Spanking? You Can Arrest Me For That?

California is leading the way again, as it always does, for ridiculous laws that strip Americans of even more rights. A bill currently before California lawmakers will incarcerate parents for spanking, if voted into law. If this happens, it will inevitably find its way before the eyes of other state's lawmakers. Is this a good idea? I don't think so, but then again opinions are like the butts being spanken... everyon has one.

Spare The Rod Outdated?

It is a fair argument that many people who do choose to spank their kids say their parents were wrong for using switches, paddles and belts. In those years just about everyone believed in "spare the rod spoil the child". Is it hypocritical then to say that in times of old spanking was too violent, and spanking today differing so much, is now ok? The answer is both yes and no, I think. Would I beat my sons with a thin tree branch I just chopped off outside? Good Lord NO! Would I hit my sons with a belt like my Dad did to me? I don't think so. The question is then: was my Dad's mother wrong for hitting him with a rod, and was my Dad wrong for hitting me with a belt? Now I have to be honest and admit that spanking, in the times of rods, was too much. However, even though I would not choose to spank my boys with a belt, I do not fault my Dad for doing it to me. It was not too harsh, and not too violent. This is getting confusing now, I know...

Should It Be Illegal? Or Should Parents Be Able To Make Up Their Own Minds?

Does it say in the American Consitution that we have a right to spank our children? No. Does it say in any law that we are allowed to punish our children by hitting them? No. Now to get to the point. Should it be illegal? I don't think so. I know some parents take it too far and are too violent in their spanking habits, so it would seem that some sort of regulation were in order. There is an inherent problem with that though... It would be impossible to enforce, costly, wasteful, and unconsitutional. I know you're thinking "what? but you just said..." I know I know, it's confusing. I did say our consitution and our laws do not guarantee us the right to spank, but no laws deny it either. The real answer is this: Parents need to use discretion and common sense, then make the choice to spank or not on their own.