Massachusetts could become the first state to make it illegal for parents to spank their children. Today, at the Massachusetts State House, the hearing for a bill to ban the practice was standing room only - From ABCNews.com

I personally think spanking is child abuse, but I have a friend who insists that it is the best way to discipline his son. When he was a child he was beat quite severly by his mother but still insists on using this method of discipline.

My only thoughts are for the preservation of children. Anyone who believes that children should be spanked/beaten are wrong and should be forced to have cameras installed in their homes, cars, etc., for 24/7 so that they will not spank their poor defenseless children. All I care about is all the poor defenseless children who cannot speak for themselves.

Some people believe that spanking in extreme cases, such as rape or incest, is all right. But I do not. There are no exceptions. No reason ever for anyone to harm a child.

The government in Mass. and elsewhere should bar any spanking for any reason. It's all about the babies.

My only thoughts are for the preservation of children. Anyone who believes that children should be spanked/beaten are wrong and should be forced to have cameras installed in their homes, cars, etc., for 24/7 so that they will not spank their poor defenseless children. All I care about is all the poor defenseless children who cannot speak for themselves.

Some people believe that spanking in extreme cases, such as rape or incest, is all right. But I do not. There are no exceptions. No reason ever for anyone to harm a child.

The government in Mass. and elsewhere should bar any spanking for any reason. It's all about the babies.

So the government should regulate based on your religious beliefs? My religion says its OK. The whole spare the rod verse of the bible. Even James Dodson, who is a respected member of the Christian faith and family advocate condones spanking for discipline under the proper circumstances.

Christian parenting expert James Dobson and others on spanking to discipline kids -- Beliefnet.com

I believe BJean is being sarcastic, comparing the issue of spanking to abortion. She believes it is OK to rip a child limb-from-limb in abortion from conception to 9 months of pregnancy, but not OK to spank a child in discipline.

Speaking for me gadget?

gadget believes that the government should take away the rights of women to choose whether or not to have an abortion - and she also believes that the government should kill some convicted criminals.

Speaking for me gadget?

gadget believes that the government should take away the rights of women to choose whether or not to have an abortion - and she also believes that the government should kill some convicted criminals.

I believe when I spoke for you I got it right. You got it wrong. I am not pro-capital punishment. I do, however, believe the government should take away the so-called "right" of any one person to kill any other person.

gadget also got it wrong - I do not equate spanking with abortion. I just believe very strongly that people who spank do it out of frustration and/or an inability to parent using ones intellect rather than brute force.

gadget also got it wrong - I do not equate spanking with abortion.

In your sarcastic post above you were equating them.

What makes you think that?

Ya know, if I was being sarcastic, I've learned from the best here at Rs & Rs.

I think a playpen would have been a better, less violent, answer.

I am 100% in agreement with that statement.

Personally, I wouldn't have used spanking as a disciplinary measure in the situation on this video (one wonders why the parents were doing absolutely nothing to curtail this child's behavior). I personally would have closed the child in a room alone. Temper tantrums don't work when there's no audience. And spankings don't work when the child is out of control.

And you attribute all of this to the lack of spanking?

BTW, we don't have any felons in my family and all of us are very accomplished as well.

I think there is a non sequitur in the argument somewhere.

This was tongue-in-cheek, for those who implied that children who aren't spanked are wild, unruly little heathens. I forgot that fundamentalists can't comprehend a little levity.

I will continue to be horrified that some human beings deliberately hurt their offspring with the goal of teaching them to be responsible adults. I am completely demoralized by your attempts to defend this practice. I am done with this thread.

So the government should regulate based on your religious beliefs? My religion says its OK. The whole spare the rod verse of the bible. Even James Dodson, who is a respected member of the Christian faith and family advocate condones spanking for discipline under the proper circumstances.

Christian parenting expert James Dobson and others on spanking to discipline kids -- Beliefnet.com

There are lots of things in the bible ....

"But if ... evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones..." (Deuteronomy 22:20,21)

I forgot that fundamentalists can't comprehend a little levity.

That's awfully aggressive for someone who's such a pacifist.

I am done with this thread.

Sorry you couldn't handle it.

Did any of you see Oprah's show, about 7 years ago, on Explosive Children?

there IS a difference in spanking and beating. I don't believe in beating anyone. I even asked my 22 year old son his thoughts on the subject. He was a problem child who required lots of discipline. He agrees with me that spanking is sometimes necessary. Beating is not.