Here’s an update on a blog I did about California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber’s proposed bill banning spanking. On Thursday, the effort was dropped after Lieber conceded that the bill had little chance of passing.
If the bill had passed, California would have become the first state to make spanking of a child under the age of 3 a crime. Lieber ran into opposition from lawmakers, many of who felt a law banning a parent’s right to spank their own child would not only be intrusive but unenforceable.
Lieber said that allowing parents to continue to spank their kids was a “failing of our state.” However, since she didn’t see the votes in favor of the bill, she conceded that it didn’t make sense to pursue it.
Although the bill was never introduced into the State Assembly, it had gained national attention. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had not taken an official stance on the proposed bill.
The issue may not be completely over just yet. An alternate bill, also proposed by Lieber, might gain support. The bill would ban “unreasonable parental punishment”. This would include hitting children with “electrical cords, shoes or a closed fist or kicking, cutting, burning, throwing or shaking a small child.”
Lieber seems to lump spanking along with these examples of unreasonable parental punishment. The previous version of the bill would have prohibited any stricking of a child. I believe that’s why there was so much opposition. There is a big difference between spanking a child and cutting, burning or throwing a child. If parents use these types of punishment then they deserve to go to jail. Unfortunately, enforcement remains an issue. If a child has obvious bruises or someone witnesses a parent being abusive that’s one thing. However, there are many other kids who are abused and the abuse goes unnoticed and unreported. Especially in cases where the child is not in school or around other adults who might notice the abuse. Still, it’s a step in the right direction of protecting children from abusive parents.
See also:
California Considers Banning Spanking
Update On Proposed Spanking Ban