From the Coalition for Marraige and Family…
New law goes to heart of parental rights
It was front page news in today’s Boston Herald and is now being spoken about on the news, over the airwaves and around the water cooler: a proposal to ban spanking of misbehaving children.Rep. Jay Kaufman, a Lexington Democrat, submitted legislation on behalf of Kathleen Wolf, an Arlington nurse, that if signed into law would prohibit parents from forcefully laying a hand on any child under age 18 unless it was to wrest them from danger. The law also defines the banned “corporal punishment” as “the willful infliction of physical pain or injurious or humiliating treatment.” Parents who spanked their kids, even in their own homes, could be charged with child abuse or neglect, and the inclusion of the vague “humiliating treatment” would seemingly expand it well beyond just spanking.
The Herald story reminded readers of Charles Enloe, 45, of Plymouth, who, in 2005, was infamously arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for taking a belt to his then 12-year-old son during an argument over homework. The charges were later dropped. The state Supreme Judicial Court also ruled in 1999 that the current law clearly draws “a line between permissible physical discipline and prohibited abuse.”
Parents should have a right to discipline their children, whether through a “time out” where they must sit in a corner or by spanking that does not include inflicting bodily injury on a child.
The hearing for H3922 is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, at 10:30 am in Conference Room A-2 at the State House in Boston before the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. Though it is short notice, we ask anyone who can to please attend this hearing and testify against this legislation.
Use the link below to make phone calls to the members of the committee that will be hearing the testimony. The calls do not need to be made before the hearing, so please do not hesitate to call any time this week. Tell the committee members that parents are well within their rights to use corporal punishment in disciplining and raising their children.
Click the link below to log in and make your call:
http://votervoice.net/target.aspx?id=mafi:19622110
