For Immediate Publication

Outlaw Parenting

Sue Bradford's Bill to ban smacking says in the Explanatory Note:

"The effect of this amendment [repealing Section 59 of the Crimes Act] is that the statutory protection for use of force by parents and guardians will be removed. They will now be in the same position as everyone else so far as the use of force against children is concerned. The use of force on a child may constitute an assault under section 194(a) of the Crimes Act."

She would see parents exercise the same amount of authority to discipline their own children than total strangers normally have: none. The Bill to repeal Section 59 will not just ban smacking: it will ban any and all use of force (see www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz). It will mean that effective parenting is basically outlawed.

www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz
23 July 2005

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