Katie wrote on Jan 20, 2007 9:19 PM:I am appalled at such an idea as banning a parents right to dicipline their child. In this case it means spanking. If you take away my ability to effectively dicipline my child, then I can not be responsible for the behavior of my child. My daughter is six years old and I have spanked her. I did not beat, bruise or abuse my child by spanking her, I simply taught her right from wrong. I am the first to admit that spanking is a last resort for me, but there are time that it is needed. You think our prisons are overflowing now, wait until the new generation of undiciplined youth, become unlawful adults.

Paul wrote on Jan 21, 2007 6:32 AM:To Katie, you are so right! There are laws for child protection right now.

Randy wrote on Jan 21, 2007 6:47 AM:If California could balance its own budget and provide adequate roads to meet its transportation needs, I might listen to what politicians have to say about spanking. But sending your children to foster care for a year while you rot in jail for spanking seems draconian to me. This entire debate distracts from the state's abject failure to do the tasks that we, the people, have delegated to the state.

All I can say is.... wrote on Jan 21, 2007 8:06 AM:Sally Leiber is an idiot. No one that I know of who uses spanking as a form of discipline has ever WHIPPED a newborn or toddler or even their 6 year old child. I spanked my child many times when she was young...she was a very strong willed child. Do you know what I have now? A hard-working, respectful, non-drinking or drug-abusing 22 year old woman, who doesn't sleep around or make foolish decisions to adversely affect her life. Her father and I couldn't be more proud. Just because the "Governer and his wife" didn't use spanking as a form of discipline, does not give him the right to take our rights away as parents. There is a difference between spanking and abuse.

Alf wrote on Jan 21, 2007 4:07 PM:What is next, a law that says that it is illegal to "hurt any child's feelings"? How many of you have seen a child in the store having a tantrum? How many have seen a swift swat? End of tantrum. Under the proposed law the parent could be charged. That is insane. Any parent that I know is aware of how ineffective talking is to a 3 year old having a temper tantrum, it is not. Child protection laws are to prevent REAL abuse, not the abuse as defined by a thin-skinned, touchy-feely, get more government in your home type. I agree with the protection from beating, but that is already law. How much further are we going to allow "the state" to intrude where they do not belong? I could say, my kids are grown now so I don't care, but what about my children's rights as parents? How soon before we have a generation of people who are undisciplined and have no idea or way to deal with their own children? As the children say "I'll call CPS on you."

Doug wrote on Jan 22, 2007 7:00 AM:I was spanked when I was growing up and I am far from violent. I actually have a hard time getting mad. Now that I'm a parent I have spanked my 2 yr old a few times because there are times that you can not reason or take anything away. And I've found that taking away stuff some times causes even more of a tantrom, and personaly I would wrather give a swat on the butt and end it before it goes so far as to making me mad and causing me to do something actually "Abusive". Teachers aren't allowed to spank or physically discipline in schools anymore and look at the disrespect in the school system. Even if you don't live in CA, we need to start writing letters to our legislator, governors, and president to vote against this before it is nation wide.

David wrote on Jan 22, 2007 7:00 PM:There are alot more problems that need more attention to the spanking of a child. I think the Law Makers of California need to solve the inner city problems of our American cities. Then make it illegal for a non US citizen Parent to file for a child born on US soil. Almost all foreign countries would never allow this to happen. Wake up America Supreme Court!!!

Nicole wrote on Jan 25, 2007 11:26 AM:As a mom of 3 very good kids, I can attest that spanking is one of many tools for discipline. Our family pediatrician even agrees! Most of these spankings are during the younger years when taking toys away and time outs are not an option. I have looked everywhere to find information about the status of Sally Leiber - Has she ever been a parent? The only thing I can find is that she is a proud guardian of a cat. It is easy for people who live out of the box to tell those that are in it what to do, that does not mean those people are right.

XalucardXdraculaX wrote on Jan 30, 2007 2:39 PM:i wonder if this "Dweeber" lady supports the A.C.L.U. i mean they like to take people's rights away from us too! i don't exactly believe in spanking an infant...but "when they don't listen they have to feel." this lady can take her communist laws and tell them to someone who can't understand a single word she's saying. she should be more worried about californian health insurance problems than a toddler getting spanked cause he wrote on a wall or something else.