Black Box Report

Nobody needs to educate me of the horrors of child abuse. If you work long enough in the news business, you come across stories that all too often make your stomach turn. But in a rush to protect the vulnerable, the well-intentioned in Massachusetts have gone too far. Spanking is not ideal, but it is not child abuse.

Guidelines for parents are one thing, but unenforceable threats of prosecution are just empty words. How exactly do you suggest a cop catch parents in the act - x-ray vision? The idea that law enforcement has a place in the home when junior gets smacked on his rear is as comical as it is troubling. Two out of three parents support, if not practice spanking - are we really ready to label them all criminals?

Do parents go overboard? Yes.

Should parents try something else, before they raise their hand? Again, yes.

But at a time when we demand more parental involvement, if we also send the message that discipline comes with the threat of prosecution - just be careful what you wish for.