Wednesday, December 09, 2009

It's ok to smack - PM

The Prime Minister John Key announced to the country yesterday that it is now ok to smack.

Let me quote his words from the NZ Herald.

"Lightly smacking a child will be in the course of parenting for some parents and I think that's acceptable. It is up to individual parents to decide how they're going to parent their children ... Some people will continue to lightly smack their child for correction, some will not. It is up to them to decide."

Did John Key consult cabinet? No
Did John Key pass a law through Parliament? No

So how can it be OK to smack for correction when the law says this??

"Nothing in subsection (1) or in any rule of common law justifies the use of force for the purpose of correction."

I'm sorry John, but you haven't changed the law, therefore the law overrides your opinion.

Whatever John Key says, it is still a criminal offense for parents to smack for the purpose of correction.