4b1cc45f   
   From: bo774@FreeNet.Carleton.CA   
      
   peterwn (peterwn@paradise.net.nz) writes:   
      
   >> Would the mother or father have been charged the same had they   
   >> hit their own child?   
   >   
   > Common law allows reasonable chastisment of children by parents and   
   > those who are in loco parentis eg schoolmasters/ schoolmistresses.   
   >   
   > However this has been over-ridden by legislation in various common law   
   > administrations.  In this instance if it were the parent it would   
   > depend on the state of the law in Georgia.   
      
   A mother spanking her child in a Saanich, BC walmart prompted cell phone   
   911 calls from a number of shoppers, a squad car dispatch from the   
   police station across the road, and an investigation by child welfare.   
      
   Jurisdictions vary.   
      
   A similar reaction to an earlier walmart incident ended up with no conviction,   
   after a father had spanked his daughter for slamming a car door on her   
   brother's hand while in the parking lot.   
      
   Not illegal, but not something to be done impulsively in the heat of anger,   
   or without consideration.   
      
   Adults exercising restraint and exhibiting reasoned and deliberate   
   behaviour choices set a good example for children, and for other adults.   
      
   Somehow this senior managed to get through more than half a century without   
   learning not to act like a child. Perhaps his parents gave him the wrong   
   sort of examples.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)