British Lawmakers To Vote Whether To Ban Smacking Children

[OnyxCougar]

POSTED: 9:48 am EST November 2, 2004

LONDON -- British lawmakers are voting Tuesday on whether to ban parents from smacking their children.

The government is opposed to an outright ban. Prime Minister Tony Blair's government fears it'll be accused of intruding into family affairs. It wants to preserve an 1860 court ruling that allows parents to use "reasonable chastisement."

Two parliamentary committees contend that's used too often to defend violent behavior that goes beyond a smack. A number of members of the ruling Labor Party are calling for any form of physical punishment to be outlawed.

Officials said the legislation would allow authorities to prosecute violent parents more easily. Several other European countries already consider physical punishment of children illegal.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press.