Judge Slaps Mom With 2-Year Spanking Ban


Recommended Posts

When is spanking considered physical abuse? A Virginia judge has ruled that Felisha Kimble-Tanks, an Annandale dentist, crossed the line when she left bruises on her 6-year-old daughter's thigh after disciplining her with a belt. The mom is now banned from spanking for two years.

 The girl's father, from whom Kimble-Tanks is separated, discovered the bruises in January and filed a complaint with the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. According to the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, he also said that despite the incident, she was a good mother. Defense lawyer Mark Murphy pointed out to Yahoo Shine that the father made no move to get physical custody of the girl even though it would have been within his rights. He also noted that "the department of social services took no steps to remove the girl from her mother's home."

 Prosecutor Tara Mooney initially charged Kimble-Tanks with child cruelty, a felony. On Wednesday, the prosecution reached a deal with Murphy to reduce the charges to a misdemeanor, which will be dropped in two years if she refrains from any type of corporal punishment.

According to Mooney, Kimble-Tanks "crossed the line." She told the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, "Leaving bruises on a child that young is abuse," not appropriate discipline. Murphy disagreed and said he had been ready to go to trial if the charges hadn't been reduced and eventually dropped.

more

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Leaving bruises on a child that young is abuse

 

So it's okay if the child was older?

 

I always thought my parents did a good job and they left a few bruises on me as I was growing up and I'm fine. You'd think I'd be some sick psycho by now.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

^ I thought you were. :p

 

 

More seriously, I don't think spanking is ever a good idea.

 

Lock them in a room, take away favorites, or duct tape their mouth, seems more sensible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

^ I thought you were. :p

 

 

More seriously, I don't think spanking is ever a good idea.

 

Lock them in a room, take away favorites, or duct tape their mouth, seems more sensible.

 

And what if the child still misbehave?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ever since spanking went away all we are left with is HORRIBLE children. I mean good god. Look how the children pre 2000's turned out. Now look at them!

 

Look at a lot of the teenagers, worthless human beings and terrible work ethic! We weren't like that when we had nintendo, sega super nintendo!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:rofl:

 

I think as a child I got spanked exactly once. It was enough to teach me that misbehaving is not something that was in my best interests. If anything kids these days need to be spanked regularly to discourage them from becoming the giant brats most children turn into these days.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:rofl:

 

I think as a child I got spanked exactly once. It was enough to teach me that misbehaving is not something that was in my best interests. If anything kids these days need to be spanked regularly to discourage them from becoming the giant brats most children turn into these days.

 

I got spanked just once out side a church when I misbehaved. Legend has it, it only took that once. From then on I listened to my parents.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

As a kid I was spanked on several occasions, even with a old wooden spoon on one or two of those occasions.. I don't think I ever paid attention to whether the spoon left a mark or not.. But, I don't call what I had abuse. But, now that I'm older I would call bruises going to far. You can get your point across without leaving marks!

 

I was even told a story several times about how my grandmother would make her kids go get a branch off a tree for her to use in spanking them. If they got one that was to small they would have to go get another one and it would be much worse.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the purpose of spanking is to instill Fear that can be utilized for Stockholm Syndrome, in smaller scale.

 

Incorrect; the purpose of spanking is to teach corrective behaviour to children when they are at an age where reasoning cannot work.

 

However, if the spanking leaves lasting physical marks, then it becomes abuse.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's always abuse, and should be punished every time. You are not allowed to hit an adult, why should you be allowed to hit a child, just because it's yours?

 

Did you not read the part where she used a belt to punish? Back in the 80's it was normal, either a belt or a small branch from a tree and most people grew up better then they are now. But I guess it's normal that children can sue parents for punishing them now. What a load of crap. As a part of that I would have told that judge to ###### off and not to tell me how to raise my children as well.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

However, if the spanking leaves lasting physical marks, then it becomes abuse.

 

Usually, but not always. It's a grey area.

 

In the threat of immediate danger requiring immediate correction of behavior then I don't think it's out of the realm of a concerned parent to accidentally take it too far. Accidents happen. Bruises heal. If my kid is trying to insert a fork into a plugged in toaster I might accidentally bruise his sorry little butt. At least he isn't dead. Some may say that that is an unnecessary amount of force but in the heat of the moment when your child might actually die it's hard to control the smack to the butt. And they'll quickly learn to never pull that crap again!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, I agree.  But if there's regular bruising, it's clearly abuse.

 

Or just means the kid is an spoiled brat and doesn't learn from his mistakes. So what the parent should now just "give up" and let the kid do what he wants? Believe it or not the "take away cellphones etc" don't always work, in fact it rarely does. 

 

I mean the occasional red stripes on your behind not that the kid is beaten silly daily.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep, all the kids from the 80s and the start of the 90s who were raised like that are so traumatized that we all need psychiatric help daily or we couldn't live on. Can't tell if you are serious or...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.