Toronto Star

Re: Top court upholds, but limits spanking, January 31, 2004

Editor:

While the judges may be congratulating themselves for having established a safe zone for children, they have done so at a price. They have also established a safe zone for child abusers. Surely that wasn't their intention, but it will be the effect. We'll see proof of this as new victims come to light -- ones between the ages of 2 and 12 who have been battered by hand elsewhere than on the head. Thanks to the generosity of the high court, Canadian child abusers can rest easy once they've learned the new rules. This is their lucky day. Meanwhile, wife-beaters and dog-kickers must be eating their hearts out with envy.

Jordan Riak, Executive Director, Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education (PTAVE), P.O. Box 1033, Alamo, CA 94507-7033. Web site: "Project NoSpank" at www.nospank.net, Telephone: (925) 831-1661