They are thinking about making it illegal to smack your children if it results in bruises, redness or psychological damage. Those arguing against this law cite the European Principle of an unambiguous law and say if it’s sometimes unlawful to hit your children but not at other times then that’s ambiguous - especially when you have to figure out whether your action is likely to cause psychological damage… Those in favour of this law cite the European Principle of equality and say that the law protects adults from violence of any kind, so it should afford the same protection to children.
This is faulty logic. Children are small adults. Children grow out of being children. If children and adults are entitled to equality, then why can’t they drive? Why do adults have to undress themselves to go to the bathroom?
A black person does not “grow out of” being black. A woman does not “grow out of” being a woman. A jew does not “grow out of” judaism. With some exceptions. Homosexuality has been a matter for debate but we now accept that for many, homosexuality chooses the homosexual, not the other way round. Children however, are not stuck as children. They are developing. In time they will develop into jews, women, africans, asians, homosexuals, and non-of-the-aboves.
If children are to be afforded the full protection of adult law, it follows that they should be given the full responsibility too. If a 12-year-old steals a moped, takes it onto the common and sets it alight, he should go to jail. If a 2 year old urinates in the town centre, he or she should be cautioned by police officers. 6 year olds learning to ride bicycles should use the road, not the pavement where they are a danger to themselves and other 6-year-old users of the pavement.