Anti-smacking bill petition where do I sign?

[MisterD]

With all due respect to those that believe in overturning the Anti S bill it simply is not going to happen. National have voted in favour of the legislation and it was changed to accommidate their views. They are not going to change that no matter what or how many voters sign. Their political credibility will be open for all the world to see.

I disagree, Key was very clear at the time parliament voted, that he was just making the best of a bad bill that would pass anyway. I clear mandate from a referendum, and it's gone.

The organsers of this petition have cocked up. One of the basics that you do before presenting a petition to Parliment is to check that all the dots and I's have been crossed. These guys in their egerness did not bother to do that It's not that they did not have the volenters or the numbers, they just did not bother to check.

I clearly recall an interview at the time the petition was started, when they were talking about the need to get over the basic numbers as they expected a certain proportion to be disqualified...they just didn't expect the high proportion that did get cut out. To say I'm cynical about the impartiality of whatever government department was doing the checking though...they should have been doing Mugabe's recount I reckon.

[MisterD]

And there is a lot more to bring up kids than having the right to hit them.

Yeah, but at a time when society is already suffering from a lack of boundaries being given to kids, to take a proven and effective thing like a smack on the bum, out of a parent's "toolbox" is just stupid...

It's bad law, because ordinary parents like me will just ignore it.

[Lias]

Of course that's providing it's not 'you' in prison and innocent.

And there is a lot more to bring up kids than having the right to hit them.

Skyyrder

In my not so humble opinion, there is a pretty vast difference between smacking your child, and hitting your child. I smack my children with an open hand, on the bum. I then sit down with them, and explain exactly why they got a smack, and give hugs as needed. You and others like you believe that I should face the same punishment for that as if I punched them in the face repeatedly. Both are "assault" under the law as it stands now.

Words cannot really sum up my feelings with regards to that, but I think "Fuck that" is perhaps the closest I can get.

[Skyryder]

I disagree, Key was very clear at the time parliament voted, that he was just making the best of a bad bill that would pass anyway. I clear mandate from a referendum, and it's gone.


I clearly recall an interview at the time the petition was started, when they were talking about the need to get over the basic numbers as they expected a certain proportion to be disqualified...they just didn't expect the high proportion that did get cut out. To say I'm cynical about the impartiality of whatever government department was doing the checking though...they should have been doing Mugabe's recount I reckon.

If Key had have been honest he would have voted against the Bill. He did not. If as you say Key was making the best of a bad bill that would pass anyway (and I have no reason to doubt you) then on that basis the Nats would vote for 'all' of Labours Bills as they have the numbers to get them passed. Now you can see how silly Key really is and for those that believe his protestations all I can say is to look a bit deeper into his utterances. That people actually believe him................... it's just unbelievable.


Skyryder

[MisterD]

If Key had have been honest he would have voted against the Bill. He did not. If as you say Key was making the best of a bad bill that would pass anyway (and I have no reason to doubt you) then on that basis the Nats would vote for 'all' of Labours Bills as they have the numbers to get them passed. Now you can see how silly Key really is and for those that believe his protestations all I can say is to look a bit deeper into his utterances. That people actually believe him................... it's just unbelievable.

Key supported the bill on the condition that it was amended to specifically give the police the ability to disregard trivial matters - it's just a pity they're not using that ability, and cases like that GI bloke make it to court before charges are dropped..

[Grahameeboy]

Key supported the bill on the condition that it was amended to specifically give the police the ability to disregard trivial matters - it's just a pity they're not using that ability, and cases like that GI bloke make it to court before charges are dropped..

How many cases have there been.

I agree with the Bill...there are plenty of cases for other alleged offences that go to Court and get dismissed, that's the system.

Remember the Police refer case to the PP for a decision on whether to proceed.

[Skyryder]

Key supported the bill on the condition that it was amended to specifically give the police the ability to disregard trivial matters - it's just a pity they're not using that ability, and cases like that GI bloke make it to court before charges are dropped..

It was a sop. The police already have discreatonary powers. Key insisted that this be put into the bill as a 'politcal face saver.'

It is not that unusual for offenders to go into the courts and the court to dismiss the charge. It's one of the ways the system works.


Skyryder

[PrincessBandit]

There are plenty of churches which would be running organised signature drives so perhaps check those out?
As far as the government is concerned, I don't want to be pessimistic but no matter how much one party might be vocally against something if they get into power they just turn around and say "well, we didn't bring it into being, but we all just have to live with it now". Convenient way of keeping an unpopular policy while not accepting the blame for it being in place.