Monday, August 24, 2009

Follow your first instincts Prime Minister

Family First has unearthed a comment made in 2007 by John Key. I agree with it 100 percent.

“Proponents of the bill say that doesn’t matter; that in reality no one is ever going to be prosecuted for lightly smacking their child. But if the reality is that no one is ever going to be prosecuted for lightly smacking their child, then don’t make it illegal. Don’t make it a crime. It’s poor law-making to write a very strict law and then trust the police and the courts not to enforce it strongly. The law shouldn’t depend on which police officer or which judge or which jury you happen to get on the day.”

5 comments:

brian_smaller said...

Yes - Mr. Key needs to understand that a person who smacks their child under the current law IS a criminal. Doesn't matter if they are not seen to commit the offence, investigated by the police or even charged. They are still a criminal. That is what 88% of people voted against.

Lets put it another way - if the guy who broke into Mr Key's house and stole his wife's jewelery was never caught, he still remains a criminal for committing a criminal act.

John Key had better "get it". I talked to Chester Burrows on the weekend and he said that every time he brings that up he gets told 'but the polls show us at 55%'.

Idiots.

Anonymous said...

Mr Key also needs to understand that the huge 88 per cent who want the law changed back will lose respect for him and National if the they are ignored, Labour ignored the majority view on this, and look at the result for them. When do we get a PM and government who actually listens to the majority rather than the loud, pressurised, screeching pressure groups and totally Leftist media?

brian_smaller said...

Yes - for people who are so poll driven why can't the PM see dangers of ignoring this one?

I will answer it myself. Just under a year since the election and he already has caught I-know-better-than-you-itis.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree, Brian. That old saying 'power corrupts and absolute power corrups absolutely' is always proven true, with every government and every PM. I was highly annoyed when JK and National turned turncoats on the public on the smacking bill, I just don't get it! Who to vote for next time? The party that listens to the overwhelming majority!

Swimming said...

Heres another one - made today
"If the law shows that through its application that New Zealand parents are criminalised or their chldren are taken off them for what can only be described as minor or inconsequential smacking then the law has to be changed"

I wonder what Erik and Lisa, whose kids were taken off them for what can only be described as minor or inconsequential smacking, think of that.