Should smacking children be illegal?

At present smacking of children by parents is legal under the common law, as long as reasonable force is used and the sole intention is to correct behaviour.

Smacking involving force or leaving lasting physical effects is already an abuse under child protection laws.

Many parents wonder where to draw the line - they often feel very guilty about hitting their kids, but I do not think it is morally defensible to hit children. You shouldn't try to change people's behaviour by hitting them. They are smaller and more vulnerable and you are teaching them to hit others.