1. a) I consider child abuse to be anything that has to do with hitting a child that isn't spanking on the behind. I feel like hitting a child any where else on the body constitutes as child abuse. Also, I believe if you yell at your child time after time it can be abuse, especially mentally, it will affect them down the road.
b) I do not think spanking is child abuse. As a child I was spanked and in no way shape or form did it affect me or hurt me in any way to where I took it as abuse. I feel like it needs to be done properly and shouldn't be done anywhere but on the bottom. I do think spanking should be allowed, it is not abuse in my opinion and I feel like it helps children realize what is right and wrong.
c) I feel like a parent should be allowed to spank their child in public, but not excessively and not when they get too much older. An acceptable form is just spanking the child on the behind and maybe a quick yell but that's about it. Unacceptable is slapping or hitting too hard and yelling way too much. The point is to not embarrass or hurt the child it is just to teach them what is right thing to do.
2. a) Alabama has a general statute to where it prohibits the use or distribution of video tapes of children acting in real or fake sexual activity. The minimum amount of prison time for someone on child porn charges for the first time is ten years.
b) Sexting in Alabama carries a potential charge of a felony since it is considered possessing, creating and distributing child pornography. Sexting to me is when someone sends a naked or risque picture to another person. I do think sexting should be punished and it should be punished severely if done with a minor. The offender should have the biggest punishment over the victim (if the victim is the person who sent it). I feel like it takes a lot of persuading to get this stuff sent so I feel like the offender should be punished more since they are convincing the person to do it.
3. A man from Robertsdale was arrested and charged with five counts of possession of pornography. The evidence was found in his home after a search warrant was served and they found twenty cartridges that are believed to have child porn on them. Reading these type of cases affect people more because it deals with children and how they are so abused and affected. The whole entire idea and action is horrible and it makes me sick to my stomach.
4. This is a PSA on how to "keep your cool." It talks about what to do when you get upset at your child, like walking away, calling a friend and doing whatever you can so that you don't shake your baby. The PSA is all about how to prevent shaken baby syndrome.
http://www.preventchildabusewv.org/videos/keepcool.html
This is another PSA on how verbal abuse affects our children. It talks about how they believe what they are told. The little girl talks about how she is worthless and it is because of what she is being told by her parents/abusers. It just goes to show that whatever is said to a child they remember and they believe, so watch your words wisely.
http://osocio.org/message/another_hard-hitting_child_abuse_psa_from_the_ispcc/
