New law will divide families

Sir, - I cannot understand the Scottish Government’s support for a ban on smacking. It undermines something that nature has put in place, the family unit.

Of late we have heard that each child within a family was to have some sort of external mentor and now we hear that parents will not be able to chastise their children in the traditional way.

Dare I ask if our government thinks this will leave a family happier or more satisfied with itself or better off than it initially was?

Does government not see that if a smacking ban comes into being, it will generate needless friction within a family? A father might feel that traditional punishment is best for the child while the mother screams that such a thing is now against the law.

No law is going to stop the rare cases where violence is used against a child. That should be reported and punished.

What is being proposed is yet another example of the wishfulthinking minority trying to force the people of Scotland into abandoning traditional attitudes that have served us all well.

What legislation is really being proposed? Is the Government implying we need a court to tell us when a forceful pat on the bottom of a huffy child is considered to be a smack? Archibald A. Lawrie. 5 Church Wynd, Kingskettle.

What is being proposed is yet another example of the wishful-thinking minority trying to force the people of Scotland into abandoning traditional attitudes that have served us all well