Old Curmudgeon, I agree with you 99% of the time with 99% of kids.  I was hit far to often as a child because my parents did not know better.  I on the other had have a teenager that was never once struck as there was never the need, and that's great.  That being said there are children that push too far and risk either their own lives or another - I believe there are circumstances where extreme measures are necessary.