Belts, Hairbrushes, and Shock Collars

There is a story in the news today about a Connecticut couple who are facing charges after forcing a 9-year-old girl “in their care” to wear an electric shock collar designed for dogs and to bark like a dog so that it would shock her. The couple was allegedly “upset about the girl’s school progress.” While this is certainly a disturbing story, I can’t help but think that the use of an electric shock collar as a method of eliciting compliance through fear and pain is not really all that different than the use of a belt, hairbrush, or similar tool in a manner designed to cause pain. Until we acknowledge that initiating force against a child is every bit as immoral and unjust as initiating force against any other individual, we will continue to see this type of revolting child abuse taking place.

Parrish