Gov. Rick Perry
PO Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428

Dear Governor Perry:

HB 383 should be vetoed for the sake of Texas children. Under this misguided bill, children can be whipped with belts, paddles, extension cords or any other painful implement with state approval.

204 children died from abuse or neglect in the past fiscal year, up 11% from the previous year and double the number from a decade earlier.

The 2004 fatality rate, 3.3 for every 100,000 Texas children is roughly 65% higher than the national average of 1.98 per 100,000 children - Federal Dept. of Health and Human Services.

True discipline comes from teaching and being a good role model. Hitting children with boards, belts or extension cords is child abuse and teaches children that hitting is the way to solve problems.

Child advocates nationwide are opposed to corporal punishment of children and this terrible bill should be vetoed.

Best regards,

Jimmy Dunne,
People Opposed to Paddling Students, Houston
Tel.: 281.584.9707
Web site: www.nospankingzone.org