So the Pope is a marxist.... (wait for it)

[Hammerskjold]

Parental choices are a gray area. So, no snake pits for kids... What about snowmobiling, dirt bikes, 4 wheelers, hunting with rifles/shotguns, rodeo, sky/scuba diving, rock climbing, cliff diving, ski racing, football, hockey, etc. Then, what about a diet of candy, and ding dongs?

If the kids are mature enough physically\emotionally\intellectually and capable of :

snowmobiling, dirt bikes, 4 wheelers, dirt bikes, 4 wheelers, hunting with rifles/shotguns, rodeo, sky/scuba diving, rock climbing, cliff diving, ski racing, football, hockey, etc.

And if they want to do it, and not being forced by the parents, there is no problem that I see.

A diet of only candy and ding-dongs, are what immature people would want. People who thinks freedom to do anything = freedom from any consequences, are likely still in the same big yellow bus.

If you honestly have trouble with this concept, and still want to see a gray area between throwing someone into a snake pit without consent, and snowmobiling. Here's a hopefully easier way of putting it.

Children, are not property. At least, they should not be treated as such.

If someone started a cannibal cult, but they move to a far remote place and murders and consume only their children. That should not somehow absolve or render them immune from -any- laws.

Just because they're only harming -their own- children, and in the name of their faith, and not in -your- own backyard. None of those reasons should be treated as an absolute 'get out of jail for free' card.


TL DR:

This quote is from a lawyer who specializes in child abuse cases.

http://www.vachss.com/av_interviews/borderline.html

...he is also a mover behind the CARE Act, a piece of legislation intended to close a horrific loophole in US law which means that a criminal can expect a longer jail sentence for possession of a pocketful of cocaine than they would for incest. At present, most states of America draw a distinction between the sexual abuse or rape of a child and the same crime perpetrated by a blood relative. The term Vachss coined to describe this inequality is "grow your own victim" ...

'You can't throw that child into a snake pit!' 'Why not?! He's my own kid!' 'Oh....he is? Oh never mind then...carry on!'

(edited for grammer rodeo mistake.)

Edited addition: INB4, if kids are already mature, they would not be kids. They do have youth size\appropriate equipment for some sports. Some activities have a physical minimum. Even some theme park rides have a height requirement.