I sure understand this mans urge to shut that kid up,
We've all wanted to tell some screaming brat to shut up,
it's just that we have the common sense and self discipline not to.
Every time I hear this story,. I laugh

is that bad?

When a child is crying and/or screaming in public, one walks away. The only time one can interfere with a parent is if the child is being abused.

It's hard to teach your kid to turn the other cheek when you're slapped FOUR TIMES!!!! The restraint of the Wal-Mart shoppers in holding the man until the police arrived.....they're remarkable!

Has the balls to hit another person's kid?!! Wow, he has nine lives. B/c if it had happened to me, or even if I had witnessed it happening to someone else.... WHEW.....he would most definitely be leaving Walmart-potentially alive-on a stretcher w/as many broken bones and blood vessel ruptures I could manage! I would have had a good ole time shopping and testing out the tools in the hardware dept that day!!

I would love to look the kid in the eye, and, with an authoritative voice, tell him to "BE QUIET, KID!!!". That would probably do the job, but even that would not go over well, though. That guy was a Ratfink.

Which Is Best for You, Personally?

Socialistic government programs give much needed benefits to our devastated working class. Capitalistic programs give benefits to big business investors and often permit them to exploit the working class by seeking maximum profits and excessive management salaries. Don't allow politicians or political parties to make the choice for you.

As far as I am concerned that man would not have gotten out of the store alive!

Come on..........Wal-mart is a big store...why not just leave the area and go somewhere else.....slapping a a child 4 times that is 1/6 your size and can't defend themselves is way out of line..........the guy is a psychopath

Slapped FOUR times? How did the mother allow him to get close enough for even ONE slap to be given? The minute ANYONE unfamiliar approached my child, with an angry look, I'd already be on the defensive. If she had something in her hands, she should've used it to smack the hell out of him!!!!

I can't believe he hit the child four times.... why didn't the mother stop him, were there any bystanders? OMG aren't you glad he isn't your neighbor or family member!

On another note, adults forget that they were once two-year olds too! I'm sure every single adult out there has had a meltdown at many ages.

Walk AWAY!

I think what is so shocking is that we think as a population we are entitled to force what we do, or what we think on other people. Or when we hear of stories like this, we laugh?! Nothing about a two year old being slapped across the face four times is funny. Again that is my opinion. Obviously this man thought it was his place to punish this child, and unfortunately one of the comments here have already stated that they think it is there business too to discipline a child that is NOT theirs, even if it is simply telling them to be quiet. Right, wrong or indifferent we all believe there are right and wrong ways to discipline or reward our children. But my child is MINE and parents get to decid when enough is enough when their child is crying or throwing a fit in a public place. Yes, there are times when parents do not know when enough is, but that is the parents issue, not the childs, especially when they are two! If a person does not want to hear a crying child, screaming children, people talking on their phones or are sensitive to any other maybe annoying sounds that could be loud...stay home or find a store that doesn't allow people. Okay, I realize that is a little exaggerated. NO child, no matter the situation ever deserves to be hit! The man responsible deserves to serve time and be punished for his tantrum.

Clearly this man is not stable enough to walk about the community with the rest of us. Regarding his actions, I believe he should be held responsible for child abuse and assault. He simply does not posses the control necessary to restrain himself from physical outbursts.

That being said, I understand his frustration but not his response. This stranger has not come to the understanding that many, many parents out there have chosen to start a family of their own and are not the least bit concerned about that very freedom infringing on our freedom to shop in peace; or perhaps take in a movie in peace or dinner, etc. Should we be subjected to the common annoyances of other peoples children simply because they decided to start a family? I, for example, fail to see why someone else's choice to reproduce should have any impact on my life or personal space. Certainly this incident, albeit unjustified and psychotic, is only a symptom of our own society.

Lastly, why is "Makus" producing such feckless meandering?

I'm guilty. I think what he did is awful and incredibly stupid but I can understand what Tim was saying. Only I think the guy probably should have slapped the parent. I used to love children when I was younger and I have five of my own which I absolutely adore, as well as seven grand children that are well-behaved angels. I'm an old woman now and I generally dislike children I come across. But it's not their fault, it's their parent's fault. Kids are so disruptice and unruly and sassy and just plain too grown for their own good. But parents don't spank their kids any longer (which is NOT abuse people) and then wonder why their little bubble head bastard ends up murdering the next door neighbor. He looks like an older man that lost his marbles. And I'm sure some of you reading this would say the same about me! ) I'm sorry if I offended anyone, just being honest.

This is a good trend. If we start disciplining our children earlier we would not have 2 million people in jail.

Rick , even though we all have been in situations where we probably though what he did , we must bite our tongue and not act on our impulses. But being a Walmart grocery shopper , and being a mother of 3 grown sons , I do know many moms today do not have the same concern for others that I did when my sons were small. If mine threw a fit , they soon learned the consequences of their ill behavior. I would either try and quiet my child , if that was not to be , he was picked up and promply taken out to the car , where he was swatted on his well padded bottom and told his behavior was not to be tolerated. I never just let one of mine scream to the top of his lungs , and continue to shop , or eat , or any number of things and ignore them like many seem to do today. I recently was subjected to a toddler screaming and kicking and shouting and hitting the mother and the mother never saying a thing and acting like he was not there ....true the best way to break a tantrum , but not in a busy public place . He continued to misbehave with the mother on her cell phone . Several people were giving her looks , she did not seem to notice , I finally just left the immediate area without what I was shopping for , and so did others, and I could still hear him yelling at her . She just did not seem to care ....I would have like to have seen her to at least try to correct him ranter than ignore him. Parents today seem to let children rule them , not the other way around.

The woman with the crying child should have whacked the man across the face or better yet the genitals with the largest hard object she could find. Then if he cried or made any noise she should have whacked him 4 more times. This man should go to prison.

Oh wow, I would have taken matters into my own hands to. I could never turn a blind eye to something like that happening to a child, especially in public. I have sat outside of an Apartment builing honking and honking my car horn after hearing a child crying out "Stop Mommy" over and over again. It was the only thing I could think to do since I did not know exactly which Apartment the crying was coming from.

If it had been my child, the man would be dead. I have the means, will, and ability to do whatever it takes to protect family and self. If I had merely been a witness to him striking someone else's child, I would have beaten him thoroughly while waiting for the police.

The news gets crazier every single day. The world must be coming to an end.....

Screaming kids in stores happen ALL the time. It would be totally responsible and considerate of others for moms/caretakers to take the child out of the store. In my experience this rarely happens. However, you do not slap a two year old to get them to stop crying. If it is THAT disturbing – then you go up the the child, with a big smile on your face and say "You are a cutie, I bet you would just love to be at the playground right now!" Maybe mom, at least would get the hint.

Being a mother and a shopper I say this man was out of line. The only time someone should get involved is if they see abuse. In this case this man was abusing her child and I am so glad the other shoppers stepped in and held him there for police.

Mothers know how to handle their child's fits. For most you ignore them and they calm down after they figure they wont get their way. But each child is different and its up to the parents to handle it.

I probably would have lost it too. So many parents dont control their kids. I recently saw a kid hitting his mother over and over screeming NO to her at the top of his lungs. it was terrible the kids was about 6 or 7.

As the father of five daughters, I have no doubt I would have killed that man on the spot or left him so severely disbaled he would never be able to do this again. Matter of fact, if it had been my marathon running, workout obsessed wife there would have been nothing left of this disgusting excuse of a man.

bibbles: it doesn't take "balls" to hit a 2-year-old. Or to do so in front of his mother. (I don't think this guy would have done it in front of the kids father.) This guy is just a bully, i.e. a coward. I suspect this guy has mental problems, judging by the footage. Still, if that happened to either of my kids, I'd probably beat him to within an inch of his life.

I have been in this situation before and it is alarming, But as a mother of two myself, if I had to be in the same area to shop, then maybe I would offer some assistance, a toy or snack for the child perhaps, not knowing how it would be received. Overall, I never took my two out shopping between 12noon and 2 or 3pm as that is lunch and nap time. It is really irritating that parents dont' get their child on a schedule and then wonder why they act up.

I was in disbelief when I heard this story. I think Mr. Stephens displayed a huge lack of maturity by slapping that child. Obviously no one wants to listen to a screaming child, but, just as obviously, one cannot always get his way. The mature thing to have done would have been to simply walk away or ignored the noise. How one can justify slapping a stranger's toddler for doing something all toddlers do is beyond me. I guess Mr. Stephens must have missed the memo that explained how to civilly interact with the rest of society.

Rick, this child slapping man clearly needs a mental evaluation.
He may possibly be suffering from early signs of dementia.
If it were my 2 year old child, I would have been the monkey on his back.

lacouple: you actually don't have a right to shop in peace. WalMart is a public place.

Well first things first, the guy was wrong to slap this child. He deserves to be punished for it.

This does draw to light a common problem I see. parents do not consider that others around them may not want to hear thier child scream,cry,screech,bang,etc in public places.

Yay for the baby smacker!! THe mother should be completely ashamed that she cannot control her 2 yr old!! what is she gonna do when her brat turns 13, 14, 15 ? I may have said something to the parent or even the child, but not smack em up, even tho I would like to... because at the end of the day I will be at home with my well behaved children while that idiot mother is still listen to her little brat whining at home!!..
I am a strong advocate of "corporal punishment" , I have 4 kids ages 9-16 and I as soon as they understood the difference between yes and no, they started getting spanked for doing things that they were told no.. sure, each one of my kids tested me and threw a fit. ONE fit, I punished them right at that moment, not later ,not when we get to the car, or the restroom, or home , or when daddy gets home, right then and there so they know what they are being punished for!!! If parents would be more responsible in raising the children that they so readily give birth to and dress up like dolls then dont know what to do with them by the time they are a year and a half or two yrs old,, please, poor children,, I think the parents deserved to get smacked though!!

If my child is crying and a man hits him to "shut him up for me" I will just hit that guy as hard as I can to defend my child, and to show him that my child's behavior is none of his business! What that crazy guy did is outrageous! No one has the right to discipline a child that is not your own, even if the child is not behaving, is crying, having a tantrum o whatever, it is up to the parent o legal guardian to discipline and control the kid.

Nobody likes to hear screaming crying children anywhere. It is unfortunately a fact of life we're not going to be able to escape. However, what this man did was wrong, and from the looks of his face only a matter of time before he did something mean. I would have reported him to someone on his initial threat, but at least he was caught and now his grumpy a** can find out all about slapping. Slapped with fines, slapped with jail time, slapped with public humiliation. Children don't stand their and cry and scream because they think you like it. They also don't do it trying to get a beat down from a stranger.

I can tell that some of those who are making comments obviously don't have children. Sometimes no matter what you do to make a trip to the store successful, a two-year old is going to get upset. I agree with the person who said he should have walked away and shopped in another area of the store then came back.

If he'd slapped my child, I would have beat him senseless with anything and everything I could get my hands on. He would have walked out with a lot of bruises.

someone should have beat the fuck out of that guy...what a coward

Well first I would never hit someone else's child. However, I have cartainly wanted to tell the parent to do something about their child. I don't understand why the parents today don't try to consider other people. Perhaps the 61 year old man who hit this child has something wrong with him. Alzheiners? Maybe? Back to the parent, maybe he should have reported her. She needs to control her child.

that may have been a bit harsh what I said but honestly a 60 year old slaps someone elses child in the face? That's just extremeley pathetic

It is definitely a disturbing story and I can't imagine what that man was thinking. I have to say though that I don't think it is fair for those comments about discipline. There is no information about how long the child was crying, what the mom was doing, etc. and one shouldn't assume anything. I agree that discipline is an important part of parenting and I am sure that we all have our stories about witnessing an upset child and the parent seemingly doing nothing. We all have bad days and no one is perfect, including children. I have two little ones, I have spanked them and I expect there to be a public crying fit in my future. I now have to hope I can handle it well without being judged by every one in the store, or worse, have people who want to take actions into their own hands.

I think the man was way out of line hitting the 2 yr old.
I bet the child cried louder after he hit her.
He need to be slapped too...and NOT a slap on the wrist.

Old man should have walked away, and gave a mean look to the mom to control her kid. Period. Nothing justifies hitting a poor little helpless kid. Yes, it can be annoying in a store, but, it's a little child..

This old man deserves some type of punishment.. or mental help..

I'll admit, screaming little ones can get on my nerves. But if some stranger had hit my child or grandchild, he'd be walking like a priss for the rest of his life.

I sure do hope this POS sits for at least a year in jail. What a creep. How dare him! He should have to compensate by having to work for the rest of his miserable life and gift her college tuition as punitive damages! I hope he rots!

lacouple, you clearly have no children and no plans to have children. Just because someone decides to have a child, that does not mean your precious personal space is automatically invaded. You don't like kids? Fine. You don't want kids? That's fine, too. (Probably better, actually, since you clearly would not know how to handle a child.) If other peoples' children bother you that much, that frequently, please feel free to never leave your house again. Tool.

This man belongs in jail. He struck a child. He struck SOMEONE ELSE'S child. He (unstable or not) broke the law. That child was clearly upset about something, and how dare anybody blame the mother without knowing the story? Maybe the child was crying just because Mom said no, they couldn't have the frosting-filled, sugar-covered doughnut? So many of you would be giving the mother dirty looks if she did let her child have that doughnut, wouldn't you? But, then again, that wouldn't have made the news.

I know the question is about the child screaming and what others might do. We have all seen this happen almost everytime we fly, shop, go to the movies. The question should be what should u do if u seen this man react the way he did. let me tell you what I would have done, call my wife to bail me out of jail for kickin his _________ !!!!!!

Jessica G, I look forward to the day when we see your child's mug shot on CNN. Because you have clearly taught them that violence is the way to go about getting what you want.

If I were the mother I would have raised my size 8 shoe and kicked him in the b....s 4 times until he screamed loud enough for everyone in Walmart to hear him.

Are you kidding?? It's a two year old. Any consideration over the fact that the mom probably has to deal with the child in whatever circumstances that she needs to. Maybe the child wasn't feeling well, maybe the mom HAD to go to the store and had no one to take care of the child for her. Maybe the child has a disability and releases through crying. You don't know so don't presume that it's anyone's fault. How about a little compassion for the mom and the kid. If the old guy can't deal with it, then the old guy should have moved himself to another aisle. If it were my child and he laid one finger on him or her, his ass would have been on the floor with my feet stomping on him.

I very much doubt this man is a criminal or a meany. He is simply from my generation that believed it was better to teach consequences of obnoxious behavior while very young; then find a shocked and dismayed teenager in custody complaining of "police brutality". This is instinctual.It is metered controled education of the young. Wake up America, these kids are so runamuck and run over you. They know no respect not even for themselves. I believe this child will be very little "scarred" by this lesson(you will call it attack)and Ill bet she will think about it before throwing another tantrum. We are above the animals but our philosophying has negated our wisdom in child rearing. We have produced a generation that is a danger to themselves. Even the sweetest grown dog will snap and cuff a beligerent pup, thats wisdom. I don't believe in "beatings" but I sure do believe in spanking. This never would have happened if Mothers and Fathers of this generation were not terrified to discipline their children. They know they should! But they fear the Government intervention and stupid peer presure. But the peers wont care when the kids in jail. I say the man did what most neighborhood fathers used to do to any kid that sounded off or acted up. And no one complained. I don't like face slapping I prefer butt or thigh slapping. But I believe this kid was probably over the top hysterical. I think this is what you call "reaping what you sow".

The man was wrong seems to be a consensus.

I have a question, it was said in a previous comment that the man should have gone to a different part of the store to escape the noise. Well I am of the other oppinion that the woman with the crying child should have taken the child to the restroom or outside untill they had the situation under control.

Having a child with you does not give the key to the city.

No one should be touvhing anothers child, but screeming children are all to frequent. I blame the government that tells parents what a spanking is child abuse (seen it with my own eyes, a woman arrested for spanking her child in public after he had kicked 3 older weman in the shins). I have looked at the child, making really stupid faces, the child laughs, the mom laughs, and the child forgot why it was crying.
usually by that time, the mother finily tuned in and goes to the check-out.

What would I have done? I would have grabbed the biggest item near me and wacked him over the head with it if he had grabbed my child and slapped her like that. I think it is crazy that people get so annoyed when kids cry, they are kids.... they are going to cry.

If I were the mom: after the man said that, I would leave my cart and get out of the store, fast.

If I were the man: I would say to the woman, "Boy, kids really can be difficult. Hang in there."

If I were a bystander: I'd call 911.

I'd have punched this idiots lights out, literally. He needs to be stomped into the ground, and kicked in the groin until he stops breathing. Put him in front of me, and I'd render him a cripple for the rest of his life. Touch my kid – you die!

for pete's sake the kid is 2 years old and most of the posts cite how their kids are angels or parents fault ect. At that age in a child's development their are murmurous medical conditions that bring rise to fits of crying. And yes it can be very disturbing to other onlookers or armchair persons whose their method is always best for dealing with these issues. But for me the fact here is a stranger let alone a grown man physically assaulted and battered a more or less infant.
Call me a callous bastard, in my mind I would have hastily went to the sporting department ,came back with a Louisville slugger and proceeded to issue this man a little quiet time up side the head.
Yes I said vengeance in the form of a vendetta,,,when will we stand up for those who can't?

This man's behavior is unacceptable. We cannot resort to violence at our own will. The man should've moved to a different part of the store if he was that affected by the child's noise. On the mother's part, perhaps she could've removed the child from the store until the tantrum was over? This story is insane!

with all the crap about not being able to dicipline your child anymore, without wondering if someone would report you for child abuse, its not easy getting your child to behave when they are constantly wanting something. My son(2 years) points out EVERYTHING and whines about it the rest of the time, but I just either ignore it and get what Im there at the store for or I make him wait to open it until we get home. But for man that hit that 2 year old would not see the light of day anymore. Parents who abused their children have ruined it for the parents who do correct dicipline. I was raised on the "pick your switch, the hand or the paddle, and to this day Im told by my mother and my inlaws that I need to take upthat kind of dicipline"tough love" which I havent because the way the world is today with laws. A smack on the butt would land me in jail faster then stink on s***, and never be able to see my son again...

God help the person who lays a finger on my child for any reason. I am glad it wasn't me-you'd be reporting a homicide at Wal-Mart.

Easy, what would I do in this situation? Well, having that motherly instinct, I would not have been able to just stand there. My foot or my knee would have instinctively come up very quickly and hard. Of course, you can't keep them down with just this, so my natural instinct is still in geer and my knee would have come up again as he bent forward in pain and shock. Now, of course, it will be okay to let the bystander hold him down while we awaited the police/security. If this is not a good call for self defense, you know what, it was certainly worth any punishment a Judge would give me. Something I think I could explain in any future employment interview.

I am curious to know how the kid is doing and whether it stopped crying after the incident. Did the mom attend to the crying child?

Regardless it is no excuse to hit a 2 year old. I would have just left the walmart and gone to some other store.

I am a mom of 3, emotionally stable, well educated and raised to be polite [I am also a fraction of the size of that man]. That said, if that man or ANYONE grabbed my child I would have screamed for help, grabbed my child back, kicked him in the b@!!s and, making sure my child was safe in the cart or in someone else's arms would have grabbed the biggest heaviest object near me and smashed his head in. Anyone who says anything else is not being honest. That confessed, this man needs to be kept away from society and a psych consult should be mandatory. Best wishes to that little girl and her mom.

I am totally OUTRAGED that anyone would believe that he did a "good thing" by smacking this baby!!!!! That poor excuse for a human would have had to pick himself up off the floor had it been my child he hit!!!!! No stanger has ANY RIGHT to touch a child without the parents consent!!!! I would have totally lost it and probably had been the one that had to go do jail!!!!!

He better pray his cellmates don't find out – he'll discover what a true beatdown is, and probably what he deserves.

From hi facial scowl in the still photo, to the facial tics and expression on his face in the video footage, there's little doubt that something is wrong with that guy.

He probably needs psychiatric treatment, and should be pitied instead of hated.

...but, that doesn't mean that I would not enjoy kicking the Sh$t out of him.

Maybe his cellmates will do it for us.

I myself can't stand to listen to a screaming child, but if he would have touched my child/grandchild, I would have grabbed the first can of peas, or whatever, and busted him in his face. I can't believe the mother didn't attack him!

If someone had done that to my child I would have grabbed the closest thing I could find and beat him off my child. I would want to kill him. I wouldn't kill him, but I would want to. That man is dangerous! A man that big could kill a small child with his bare hands. He belongs in a cage where he can't hurt anyone else. What is wrong with him? When I am around someone's crying child, I let the parent handle it. Sometimes I give them a sympathetic smile. Children cry. That's how they communicate. You don't hit a child to make them stop crying, you find out why they're crying and deal with it.

If I had been the Mom, I would have snatched his hair our by the roots, kicked his balls off and clawed his eyes out!!!!!!!!!! NOBODY messes with my kid!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am truly sorry I missed this guy. I'd ask him if he knew Jesus then sent him voyage ith a serious ass kicking. I cant imagine the mind set , as twisted as it must have been to even thinking he would survive this. This wont be the first time I and my brothers just happen to be in a place where a f her was slapping the crap out of his 4-5 year old kid. We handed him his ass in the parking lot on my mothers birthday and my brother was a pastor with his congregation at the same restaurant with us. I bet this clown has a long and unchecked history of this kind of nonsense. If you would have caught him earlier he wouldn't have gotten this far for so long. Guaranteed this aint his first little fooopah. Let him loose, we'll catch him nest trip around.

If that was my child, i swear to you i would stab him so bad he will not even make to see the judge.

I didn't answer your question....sorry...hard not to be angry about this. I think I would have been on him like a spider monkey! I would have beat him to the ground, screaming all the while. So glad he was arrested. He most certainly should have been.

Jessica: What does being a fan of corporal punishment have to do with some stranger doing the punishing? You would be OK if someone you've never seen before threatened YOU and then hit YOUR kid? And with this stranger – how far would it have gone? Might he have actually harmed the kid?

So yeah, the kid is crying in a store – it's better to remove them. But that does NOT give the stranger the right to smack some one else's child. If it had been my child, I would have tackled him myself. If it had been my husband, he would have beaten the guy (but then, I seriously doubt the man would have done anything if the baby's father had been present).

The thing that gets me – just from a logical standpoint, what's the typical response from a child who has just been hit? Shocked silence, and then MORE SCREAMING perhaps? The man wasn't just a jerk, but a stupid one, as well.

I was in a D****'s once about ten years ago. My waitress seated a mother and toddler near me, and I didn't think anything of it. After she ordered and the waitress walked away, she encouraged her child to screech to an ear-piercing, glass-breaking level. My ears literally hurt.

I politely asked the mother to stop encouraging her child to screech as her child was literally causing me pain. I did not think it was fair that I had to put up with the noise. She growled back at me, saying she had every right to be there as I was. I left the restaurant. I also did not leave a good tip for the waitress either for her lack of foresight. Sure I could have brought it up to the manager, but he probably would have told me the same thing.

At other restaurants, like A*******s, parents bring their toddlers in for an evening, and then allow their children to run wild, screaming. Parents do nothing about correcting the children's behavior. Instead the mother and father sit quietly, obviously tuning out their screaming children. Restaurant management also did nothing after our complaints.

My husband and I stopped going to A*******s just because of this. Restaurant management never did anything about it. Yet why should they? They want customers to fill their tables and eat their food. Clearly it is the parent's fault for allowing such loud, disruptive tomfoolery from their children.

It is clearly assault what that man did. I have no argument there. I agree with another reader that it is tough to calm down a screaming two year old, and yes, sometimes you do have let them scream it out until they tire themselves out.

My complaint is this: How many mothers and fathers allowed their children in restaurants to run amuck, scream their little heads off, and did nothing? I bet quite a few of you. It would certainly be a breath of fresh air if there were parents out there who trained their children on how to properly act in public and to be considerate of others. Understanding, respect and courtesy to others goes both ways – not just to parents with children.

I would never, I hope, slap a child but I understand why someone would. I shop at a store in Atlanta on a regular basis. I am in there so much that last week when I was there the manager asked where I had been the last couple of months. He knew exactly when I was there last. I told him that I could not handle all of the unruly kids that were there in the summer. Today's parents let their kids run wild today. Maybe someone should slap the parents.

The mother should have taken the child out of the store like my mother used to do with all 6 of us. Mothers have come to believe that everyone can tune their child like they tune them out. He was overboard, but I can understand the anger. Parents should removed the child from public when they are screaming. I don't want to hear your child scream!

That's what happened to me and my child 3 weeks ago at our Richland Public Library. My child is Autistic and was having a meltdown as my in-home care helper was taking him to the car because he needs a time out from being overwhelmed in public. Some random stranger in his late 60s can up and said "shut the mf child up!" and back handed him and made my 7 year old get a bloody nose. Then hit him again in the back as he passed my son and caregiver.
I just found out that the mail has an arraignment on the 18th for 4th degree assault, but will walk.
Piece of crap! What is wrong with people!
I am walking in that courtroom with a paddle! Just kidding. I am walking in that courtroom with the news from the local tv station and paper!

This man is a danger to the community. I do not care how annoying it was. Count your lucky stars old man that I was not there. No, you are not the one that used to hit me but you would have felt just as good going down.

Yes, Tim. It is bad to laugh. Children , especially toddlers are vulnerable and only cry if their very basic needs are not being met. They are already struggling and they need help and comfort. To then add abuse , is sick. Now consider this. You Tim, might be 6 foot tall and 200 pounds. You had a very bad day- maybe you got fired or lost all of your money or are just having the worst day ever. A giant; who is 13 feet tall ( the size of a 2 story building) and weighs 900 pounds, decides he doesn't want to listen to you cry out for help in the only way you know how and he picks you up and whacks you 4 times. I trust anyone can make the connection and form a conclusion.

Adults are giants compared to children- force should not be used.
It is not fare and it is cruel.... and it teaches violence and really poor problem solving skills.

There are plenty of times I'd love to do the same thing this guy did in Walmart. Most Walmart shoppers are the scum of the earth and I only go there when I absolutely have to shop there. Most mothers in that store let their kids scream and don't even try to shut them up. Kudos to the guy who did this.

I can so relate to how this man felt. Be honest, people! I recently had a crying child behind me in a booth at a restaurant where the mother was rocking her child back and forth so much that it was shaking my seat. Had it not been for the whiny brat in the first place nothing would have happened. Ok so we are supposed to overlook the child and ignore it. Why should we have to? It's not our fault the parent doesn't know how to calm or make the child behave. I don't think the man should have slapped her but I can certainly see how he would have wanted to do it. If the mom could not do her job then maybe one smack on the hand with a stern warning would have worked. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall.

When I was a small child it was generally accepted that punishment for excessive misbehaviour could be administered by any nearby adult. Your mother might be slightly offended that she was a) responsible for a child that needed such admonishment and b) that she wasn't close enough to take action herself, but she certainly would never think of calling the police, nor would the incident make national news headlines.

All the kids I knew were brought up under this 'rough justice' system and I suppose we all developed a healthy respect for authority and our elders. None of us, that I know of, ever, as adults, murdered anyone, became drug-addicted, entered psychoanalysis or were violent towards our own children.

Watch animals in the wild. The adults nip, bite and occasionally kick their young to keep them in line and show them what is right to do and what is wrong to do. And the punishment is often meted out by adults that are not the parents.

Yes, this man behaved excessively, and he should have known better to behave this way in a society that has lost its moral compass and whose methods of child-rearing have resulted in appalling crime rates and grave psychological problems without parallel in human history.

Hi My name is yolanda from Wormleysburg,P.A.I would have done absolutely nothing to shut this c hild up.Its up to the mother to takecare of that matter.Its her child and she should know whats best for this child.Children dont know any better.They are innocent and by slapping a child and the child shuts up does not mean it was the right thing to do.And beside who the heck is this man to take matters into his own hands.

No one, no matter how unruly the child is, has the right to physically hurt someone else's child. I am a responsible parent, and i will always try my best to take my child outside of a store/restaurant if my child has a meltdown. BUT in certain occasions it might not be feasible. Like if i was waiting line at walmart and about to checkout, i would rather try for a quick checkout and then make a run for it outside! People who comment on understanding this guy because they also think children these days are misbehaving, need to get a clue because this child is TWO YEARS old... not five or ten. You cannot REASON with a two year old who are VERY prone to temper tantrums (ever hear of terrible twos?)

This old man on the other hand has no excuse for HIS temper tantrum. He's old enough to know better and should act his age.

Oh yeah slap a child to make it stop crying – that just makes a lot of sense!!!
About as much sense as spanking the child to make it stop crying. I admit I don't like hearing crying children in stores either and I do have children, and maybe mom should have taken the child out of the store and maybe home – but without knowing all the circumstances NONE of us have a right to judge what she did or didn't do – but the man should not have slapped the toddler.
Hooray for the people who held him until security and the cops could haul the guy in.
2 years olds aren't necessarily "throwing a fit" when they are crying, they may be tired, hungry, sick, and maybe mom was getting medicine and then going home – been there -

Under no means should you ever touch anyone else's children. I don't care how cranky the kid is being. There are these things called boundaries, and you have no right to slap a child especially a stranger's child. Let someone slap my 2 year old (for that matter my 5 year old or my 8 year old) and we will see what happens. People today think that they can make comments to people anywhere that they go.

I raised 2 girls and a boy from age 8 to 12, then divorced and remarried raising my own. They ALL have been very successful in life of the first marriage and my kids now are A+'s in school and many strangers come up to me to say they are well behaved.
I am sure if the child was crying that the mother should have brought her up well enough to stop her crying. The excuse of she's just a child gives an out for the parent to lean on so that the parent is not at fault nor the child. I think what I've written thus far shows it IS the parent !
As for the man, I wish to thank him for his actions (but one light slap would of been more than enough) so that maybe, just maybe the mother will be more concerned with the child's crying in the future and be a better mother for her so the child knows its not an acceptable thing to do.

Wow- so many comments about how the mom was out of line for not controlling her 2 year old- I guess all of you perfect people never had any tantrums or meltdowns as a child? I guess your kids never had tantrums in public? As a mother of a toddler, trust me, it's extremely embarrassing when your kid is the one having a meltdown in public. You try anything you can think of to get the child calmed down. If that doesn't work and you're in a restaurant, you get your dinner to go. If you're in a store, you finish shopping as quickly as possible. The reality is, sometimes you can't get a sitter and you have to take a child to the store if you want to have dinner that night. If this mother had spanked her child in the store, she probably would've had CPS called on her for child abuse. I think all the adults expecting toddlers to be perfect 24/7 should examine their own behavior- if you get that angered by briefly hearing a child being noisy in public, you have some issues, too.

My 1st reaction was to laugh and say "Good!" But then I thought about it and it is wrong. Did not have to right to touch that child(baby). I would have choked him if he were to slap my child.

This guy had some nerve to make a comment like that and to actually put his hands on someone else's child, he was very lucky to leave walmart walking on his leggs because if i would have been that mother the situtation would not have gotten that far, when he made the threat of teeling my little girl to shut up or he would both of us would have been scrapping all over that store, and i would have been going to jail along with that NUT....

I would have probably slammed him with my shopping cart. Disgraceful and shameful thing he did there. Hope he gets some heavy sentencing

Well, obviously the older man just lost it and shouldn't have done what he did, but truthfully, I can understand and sympathize with him. I don't have kids, and when I hear a kid screaming in a store or restaurant, it's like nails on a chalkboard to me. I usually mutter under my breath, "Oh, shut the f__ up!" and get as far away as possible. While I do feel sorry for parents when their kids act out in public, I also must wonder why people can't control their children more. I do feel that many people with children are not as thoughtful of other people as they should be. Screaming children are very grating when one is not used to it.

Unbeliveable ! He was real lucky the dont let people carry guns in that state!! Bring him to Texas!! we will handle him...............

look at this guy, he just looks like scum! i wish someone would give him 4 wacks across his ugly mug!

I find that giving the kid the "stink eye" usually works pretty well.

Without seeing the situation, I too am surprised this guy was able to grab the child and slap her four times without the mother intervening. Perhaps it was just too shocking and surreal that the mother simply froze.

I'm trying to think about how I would have handled it, as my daughter is couple months over 2 years old, and has her fussy moments, as do all 2 year olds...

It's hard to say. On one hand, it wouldn't be hard to imagine me simply telling the guy to F off. On the other hand, if I felt he was serious, and not just being a crotchety old man, I probably would have gone into a defensive mode, and calmly warned him of the actions I would take if he approached me or my daughter. Followed by alerting security and store management.

I don't tend to really let my daughter out of my reach when we're in stores, as she is pretty quick and nimble, and the stores are no place for her to be running around. So, it's hard to imagine this guy would be able to get to her and smack her four times before I could step in. If it did manage to happen, my reaction would be to get my daughter to safety. If he was still in the immediate area, I would incapacitate him to prevent him from attacking again. I know I'd want revenge, and want to keep hammering away on the guy, but consoling my daughter and making her feel safe would take precedence over that.

Maybe. Just thinking about it has the adrenaline pumping. I have a good amount of self-control, but much like most parents, when it comes to my kids, there are defensive instincts that kick in that I don't think can be controlled.

4 slaps may have been a bit much for a two year old, but a GOOD SPANKING IS NOT ABUSE. (No pictures of the "victim") He is not a coward but is fedup with society. We can't discipline kids anymore and that's why we have a generation of brats coming our way. How many kids have been in the news lately killing adults and going on crazy car chases because adults did not give in their every whim? 4 in the last week, and that's just on CNN.com It's scary! While most of us have the refrain to not act in all the nasty thoughts that come to our heads, I am sure more people have thought about doing this than they'd be willing to admit.

Jail for that guy. Lot's of it. I want him put into a group cell with some real hard core bullies so he knows what it feels like to be threatened. And then court mandated psychotherapy so he can learn some impulse control and self-reflective skills.

Well I know it sounds bad but like the old saying goes it takes a village. Some parents just dont take responsiblity for their kids. My kids would not pull that crap when they were little they did the crying thing to their mother and every time she picked them up and left the store scolding the whole way about public ediqute they only did it a few times and realized they wouldnt be allowed to go if they act up. No kidding she left right then no dilly dally just left home to ther rooms. I do think 4 slaps is a bit much honestly I couldnt count on one hand the times I slapped my kids but its your responsibility and if you dont someone will.

I agree that children should not be allowed to behave poorly, but 2??? I believe in spanking but when my child is DONE, I could spank her 10 times in a row and it wouldn't calm her down. That is when parents need to pick up their child and take them out of the store! However, if anyone EVER hit my child let alone threatened them...I would hit them with anything I cold get my hands on! That is NEVER acceptable and clearly shows a very disturbed person who can do that to a child. I understand kids can be annoying to other people, I have two and one on the way. We've all had situations where we thought a kid was a total brat and the mom was totally out of control, but it's NEVER ok to hit a child across the face and NEVER ok to hit someone elses child!

When he made a motion to hit my child, I would have been all over his all.

Pea-brained Georgian by the name of Stevens....

Baseball bat......

Some assembly required.

I am hopeful that Mr Stevens will discover the joys of being the slapp-ee vs the slapp-er in the Graybar Hotel.

Bubba, your new room-mate is here. Ain't he Purtee??????

This man should be charged for assaulting a child and hopefully go to jail for this. Yes children today are more spoiled BUT a crying child in a store is so common and maybe this mom is very strict and reprimands her child..that we do not know...but even children of the strictest parents have meltdowns in public places...for all those wanna be MOTHER OF THE YEARS who judged this woman and claimed that their children are well behaved and would never act like that in a store...shame on you all....bottom line is that a total stranger slapped a 2 yr old four times...come on now...thats INSANE!!! This mom should press charges against him and sue him for trauma to this child.

When this man made a motion to hit my child or grandchild, I would have interceded. I would have been all over his "ASS."

Whoa! I agree with Juliet. If anyone came near my child AT ALL, I'd be on the defense. I think I would have tried to beat the crap out of that guy. That's ridiculous! That guy has to be insane.

Wow, I have actually been in this situation where I come upon a crying upset child while shopping. I instantly asked if the baby was ok, then sympathized with the parent, because guess what? Nobody likes the idea of a child crying...well I would hope. Yeah dumb ass, the child may have been sick with an earache, or whatever else we humans get sick with, so I'm sure that your 4 slaps to the head would have helped. Whatever, I hope they throw the book at you. BTW, it's a good thing it wasn't my child you slapped, because personally speaking, I would have crammed your balls up your rectum with my sz 7 pretty little foot!

I understand the frustration of all concerned however I wonder if those who are saying how they would have punished the child immediately or wonder why people do nothing when their children are misbehaving, etc. have ever had to explain to a child protective worker that a spanking is NOT abuse, or that it is NOT against the law to strike a child (in most jurisdictions) although it is against the law to strike them so hard as to break a bone, or leave a mark that is there longer than an hour later, etc. Many parents these days are afraid to physically punish a child because they do not want to lose their child to the state system. I do think it is totally out of line for this man to have put his hands on someone else's child for any reason and his actions do merit punishment. It just needs to be said that many of the kids that are so out of control today have been raised in a time when child protective workers and the like have far, far too much power over the lives of ordinary citizens.

If he had done this to my child, I can tell you he would not have been led out by police in handcuffs, he would have been rolled out on a gurney by paramedics.

This is hard to even believe. The first slap to my child would have meant body harm to him. Since he is such a big guy, I would kick him in a way that would be a sure way to put him on the floor. If he tried to get up then I would have to choice but to try to rip his eyes out!! NO-ONE will ever lay their hands on my children. This man should be put in jail for a long time.

what would I do? what would I do? Come Rick. What hell would you do? I would of slowly grabbed my kid, and punched the hell out of him. And if he was still standing knock his but out again. If you are a parent, that would be the first and only action. Period. You don't have call any police. He was SLAPPING YOUR KID!!! My first reaction is the only action I am going to have to take for the whole night. Trust me.

What would you do? What kind of question is that.

As a mom – I would have taken my child physically to ensure its safety – sat it down behind me – kneed the guy in the privates – picked up my child and ran to get a store manager/security- if there had been people around I would have asked them to pin him down. Did you see this guy in court? He looks really scary

i would do the same thing believe me ! but only 2 slaps for 2 years old
4 years old = 4 slaps etc etc ....

some parents like to disturb people and make a scene just because they have some brats .... no one cares about what they have of course but DO NOT DISTURB PEOPLE !

I would do what I often do, which would be to console the child and comfort the parent. I generally say things like, "Someone sounds tired" or "Feeling crabby, huh? Sometimes I feel like that when I'm at Walmart, too." I commiserate with the parent, especially if I sense that they are on the edge and might hit the kid themselves. I try to help lighten the mood and help them through it.

Having a very playful kid myself, some kids are just different from the others. Some kids make more noise than the others. It depends on how their parents teach their kids. It's really none of the business of others. I flew on a plane when my kid misbehaved all the time. Only parents with kids will understand. It's hard to control some kids. Those without kids will never understand. Next time you see a shouting kid, especially a toddler, leave it to his/her parents. It isn't that bad listening to those noises.

Using violence to teach a lesson is wrong.

How can we teach children to behave if we don't model it for them? How can we teach children to behave if we hit them and then tell them not to hit?

Children don't know how to be good unless we explain it to them.
If children are expected to behave, then we need to explain what good is – sitting quietly in the store or we will leave. Use your words instead of whining.

Explaining to children how to behave is teaches children to behave even when mom and dad are not around. Spanking children only teaches them that if they are bad in front of their parents, they will get spanked. If they are bad elsewhere there is no punishment because mom and dad are not here.

Why must we teach children to fear us? Adults don't like to live in fear of other adults, why should children be expected to live in fear?

That guy bears a serious resemblance to Frankenstein's monster - and he committed a major felony assault on a helpless child. I applaud the courage of the other shoppers for detaining him. Whether he is mentally ill or not, he is a danger to others, and I hope he is severely dealt with. His lack of self-control and brutish size make him somebody you do not want walking around.

As to the strange array of folk on here who applaud him or fail to understand the nature of assault and battery on a child, or who blame the mother, they only affirm the fact that the Internet has turned over a big log, letting these characters come crawling out. For these oddballs, listen up: little toddlers are not animals, they are complex human beings who are not always able to control themselves. Mothers are sometimes unable to hush them up, too. That is just one of the facts of life, and if you are a mature adult, you learn to live with it. If you are a good person, you sympathize. Or else you just walk away. Life is not a slugfest. For all those who believe in corporal punishment of a child - yours or anybody else's, you are bullies, plain and simple.

Can I give him a medal? Yes, I had a child – and the kind that was difficult in public. So, I tried to make sure that if I took him out in public, I only took him out when he wasn't tired or hungry. Also, I thanked the people who helped me discipline him when he didn't behave. I spanked him when he didn't behave – and now (age 38) he says he is so glad that he had a Mom that cared enough to do that – and is really grateful that he had no abuse! I really feel sorry for the parents today who don't appreciate any help they can get to make certain their children become decent members of society. Frankly, I think we should maybe punish the mother that was allowing her child to cry without taking him outside. Frankly, maybe she should have been slapped – not the child!

p.s. It is never okay to hit a child! There are many ways to help a child learn to handle moods and situations without resorting to violence. We just have to be mature enough to be willing to learn what they are, if we don't already know how (which most of us don't, evidently).

I have been in that situation many times and blame the parents who dont shut these kids up. I have thought of slapping crying screaming little kids a million times and for good measure, slapping the parents wouldn't hurt a bit. I whole heartedly applaud this man for doing what should be done waay more often. I fully agree that if the parent wont shut these little bastards up, that someone we should be able to do it. If these parents cant control these kids, then leave them home and if they dont want them, then keep your legs together. I feel that more slapping of kids should be encouraged and even legalized. Mr. Stephens, my hat goes off to you for a job well done. Thank you sir.

I have a two yr old grandaughter. If that happened to her while we were together i can asure you he would be walking backwards the rest of his life! Walmart is a public place who does he think he is!

I work with eight two year olds all day it requires lots of patience. Now granted two year olds will give you a run for your money, but at that age they have a lot going on. I mean they're cutting their back molars, and at their age they are curious about their environment and lets not forget their body clocks at certain times. They get hungry or sleepy and they may get cranky, but i will tell you this, any person who would slap another persons child should pay the price. Not only should he do jail time but he should take anger management classes. I have been in childcare for twenty years and it is a tough job but, those two year olds are my babies. I dont know how i would react as a parent because i dont have any of my own but you never know, i might knock the crap out of him because a parent's kids are their pride and joy.

If this guy hit my child, i would first get my child out of harm's way, then, come hell or high water, i would beat the living crap out of him.

Yes, it's frustrating being around a screaming child whether it be a tantrum, bad parenting, or otherwise. But it's life, it happens. We need to remember that we were all that screaming child once. We're not in this world alone and our lives are bound to bump into each other.

Hi Rick, I would have kicked this guys ass.

If i was anywhere around , i would have beaten the crap out of that guy! What kinda weirdo beats up some one else's kid?...

Seriously, I can't believe that so many people are siding with the old dude for slapping another person's 2 yr old. This is inexcusable.

Should we really slap children who can not effectively communicate what they want or if something is bothering them. They sometimes have no other communication method other than screaming or crying.

Annoying – yes, but, since you are the adult and not the 2 year old – deal with it as an adult would (or should). God forbid somebody in this world actually gave a crap about someone else for a change and asked the mom if she and the kid were doing OK or if they needed any help.
Does the child have a gassy stomach? Is the kid on any meds (like steroid inhalers) that might artificially hop the kid up a little bit – did the kid pinch his or her finger on the cart or something?

How about adults and (fathers in particular) leading by example – what kind of example did the old man set ? I say that the old man acted more like a 2 year old.

Maybe the old man is the one who really should have a 24/7 caretaker – and maybe his caretaker shouldn't let him go out in public by himself to slap all of the 2 year olds in the walmart stores.

What an extremely pathetic and selfish country this has become.

I would have given the Child some type of sweet Candy and I would have given the old Guy the ass whipping of his Life.

If I were that mother, I would've kecked hin in the "you know whats". Where does an adult man, old enought to know better, do something like that? That child will never forget that. I believe that's she's scarred for life. He belongs in the looney bin for life!

I can understand being annoyed, but it's a big store-punk could have walked away, instead of following her over onto another aisle to assault the kid. That proves he gave it some thought instead of it being just a reaction type thing.
Wonder if he'd have the stones to have tried that if the kids daddy was there instead of just mommy? I doubt it..

There is no way I would allow anyone to lay hands on my child. They would be lucky to leave the store conscious. I protect my child with my life. I don't hit my child myself, why would I let someone else get away with it? Hitting children only teaching them to fear and hide their actions from adults, not to respect them. There is no excuse for any kind of abuse on a child.

I am amazed at the number of people who seem to think this ********* was justified in slapping a baby in the face because her mom wasn't doing it first. What is wrong with you people?? Two-year olds cry sometimes. You all were two once upon a time and I'm sure you pitched a fit or two along the way. I'm a mother of two very young kids and I try very hard to ensure they don't bother other people in public places, but they are occasionally going to be loud, cry, goof off and act like *shock* little kids. I deal with it as well as I can, but I am not going to hit my kids to terrorize them into submission like some people suggest. If one of them is having a particularly hard time I will remove him from the situation and come back when he's calm.

If this piece of human garbage had laid a finger nail on one of my kids, he'd be eating through a straw right now. What he did has no justification, regardless of whether or not the mother was making an effort to calm the child. There is no way to justify his behavior. None.

well...the story doesn't explain the circumstance clearly enough to pass judgement. if the child was throwing a fit because they couldn't have a cookie or something and the mother seemed distraught, perhaps it was good for the mother to have someone show her it's ok to correct her child in public. a small red mark from a few taps to the face..isn't all that bad. although it wasn't his child, i do understand that. last week at the bus stop a father of another chid grabbed my son's arm and made him stop throwing rocks from an elderly lady's yard while i was busy with my 2 year old. i yelled at my son to not pull away, you stop and listen until he is done speaking. children cannot be permited to run wild, scream and yell at their parents. too many parents fear they will be introuble for disipline anymore. it's a shame.

I have two kids, I know how toddlers get. When someone else's toddler gets tired and crabby, I ignore it. When it was my kids, I stopped shopping and took them home. As far as this goof in Atlanta is concerned, if I had been the mother of that toddler, your story wouldn't be about him hitting my child; your story would be about me kicking his ass – he'd be either in the hospital or the morgue.

I would beat the bastard so badly that people will feel sorry for him

Had this happened to my child, I would have beaten the man to death.
With absolutely no hesitation. None whatsoever. None.
How dare this clown have the audacity and total impudence to strike a small child that cannot strike back. How dare him?

I am the same size as that man in the arrest footage. A LCD screen would have been slammed on his head, repeatly. Whatever heavy metal or plastic object was available. My primitive instincts would have "kicked-in" to defend my child. And my attorney will claim "self-defense" up and down the aisle. It would be just another day in America.

If someone did that to my little kid I would beat the crap out of them right there and then call for clean up on ile 7! No way he gets away with that.

lacouple: do you have any kids??? I sure hope not.

First of all I'm a guy and probably the only reason this curmudgeon did it is because the parent was a woman. If it was me in her position and he said that to me he'd be lucky if he was still standing after he said it. If he actually did it while I was there he would not get up off the floor alive.
This old bag needs his meds.

I'll say what everyone else is too afraid to say. It's totally rude and awful what he did BUT it's also rude and awful to let your screamin brat go on in the store. take it to a bathroom or better yet LEAVE It at home. Maybe now people will think twice before bringing their screaming baby to the store to bother others.

It just shows you where we are as a society. Everyone does what is right in their own mind. I have 9 kids, and my kids don't act like that in stores. The childs behavior reflects on the parents. But even so, I think we all know he was wrong. Now if the child was crying out of rebellion, then the mother should have been the one to disipline the child, but the child might have been tired and if that is the case, it is expected. When I hear a kid crying in the store, I just tune it out. If a 2 year old is stressing you out, you have other problems.

Hello Rick!
These type of people need to stay home. I have witnessed older people walking around our local Walmart cursing parents for not being able to calm their children, But to put your hands on someone elses kid is just wrong, Lord help the person who were to touch my kids, If you can't stand kids crying stay home, Thanks Rick
Tim Olvera

oh and for those who asked "oh my how could the mother possibly allow the man to get that close to the baby!?" Probably because the screamin kid was running around behind the mom like you see all the time. It's enough to drive a person mad!

This is in response to Makus..several comments back. You need to shut your pie hole and find the appropriate site to rant on about your left-wing socialistic views you moron!

The guy in his 61 years has probably seen all sorts of nonsense under the guise of 'parenting'.

He definitely shouldn't have done what he did but I bet, in the long run, that kid will be better for it.

I can only think of two things that happened here – and both of them have to do with mental health. He is either crazy or developing dementia. My grandfather has dementia, and he can get very angry over things that are really nothing. That might explain it. I hope he has some family that will have him evaluated. I was also in a situation like this. I was on a tour of a gold mine in Colorado – 1000' below ground. During the tour, the guide was showing how various pieces of air powered equipment worked, which was loud at times. A little boy on the tour with his dad got scared and started to cry. There was guy on the tour, probably in his fifties, who kinda smelled like he'd been drinking too much, and he started yelling at the kid shut up, saying he was a p–sy. I'm a 220lb former Marine, and it was all I could do not to snap this dirtbag's neck. Bottom line, anyone who interferes with a parent's control of their child (other that a police officer in the line of duty) is dead wrong. If I had seen this man slap that little girl, then I would have laid him out right there, dementia or no dementia. Someone had to protect that little girl, even if she was a brat at the time.

I would have knocked him flat on his behind. What an A@$

That man would never have touched a child of mine and been able to walk away in one piece. The police would have had to be called on ME for what I'd have done to him. I hope he gets a very harsh punishment for his actions. Totally uncalled for. I can only guess he may be mentally ill. Who in their right mind would ever have the b-- to touch someone else's child in that manner?

Wal-mart? Of course. That place is chock a block full of screaming children, so I'm not surprised that somebody just lost it and took matters into his own hands.

I'd pay extra to shop at a store that required unruly screaming crying children to be immediately removed from the premises ... or, even better, simply didn't allow children under 5 at all. The peace and quiet and freedom from being assaulted by the little brats would be well worth the extra cost.

I commend the guy. What a great trend to start. It's like training for parents. I consider this a punishment to the mother really. Her kid will be able to blame her b/c she wasn't taking care of the kid. SO some guy lost it and smacked the kid around a couple times. Hopefully this is a lesson learned for all the parents out there. If they are bawling, remove them from the situation. There are crazy people out there who will do what everyone is wishing they COULD do. Come on, it's so annoying when kids have meltdowns in public places and nothing is done. Take the kid out. Leave the cart where it is and remove the kid from the situation. Parents need to be aware that others are annoyed & some of them aren't afraid to do something about it.

Rick:

I would have smiled, said Oh! My! whats wrong? are you tired?
Distracting them is better than slapping them. I normally get a reaction
from the child, and they stop crying, I tell them how pretty they are, or maybe how nice their hair looks, what a pretty dress!
100% of the time, I think to myself, Someones not happy. And go about my business.

Children cry.
I would do nothing about a crying child.
If a stranger laid a hand on my child for any reason , they would have bigger issues than felony child cruelty charges and so would I.

Rick asks what I would have done to stop a hysterical toddler from crying? You ask the mom to give the child a hug and some attention.

Next question?

-Gary

If someone did that to my kid, I would be going to jail. I would have snapped his neck right then and there.

I firmly believe that there should be stores/rest./airlines/hotels/cities/states/nations that are KID FREE. I absolutely hate the sound of a child....I take night flights because its a known fact the A. the child will be passed out or B. there are no kids.

I applaud this man...its about time someone stood up to horrible parenting. My mother would have never let me scream like that in public and probably most likely would have let someone hurt me if I did.

GET OVER IT.

Some of you are being ridiculous. This was a store, not a restaurant, a movie theater, a play, or a formal event. Sure it would be nice to leave the store just because a baby or toddler is crying... but hey, you have to get food, diapers, formula, clothing or shoes at some point in time. It's a 2 year old. They throw temper tantrums. They don't have the willpower or the ability to listen to you when you want them to stop. They have no impulse control and they have to LEARN to control their own actions IN THEIR OWN TIME. They barely understand 1/2 of what comes out of adults mouths. If this was an older child I would agree that the parents needed to talk to the child and control their child, but it's a 2 year old.

I just hope that there is no way that he can claim any kind of emotional problems. This was just a mean old man who for whatever reason felt justified in taking his bad mood out on an innocent child. I know our legal system is limited in the form of punishment it can dole out , but I feel that crimes against children should be dealt with swiftly and strongly.

IF HE DID THAT TO EITHER ONE OF MY CHILDREN I WOULD'VE BEAT HIM!! But I don't think it woud've gotten that far beacuse once he were to make a comment about my screaming child I would've had something to say to him.
I've had a lady tell me my child was too loud in blockbuster because he was laughing so I told her she shouldn't be out in public! I've had another lady give me a look for my child cheering on the Chargers really loud AT THE STADIUM and I had something to say to her! NO STRANGER tells my children how to behave!

I've been reading some posts and some people are ridiculous! Sometimes it's not the parents fault, sometimes 2 yr olds just have meltdowns. I have a 3 year old that gets disciplined and there are still times that he just has a meltdown. Kids will be kids.

The bully should go to jail.

If he did that to my kid, he would be swallowing his teeth... guaranteed. Just thinking about it makes me twinge. No one has the right to do that PERIOD. There would be an ambulance called.

Well Rick at times I feel like slapping you a few times If you where in front of me. Yea I would have stuffed that crying kid in the frozen foods freezer
As for the Mom get over it. =-)

Oh for heaven's sake. Get a grip, people.
Even the police said that the child only had a little redness on her face.
Didn't it dawn on anyone that the story was made out to be much worse than it is?
I've seen children who have been slapped hard in my ER and they didn't just have a little redness on their face.
This mother is a looney!
Besides this is Wal-mart! What's the average IQ in the store in Atlanta...55?

As a parent, a retail manager & a 40+ women. I strongly believe that we as a society are now paying for all the interference that was allowed from outside sources when it comes to the family units. Parents today are to passive, they are afraid of someone turning them in for child abuse if they correct thier children in public or they just believe that a "time out" gets better results. When i was growing up dad had a belt, and wasnt afraid to use it and we knew it, so we behaved. kids today are taught to turn in their parents if they are corrected,there is your loving goverment, not to mention the by-stander who thinks it is thier right to turn the parent in when a parent actually corrects the child at the time the child misbehaves, not 2 hours later when at home and the child doesnt remember being bad. Personally, i applaud the man, maybe slapping the woman 4 times for making me listen to a screaming child would have been better. Either way parents need to take responsiblity for their childrens actions, and acknowledge the surrounding people their are affecting.

I would of punched him in the face a min of 4 times just to let him know how it felt. Then called the cops. haha

Yes kids are very annoying, when parents dont know how to control them or maybe just dont care. He probably would of been better off slapping the mother. Parents should be made to maintian thier off spring in public or be sited or just leave them at home, i have seen many such instances were children are not behaving in public and really blame the parent. Some just dont care.

Dont get me rong i dont condone any one hitting any child, But it shure make me wonder, 4 times? I dont beleive that

Yea...Yea...Yea... If that had been my child???????? Probably, the best thing woulda been was to slap the mother first, then mr. rogers woulda had her attention. He then coulda showed the mom how to shut the child up. I've raised 7 and you will never catch my kids running around or screaming in a store. wal mart or any store. Spare the rod and spoil the child.... The mom shoulda had respect for other shoppers. I can't believe she could ignore this childs crying????? what kinda mom is she? KUDOS for MR. ROGERS. Maybe, he'll have an understanding judge that's tired of parents ignoring their kids, and kock her up and sentence her to parenting classes. I can't believe all of you think a crying kid is all right to listen to? That's what's wrong with our schools today. A parent of an out-of-control kid that got a paddling he rightly deserved, and the parent went crying child abuse. Let's put PRAYER and the PADDLE back in school. I PROMISE, Wal-Mart would be a lot more pleasant to shop at.

i would have kicked him in the nuts if he touched my child!!!

Rick,

This man had no business assaulting someone else's child! He should be punished for doing that. In the same spirit, the next time I see a parent publicly spanking a child, I will have them arrested for public indecency.

I don't wish to watch a parent spank a child. I have a WONDERFUL, well-behaved 14-year-old daughter and I never spanked her.

By spanking your child, you teach them two important things:

Violence is how you control other people.
Fear is the best motivator for "respect".

This man should be in jail for lay a hand on that woman's child like that because he is not that child father and beside the child is only 2 years old and if that had been a black woman child she would have knock him out and then press charges against him.

What an unbelievable pig! How dare he hit any child, let alone a stranger's child. Oh but he apologized. And the sad part is, he'll probably be released on probation for it.

If I have to deal with screaming children I walk away, or if I'm on a plane or bus, put on my headphones and listen to music. You have got to learn to ignore it. Good grief man, Walmart is a big place, go to another section until mom leaves the area and then come back...looks like a little exercise and some common sense wouldn't hurt you!

Rick,

I'm offended by your question. How dare you ask strangers what they would do to "shut up" someone else's child? Strangers have no right to take action against someone else when they have no idea what the circumstance is. Why don't you ask parents what they would have done to protect their child if someone threatened the child or another family member?

How did the mom not kill this man right then and there? I don't care if the kid was running around....a two year old.....I don't think so.....love to see if he had any kids and how they turned out.

I would be sooo embarrased that I wouldn't stay a minute at the store if my child was not disciplained in the public first of all. By saying it, I mean I wouldn't even give this guy a chance to slap my child!!!!!!!!!

I would have beat that old crank to death on the floor of that Wal-Mart.

Frankly, the man would have never gotten close enough to slap my child, and if my some small chance in hell that he did and he touched my child period in any way, I would have kicked his ass clear into the next century.

That said, I will also say shame on the mother. If my child were that upset and cranky I would leave the store and take them home as obviously there were issues that needed to be addressed...perhaps they were too tired from being dragged around all day, or perhaps they weren't feeling well. Whatever the cause, it was a need that should have been responsibly dealt with my the parent.

I must say no one has the right to touch another person period, especially a child....the man is deranged and a danger to society.

I admit smacking somebody else's 2 year old is wrong. just some food for thought. i am 31 years old and disgusted at how i see peoples kids act today compared to when i was age 6-14. maybe if older kids knew their parent or a stranger might smack them like in the olden days you might see kids up to and including their teen years act more respectful and courteous. remember you cant smack kids now a days their taught to call children services.

kevin

I will donate to defend this guy! Bravo. The mother should have gone to jail for disturbing the peace and child endangerment. If a kid was screaming like that in Walmart. a restaurant or anywhere in public, I would called 9-1-1 on the mother – she was most likely drunk, stoned or just plain stupid to allow her child to be acting like an irrational brat in a public place. Shame on you for being a terrible mother. Children should be punished for rude behavior, and if their crackhead parents won't do, let perfect strangers. You just may end up with decent kids one day if they fear getting the crap beat out of them in public.

If I were that mom I would have slaped the guy back as many times as he slapped the kid.

No way was it right to smack someone else's child. I do wonder what was going on in the parent's mind where they didn't immediately take their kid far enough from that grumpy old man! Aren't parents supposed to protect their children from harm? Leave the old guy where is, apologize (if just so smooth things over/buy time), and go report him to security or management! Don't be within arms distance of some creeper!
Fatherade.com

As a mother of two, you think you have been in every awkward situation with kids and strangers..this tops the cake! I would of found the closest thing that would hurt the SOB and hit him in the face! I would of completely lost my cool...cudos to the mom that handled herself well

Rick. One thing I noticed on your video of the court appearance. He has frequent facial tics. If you're a Neurologist and willing to play the odds, increased facial tics in a stressful situation may be normal, but also could suggest Tourette's which is common as dirt in males, and is associated with OCD (obsessive compulsive d/o). Also as we age, our tolerance to noxious auditory stimuli lessens, maybe he just decompensated. Shouldn't pardon him, but a felony with a long jail time? Anger management here I come.

This man did the right thing. I know all of you will comment after me and say I'm cruel or sick or whatever. He did the right thing. I used to work in a department store very similar to Wal-Mart. I've been there for 10 hours at a time and on entire days heard nothing but screaming kids. One time a mother kept the same screaming kid in the store and just let the kid keep screaming and she stayed in my department for over an hour. Just because you're used to an ill-behaved child at home doesn't mean you should force the consequences on the rest of us. I'm not saying every child who screams or cries in a supermarket is ill-behaved, as children at that age are unpredictable and sometimes a pain to deal with – but 30 years ago, how many crying and screaming children were there running around in grocery stores? This man was doing what any reasonable parent from his generation would have done. What were the consequences from that generation? Americans have become over-sensitized and over-react. If I mouthed off as a child, I got slapped or spanked – that's life. In fact, this parent should have been slapped as well. If you don't want to discipline your child at home, that's your business, but do it for the sake of everyone around you if you go in public. Then again....seeing as how it happened at a Wal-Mart, I'm surprised anyone noticed.

I think that we all get a bit desensitized to the horror and bloodshed that happens on a daily basis. But, I have to tell you...I was stunned when I read this story. The audacity is over the top. If this happened to me, the only thing (potentially) keeping me from putting him out of his misery (and keeping me off of death row), is his own misery. He must be mentally ill to do something like that. Mentally ill or not however, he would likely meet his maker if he did that to my 2 year old.

Incidentally, I find it quite amusing that most of the people posting here talk about "violence not solving anything" yet they want to physically assault this man as an act of retribution.

You can't have it both ways, people! We either teach our children that violence IS the way to teach (and justify spanking them ourselves) or we teach them civility and the lesson that no one (not even parents) have the right to lay hands on anyone.

obviously he feels the best way to teach someone a lesson, even a defenseless child, is by brutal force. so maybe someone should teach him a lesson using the same technique. if no ones up for the task i can assure you i definitely would be up to it. or perhaps we should wait til hes back in diapers in a nursing home and then give him a good slap around

Rick,
I tell you what that man is so lucky he did not do that to one fo my kids, My Grandkids or even let me be the Stranger that stopped him. Had he done that around me God himself would not have been able to get me off that man. Since when do you slap a child because the Child is cranky anyway and #2 since when do we as Americans take it upon ourselves to hit someone elses kid especially one you don't even KNOW!!! They need to bury that Jacka$$ under the Jail. He looks like Evil and the Devil all rolled into one.

There is no way this guy would have left WalMart ALIVE!!!! I would have cracked everything in my reach upside his head.

I do not tolerate tantrums or fits from my children. I do not tolerate a any of from visiting kids, whether it be a good friend of mine or a family member. So when I heard this, all I could think of was: About time. Somebody needed to regain control of that kid. However, while I don't agree with the way the man handled the child per say, I'd have slapped the mother. I'd have slapped her for raising her child without respect, without discipline and without social graces. People should stop allowing kids to throw such tantrums, especially in public. There is no respect for themselves, the kid can't learn how to handle the word 'no', there is no respect from child to adult. I do not, should not, and absolutely will not "earn" a child's respect. If children were actually taught to respect elders, and to get over the fact that they can not have whatever they want, there would be a lot less bull in the world today. Children have parents because they can not take care of themselves nor make major decisions. It's just really bloody bad that the parents are worse than two year olds. Grow up, America and raise your own children instead of expecting every one to.

The man is dangerous. I hope they do something nasty with him and for a very long time!

Khadija

How is something like this even considered "news"?

I know how obnoxious crying children can be, especially to those who don't have kids of their own. I have a 9 month old, and I try to be courteous to those around me who may have little or no patience for his cranky moods – I leave the restaurant, reschedule my grocery shopping trip, etc. But sometimes there is just no way around it, and a mom does what she has to do. Remember that if my crying baby is getting on your nerves that my nerves are also completely shot and try to cut me some slack!

If I had been that mother, after rescuing my child from his grasp, I would have grabbed that cranky old man by his shirt collar and given his groin a swift, hard introduction to my knee!

oh yea, and anyone who can try and justify the physical abuse towards a child is an absolute moron. it is a child, the reason it is unacceptable is because as a child our bodies are not fully developed, therefor they are not fully capable of being able to be abused like that without serious risk to their health. use your effing brain PR

OK, I've looked at all the nonsense. Bottom line – if you can't make your children behave – then keep them at home. I know they act out sometimes – and when that happens you take them outside so that they don't annoy other people – it's called common courtesy. I would not hit another's child – but I am sick to death of having to put up with parents who think their child is "cute" when they are a public nuisance. There are all kinds of laws concerning excessive noise, disorderly houses, etc. It's time we make parents responsible for inflicting their kids on other people!

Are you kidding me?! Since when did we ever question whether or not children were included in our constitutional rights? This is a clear case of assault. Kids put up with creepy, smelly, loud adults in public places too. If you can't handle the general public, shop online. I happen to have a very loud, hyperactive child who is spanked, and scolded, and taught to behave in public. Unfortunately, he's TWO. I hope this Mother, and the prosecutor in this case make an example of Mr. Rogers. You do not assault another human being – regardless of their age.

everyone says that they would do this or that to the guy...in reality, you wouldn't have the guts to do so. i can't stand some child screaming, and i think the woman should have left the store with that unmanageable little piece of crap!!!

First of all I would like to say that NOONE would slap my baby more than once. Period. I am like my mother, we (I was 8 my brothers 6 and 1) were being bullied as children and my mother went and slapped the 15 year old bully silly for trying to hit us with a broom handle. He would not be in jail tonight, he would be in the emergency room. Period. I am sure many other mothers agree with me.

You know we have all had experiences when a child is crying while we are out enjoying a nice dinner, shopping, movie, etc. Does that give anyone the right to go up to a total strangers or even a friends child and slap them or even tell them to shut up? No, and sometimes a parent does not have the luxury of just "leaving" the store. Not to mention, there are numerous reasons why the child may have been crying, not the least being that she maybe did not feel well. I would like to know what the mother was doing while this happened, because I can guarantee, he would not have gotten even one slap in without me being on his back. I applaud the shoppers that subdued him in that he was able to walk out of there on his own two feet. I can't promise that that would have been the case had it been me.

some of you people leaving comments here are insane!! "that lady should have been controlling her kid"?!?! a 2 y/o?!? really? youre all expecting a 2y/o little girl to be a perfectly well behaved child and to know that when her mommy says to calm down and knock it off she's just gonna obey and stop crying? again i ask, really?!? get over it!! babies cry. all of them! even the ones who are "on schedules". you have no idea what the mom was in the store for. maybe she had to get something right away and couldnt whisk her crying baby out of the store because she may, god forbid, annoy someone else shopping. no baby or child deserves what this man did. and her mommy, or any other parents for that matter, shouldnt be slammed for their child crying in public. geez, should we just lock away all the kids that might not know how to "properly" act in public. no parent or child is perfect. unless the child is being abused just mind your business!!

I have a 2 yr old son, and he sometimes throws small fits when we are out in public. I ignore it because he has to learn that acting like that get him no attention. If some random person were to even reach for my son I keep pepper spray in my purse and have no problem using it.

Kill the SOB where he stood.

As the mother of a nearly two year old child, I was aghast at this report.

I can only imagine that I would have personally attached the "stranger" back – and held him until authorities arrived. I can only imagine what my husband would have done! I fear that the "stranger" would be in the hospital or dead, and my husband would be in custody!

While I believe that it does in fact "take a village" to raise a child – the phrase forgets to state – "all but the village idiot!"

ok, im gonna take a bunch of bashing for this, however, truth is truth.not all children are the same, some are angels, some are a holy terror. if your kids are screaming in public, then you suck as a parent because you are most likely not doing your job correctly and the kid is YOUR boss. if you are going to do the things that get children, then you are responsible for teaching and disciplining that child whether your lazy ass likes it or not! and just because you dont mind listening to a loud brat, that doesn't mean everybody else does! wake up people, just because the law may say that somebody can't hit your kid, doesn't mean that they wont! case in point! the mother of this kid FAILED IN HER RESPONSIBILITY to the child, this was a form of non protection! now, i admit that this mans behavior was quite extreme, he should have complained to the manager or at most, a good loud HEY LADY SHUT THAT BRAT UP at the top of his voice would have probably had the best effect, and if he must shop in the same section of the store and the kid did not quiet down after that, then i suggest that he should have followed them and sang off key at the top of his lungs, he would at least feel better for it.. ok, i gotta stop rambling, so, final comments...THE BLEEDING HEARTS WHO WONT DISCIPLINE THEIR CHILDREN ARE USUALLY THE SAME ONES WHO CRY "WHY ME?" when their kid grows up to be a menace.
WAKE UP PEOPLE, TRAIN YOUR KIDS OR WERE GOING DOWN A SEWER HOLE never mind, forget it we already are. thanks jerks

What the man did is so over the top wrong. I think we all agree on that.

But WOW what about all the people who would also assault the man? What is the difference?

Rick,

Simply put.....if ANYBODY were to put their hands on my child, there would not be enough manpower on this planet to keep me from beating him half to death him with my bare hands....

i would've ended up in jail probably, cause if anybody had hit my daughter when she was a toddler?? i would have attacked the man seriously.

What would I have done!!!??? Needless to say, I would probably be the one in court for turning the SOB into a eunuch!! He would not have been able to talk, much less walk out of the store! What a freaking JERK!!!!

Well He is a very very sick individual and also a very stupid one. If that had been my child he would have gotten the mortal hell beaten out of him right then and there. Even if I had to hit him with a frozen chicken.
Way to go Walmart personnel for coming to the rescue. He needs to be put under the jail.

What would I have done? Well, the cops would have had to arrest me too. I would have kicked the living crap out of him. I am the mother of a 3 year old, and if anyone would have dared to even try that, they would be picking him up with tweezers and a magnifying glass.

Truthfully, He would understand what if felt like to be dropped kicked and Chin Na (joint locking) used by a black belt.

I was SHOCKED after reading this story. This a clear case of child abuse...this guy should never be let near a child again!!

Rick,

My wife found your video stream over the internet and the only thing I could think is thank GOD I wasn't there or it would have been me in court for beating the elderly. I have a daughter that age and I too have been in that situation but never would I permit another person to lay a hand on my child, let alone slap her in the face four times. Hopefully justice will prevail.

What in the world is happening to people these days? I would love him to try that with my kids. OOOHHHH!!!! Some people just make me so MAD!!! WTH???? Don't get me started. This just boils my butt!!! OOOOHHHH!!!! Stay home then if you don't like kids and you want quiet. There ought to be a special place set aside for people like this...Maybe a 2 ft x 4 ft cell with sounds of screaming babies piped in 24/7.

That man that slap that little baby is a sick puppy.
They need to slap him around and throw him
ring of wolfs. What a total JERK.

Hopefully this incident will teach the mother to take her child home immediately if she cannot control her child. This happens way too much where kids are screaming out of control and the parent is doing nothing about it. I believe this man did what alot of people would like to do when they're faced with an out of control child screaming at the top of his/her lungs.

Maybe the child will also think twice, because 'time out' doesn't seem to work nowadays.

As I read through some of these comments, I was actually taken back by the amount of people that thought it was ok........under any circumstances, it is never okay to hit another person's child...I have four kids that I feel I raise pretty well, but just likeadults, they have minds of their own att times,and we can't conrol sudden outbursts....I do believe it is important to remove a child from a situation to calm them down and not disrupt oters, but who knows what this 2 year od was going through? Was she sick?? Did she just get shots??/Was she hungry??? Did something or someone scare her??? or was she just being "naughty"...We don't know and for anyone to take it upon themselves to "hit" a child because they were frustrated, grow up, take the higher road, and walk away.....The best of moms have kids that throw temper tantrums......

Was this man on drugs? He wouldnt have gotten a chance to be that close to my 2yr old never the less be able to slap him 4 times, where was her mother and what was she doing? standing there watching???

Rick –

I have been reading others post and most of them are sad. The bottomline is people need to understand that no matter what time or day it is no one and I repeat no one has the right to discipline another persons child, no matter what the facts may be. This man was gravely out of place. Since he was lucky enough to be arrested than the courts should deal with him with the fullest extend of the law.

On a personal note had it been my child, the only one being arrested would have been me.

If anytime, at any point some stranger even speaks to my child in a disciplinary manner I can tell you right now the stranger would get a thorough tongue lashing. How dare anyone think they can discipline another person's child in a public place. Are you kidding me? Seriously! Children aren't always quiet, they sometimes have outbursts that parents can't control without giving the child the control they desire from the tantrum. While you should avoid shopping with a cranky toddler, you can't always. What a jerk! I sure hope he never had any children of his own. How many smacks across the face did they get. I can say for sure if someone struck my child I would not be able to control myself, my instinct to protect my child would have kicked in and I would have lost my temper before I even had a chance to control it. Plain and simply I would have attacked this man as most mothers/fathers probably would.

I am disgusted by the amount of people who are applauding this act. And you wonder what the world is coming to? And you blame the mother for her child crying? So (those of you with children, because frankly, if you don't have kids, you have no right to even comment in favor of this person) your children never cry? They have never been tired? They have never been hungry? You have never been at the store for those "last minute items" on your way home before nap time? Liars, all of you. The child was crying. Maybe they were on their way home from the doctor's office, and the child was sick, and mom needed to pick up some juice and some Tylenol!

But yeah, you're right. She totally should have just taken the miserable child home to be miserable there. Because as long as others don't have to deal with it, then it's all good, right?

THINK, people. For once in your sorry, miserable lives, think about someone else's feelings. I don't even care why the child was crying. You don't hit kids. You just don't. And if someone laid so much as a finger on my child, they would not live to talk about it.

And seriously, if you don't have kids, what right do you have to tell anybody how to raise a child? You don't know because you have never been there. So don't even bother to post.

You know what, Good for him. Of course everyone is going to defend the mother and child. They where victimized and blah blah blah blah. I'm guessing the mother was some ignorant buffoon with no sense of parenting. Also, for a man to fly off the handle I'm sure the kid was screaming for quite a long time and obnoxiously loud. If the kid crying is not a sure sign reason to leave the store I don't know what is. Although, He probably should have aimed for the mother considering it was her fault.

One more thing, what if this child was crying because he/she was ill? What if there was something seriously wrong with the child that the mother was unaware of? I am less stern with my child when she is sick. What if this was the case here? I want to encourage all people to think before they act, especially when it comes to children.

From most of the posts ive seen here, half if not most of you people are no different than the lunatic that is in jail now for slapping that kid. You're all just as half witted and demented if not worse, You speak of vilgiliance, getting even and all that crap.. Grow up!

I work at a WalMart and you dont know how many times I have heard someone say this. People need to take control of their animals or keep them at home. period.

It's called the Terrible Twos, not the Terrific Twos, because everyone knows toddlers cry all the time and for no good reason. I would have had a confrontation with this man when made the first threat. Had he hit my toddler, I'd have kicked his kneecap backwards before he landed slap No. 2.

Rick,

This doesn't surprise me... People think they can get away with anything nowadays...still yet this man committed a very very stupid mistake...maybe he was intoxicated with alcohol or something...maybe he was having a bad day...guess what you still can't allow some stranger to even get that close to your children....We live in a violent society and people have no remorse for their actions. As a parent of two children I have been approached in Wal-Mart by strange people while with my kids. But I instantly back away and pull my children away from those "crazy" people that get "to close for comfort". This is still not the mother's fault. NOBODY expects a stranger to do something so invasive as to discipline you kid...What the heck was he thinking? Really he should be slapped repeatedly while being put behind bars! I know if this happend to my daughter I would have instantly reacted with a rage that would have put this man in the hospital for at least four days...one day for each slap committed!!!! The folks that held him til the police came are heros...we can only hope that people like that exist in every town in America!

Geez – in the old days, we'd just give the kid a Sugar Daddy sucker and it would stick their teeth together for 3-4 hours. Same effect from a Big Hunk bar, though the kid might have a peanut allergy.

I laugh.. hard.. every time I picture this scene. The man looks like the most miserable man I've ever seen. And let's be honest, people, a felony? We've all wanted to punch a baby or two in our lifetime. I'd cut him some slack.

LOL you go erg schweibel! right on!

I hope the judge spares him.

you know, he *did* give her warning. chances are there's something wrong with him where he can't manage his intolerance to noxious stimulus.

honestly, if some creepy guy threatened me b/c of my kid being obnoxious, I think I'd get the clue and get the hell outta there. If someone has enough balls to make the threat, they just might do it...

bringing annoying kids into public is like peeing in the pool. no one can enjoy themselve & everyone just wants to leave. ruins the whole experience. keep those ill behaved s*** bags at home!

Way to go man! you rock.

I would have killed him if he touched my baby.he should be punished hard.I can understand the moms state of mind ,she must be in shock.

I wouldn't slap the child and though I believe it takes a village, I don't believe disciplining a crying two year old in a crowded Wal-Mart would be effective . But kids who constantly cry in public is a big problem...it's annoying to everyone around you. I'm a parent as well and when my daughter was a child I had the uncanny ability to not hear her when others did. But It's not fair that this woman subjected the patrons to her crying child. She should have left the store and returned when the baby was calm or returned without her. I'm not blaming her for this monster's actions, but a constantly crying baby can break the most stable of folks....remember, you don't live on this planet alone.

Who does that old codger think he is, anyway?! He should be found guilty on all felony charges! This is a 2-year old child we're talking about, but also, he is of no relation to either her or her mom. Luckily, the incident was in a store loaded with cameras, so it will be hard for the guy to deny what he did. I hope he rots in prison for a long time.

Had he tried that on my child, he would have never even laid a hand on my child! Maternal instinct plus my time spent in the Army would have laid that man out on the floor in a heap!! He's lucky that mom didn't take a swing at him, because that's the least he deserved from her! Mom ought to get herself a punching bag, truely beneficial in stress relief, endurance and strength-building, and helps to tone the upper body. My heart goes out to that family!

First of all why in the world would the child's parent let the man grab her then slap her four times. If I see someone attempt to grab my child I would do all I can to stop that person from completing the action! And second if someone threatens me like that I would locate security and if they couldn't be found I would call the police because these days you don't know what people are capable of.

The same thing.

OK A screaming child is annoying, but that doesn't mean you have to take it upon yourself to discipline. That is the parents place. On the flip side, parents also should be respectful of other shoppers...when their child is misbehaving.. they should TAKE THEIR CHILD out of the store and STAY WITH THEM until they calm down. I don't agree with the other comment that other shoppers should just go to another section of the store because that parent feels that their child has the right to be disruptive. What ever happened to personal responsibility and RESPECT. I am not condoning what that man did....he was totaly wrong....But come on people...be proactive in your childrens lives and not looking to make a wrong a right. Children should not be misbehaving in public places PERIOD.

You are right, we've all been there. It's called public for a reason, meaning, other's will be there. I work with children and champion for families, and I can honestly say that I feel that this man is disturbed. It was not an unruly teen being disruptive and rude. It was a child having an age appropriate response to a stressful situation, who are we to assume we know what kids are feeling at all times? And it was a disturbed man having an inappropriate response to society, lock him up!

I dislike screaming children as much as the next person, but come on, a two year-old is not really in control of herself and does not have the cognitive development to be reasoned with. Trying to talk a child that age out of a tantrum is like telling your dog to eat more quietly - neither has the mental capacity to understand and respond appropriately. All you people saying "I hate brats" - well, I hate them too, but to me, kids under three get a bit of a pass because they are simply TOO YOUNG to understand; they only know that they are tired, hungry, thirsty, or whatever and have needs which need to be met, and limited ways to express those needs.

How did the mother even allow the second slap to happen? If i was that kid id be concerned that my mother cant even stop someone from abusing me right in front of her!

As a social services worker – I see a lot of parents and a lot of children all day long. Very few are well behaved, polite, or respectful. While I do not condone anyone slapping a child across the face repeatedly, most especially a stranger to a child, I think there's a social commentary that might be gleaned from this. Many parents are not taking their responsibility as parents as seriously as their own conveniences. Past generations have seen unruly, disrespectful, or just plain tired children would have been removed from the very public environment of a store or restaurant and calmed or disciplined privately by the parent to avoid disrupting others. Additionally, this taught lessons to the child that their behavior was unacceptable – especially in a public setting. Where has this mentality gone? Why is getting the household's shopping done more important than being an attentive and responsible parent? Of course, if these questions were actually asked by anyone, the self-righteous indignation blocks out any sort of common sense reasoning.

I would be in jail right now because I would have gone to the aisle with the knives and he would wind up with a butcher's knife in his chest!! Better yet when he made the threat I would have taken action and opened a can of whip AZZ!

If my child was the victim, then I would have to defend my child and protect her. It is hard to say what really what I would do in the moment of surprise, frustration, and anger, that maybe I would grab him between his legs and hold it until he apologizes to my child. Then escort him and or myself to the police car.

Instead of him being in court it would be me instead....need I say more??????

everyone knows when you go to town ,you are going to here at least one child crying. I guess the mom and baby was lucky he did not pull out a gun. ! too bad he won't go to prison they would give him what he deserves.!

The simple fact that this man could not control his actions insinuates that at two he was likely like this child and not taught to control himself either.

Yea.. Yea... Yea... Still, Mr. Rogers had the balls that we all would like to have. Like some comments said, KEEP THAT BRAT AT HOME! Another comment, "IGNORE that screaming or crying child. That's what's wrong with our schools and our society now. The parents ignored them. One things a proven FACT, when we were in school, we did something wrong, we went to the principal who tore our behind up with a paddle. When we went to the office the next time, we didn't get our behind tore up for the same problem twice. We knew not to do the same thing again. It's called EDUCATION.... They got our attention with that paddle, and we knew better. We need Mr. Rogers to run our National Education system. Most of these bad mothers woulda just sat back and shut up before they got slapped like that little kid did. Heck, that mother probably appreciated Mr. Rogers help. I bet that child will think twice before she cries in another Wal-Mart. LMAO!!!!!!!! You Go, Mr. Rogers!

There is a tension and anger in society the past few years that seems unprecedented. We all seem to be in a frenzy to fix everyone else's behavior that we find annoying. I tend to assume it is not my place to discipline another parent's child, unless that child were severely disrupting my home. This mother might have been trying to teach her child the value of patience by being patient in a difficult circumstance.

When my children were small, I learned quickly the most effective ways to manage their behavior in public places. First, I made sure they were not hungry or overly tired as much as I could. I kept toys and snacks on hand when we were out. I also tried to be in tune with my kids and know whether they were truly upset or just having a tantrum in order to get what they wanted.

If my toddlers got upset in the grocery store, they did a short time out in the frozen food section. It took only one time with my son and two times with my daughter. After that, they were terrific in stores. In restaurants, I immediately removed them to the restroom or outside if they became cranky. I knew it was not fair to subject other diners to the noise and chaos. Usually, they were able to calm down and return to dinner. If not, then we could always get dinner to go.

Another time, when my daughter was a preschooler, she became upset in a store. Although I was not sure what was wrong, I could tell something was not right. Lo and behold, there was a bench for sale in the outdoor furniture section. I put aside the cart, sat on the bench, and took her in my arms and rocked and crooned her for about 10 minutes until she calmed. When she stopped whimpering, she looked at me and said, "I'm sorry Mommy. I love you." We were then able to finish our shopping without further incident.

However, many children are more intense and high strung than mine are. We need to not judge them or their parents, but perhaps to try to be helpful: "Looks like your hands are full. can I help you with something?" How many of us can respond positively when we feel we are being judged harshly? What frustrated parents need is help, not condemnation.

As a family therapist , this is a clear teaching moment. I plan to blog on this issue in the near future.

Hard to say what I would have done in a calm respectful manner such as this comment forum. Simply put I would have beat his a**.

I would have been the one in Jail /Prison I would have Hit him 4-5 times With a bat!

I would do like most parents would do and think to myself the kids having a rough day and the mom even more so. I have a child and know that most of the time she's great in stores, but ALL kids have their bad days. It's a two year old and it's close to nap time. Come on we all need to think a little bit.

I am very shocked that this suspect did what he did. I pray he has no grandkids and children. He should be locked up too.
As a mother of a 2 yrs old. I could not imagine what the mother and the child is feeling.
As a mother I always try to discipline my daughter. If she is behaving too bad I do leave the store or she does her time out .
But sometimes things does not go smoothly. Does it mean a stranger has the right to hit my child? NO...

Also I really dislike when people who are NOT parents think they know the answer how to raise our kids.

I would have smacked the **** out of him if it would have been my child.

The mother deserves a great deal of respect for letting this guy live long enough for the police to get there. I would not blame her if she used force to defend her child in this situation.

To the Good Samaritan who intervened and held the bad guy until police arrived, Humanity owes you a "Thank you"

This man is obviously unstable and unable to control his actions. What did he think the child was going to do when he slapped her? Well, cry more of course. Although, I do agree that the mother should have taken the child out of store and spanked her butt and she could have finished her crying outside. I absolutely agree with Lola and I am not a grandmother, I am a 31 year old mother of 3.

I encountered a woman with two small children in line at HEB. One of the children was having a fit. The mom stayed calm, but was obviously distressed (and embarrassed). The checker commented that her children were usually well-behaved. When I finished checking out, the woman was still trying to guide her cart to her car with her child still screaming and flailing around. I have kids and know they can be a handful at times...so I just smiled knowingly when I passed her. Then it struck me that she could use some help, so I turned around and offered to help with her groceries. She seemed so appreciative. She got her children in the car (one still crying) and I loaded her groceries in the car. Easy for me to do and helpful for her.
What was really funny was a man stopped to ask if everything was okay and asked if she was a single mom–then he asked her out!
Instead of slapping the woman's child at Walmart, the guy could have asked if he could help her .(I don't think she'd want to go out with him though!!) A little sympathy can go a long way!

val-
what is the difference? hmmm, lets see....hitting a defenseless little 2 year old baby vs a grown adult. gee, which one is worse? at least the psycho could fight back. whats the child gonna do?

"what's the difference?"

my goodness....

Where was the mother when the man grabbed her kid to begin with? All of you yapping about how you'd do this and that to "such an evil man" and how OTHER people held him down. Yeah, if that happened to me, I'd seriously rip the man's arm off but it won't happen to me on the grounds that my children don't act like spoiled brats. And for mothers commenting about how the kid is frazzled and so might you be, get over yourself. If you'd stop and think, your child should not frazzle you. If a kid does, you need to take a serious step in correcting not only the kid but yourself, too. That baby feels every emotion you have and has done so since they were in the womb.
As far as the mother of this particular kid, it's obvious that she didn't care enough about her "precious angel", to teach it some discipline. So it's very obvious that she wouldn't actually stop the man from harming the brat. For those spouting about how a kid can't express themselves, there are plenty of other ways to do it. They don't need to act like a jackI*ss. And for those who are going to start spouting about how I think I'm perfect, using that EXCUSE is only a way to clear your conscious about me being right. It's way too easy, too convenient for everyone else to raise children then the actual parent. If you don't like the way other people do it, do it yourself.
(I'm the one around my complex that actually takes child rearing seriously. I'm the one that has set rules for my children and make darn sure that those rules are obeyed. I'm not called a "Nazi" for nothing.) So really, I don't care what you all say about my comments. You won't change my mind. I can only hope that people will pull their heads out of their you know what and stop making excuses for themselves and expecting everyone else to do things for them.

People should use caution when taking their children out. Todays parents are brainwashed by liberal junkies (hence, the state of our countries childrens). Parents just let their children carry on without interruption.

I wouldn't hit another persons child (nor shop at walmart), but I sure do give corporal punishment to my children. I've noticed the more you discipline a child, the more they love. Sick people will twist that around and they'll get their reward, but that is the truth.

I'm more interested in what the other people on the judges seat next to the accused were there for.

I am a single male parent. I was very fortunate with my daughter, because crying in public was not something she did very much.

However if I were the parent in that situation, I would have been the one arrested. Because there wouldn't be much left of him to arrest. I would have let him know the same feeling he gave that child, but with a fist. And when he was on the ground, I would kick him in the stomach and kidneys until he cried, just like the 2 yr old he slapped. You don't touch someone elses child.

I also applaud the other customers and/or employees that held the man in check til the police came.

Men like Roger Stephens have trouble "coming out of the closet". Men like this, that put people or children in harms way, just to get arrested, are just asking to "GO TO JAIL".

This type of criminal knows, what type of men are in jail and what's going to happen to him.

Outside of jail, he would be considered a homosexual.

But inside the jail, he can say he was the victim!

If you don't put him in jail, he'll harm somebody else, maybe worse, and continue to do so until he gets locked up.

On the other hand if you lock him up, you're fulfilling his lifelong fantasy of "Man Love"

This is a tough case!

me thinks mr. roger stephens is my new idol now...

First of all, this man nor anyone else would even have the chance to get within inches of my kids; i have a 4 and an 8 month old and have gone through this type of situation myself but never have i been confronted, some dirty looks maybe but this man had a lot of nerve doing what he did! If i were in this mothers place i would have hit him in the groin the moment he attempted to slap my daughter, where was the mother? That this man was able to not only grab her daughter but slap her not once but FOUR times... This man needs to learn his lesson and have justice sought out!

Usually the right answer is the boring one. Here it is:
The man was probably at the end of his rope, having had a difficult day, week, or just a crappy life. Maybe he failed at everything he ever did. Maybe his wife left him because of his bad temper. Not an excuse. We all feel like doing something violent sometimes, but we refrain because of social and moral boundaries. The woman was in the wrong because she did not respect the public peace. The man was in the wrong because he crossed the line of propriety. Everyone has a responsibility to one another, and everyone has a right to make choices. Unfortunately those choices come with consequences. We have our agency, but it's not free. And we all have to live with one another. How in the hell are we gonna learn to do that?

Mr. Rick, I have a two year old niece, and she sometimes gets in a bad mood. We do not go out of our way to subject others too it but it happens. And if that man came up and slapped my niece. Not only would he be going to jail, but so would I. I am not a violent person, but I think I would loose it if a stranger touched my niece.

I was on a 7 hour flight to Paris in June. 4 rows behind me a 3 year old boy screamed almost all the way to Paris, joined at moments by his younger brother. I never heard anything like it. It was actually a constant SCREAM not just crying. The parents did absolutely nothing. Everyone was looking at them but they just stared back. The children were climbing all over the mother. Finally, the man sitting next to the father demanded that the parents do something to control/quiet the kids.The men almost came to blows but a flight attendant cooled them off. He was able to re-assign the man, but there was nothing he could do about those awful parents. It was the flight from hell, but there was no mistreatment of children. The parents, though, would have been dead if dirty looks could kill. That kind of thing in such an enclosed space is a nightmare.
As to this incident, that man is pure evil to hit a child. The mother was certainly not at fault. Babies and small children cry in public. Who knows what the mother might have done if given the chance. Perhaps she would have taken the little one out of the store. We'll never know because this jerk did what he did. I hope the mother sues him for everything he is worth, even if it's nothing. Make the statement! Just the thought of what happened makes ME want to cry.

Being the protective Mom of 8 year old twin boys, if that were me I think it would have turned physical between him and I. I say that because I think my Mother instinct and my adrenaline would kick in at the same time and he would be perceived as way too much of a threat to my kids.

Val,
the difference between the man hitting the child and the parent hitting him is called defense. Every parent has the right to defend their child with the appropriate means and sometimes the means are physical. He sure didn't hit the mother did he. Some people do not respond to 'a talking to' and need something more harsh like getting their ass kicked.

re:shut your kid up or I will...we have all been there. mine was in a supermarket with the new "car-front" carts. 3 year old and 7 year old in the "car". the 3 year old would say in a loud voice beep, beep, beep...over and over again, as the cart approached other people in the aisles. the first time it was cute. but as time wore on, he wore on my last nerve. by the end of the first aisle, i had heard beep, beep, beep about 25 times. I glowered at the "grandmother" and then gave the brat the meanest, ugliest, angriest stare down i could muster, considering by that time i had a splitting headache. i didn't hear another beep from him. Normally, i love children.

While I agree that this man fell off his rocker when he struck a child that wasn't his. I have to also agree with Lola and Philip, if the children in this country were allowed to be spanked without the threat of being prosecuted we would all raise better kids. Kids that knew better than to scream at the top of their little lungs in a store. Philip hit the nail on the head stating that if children were able to be disciplined we wouldn't have 2 million people in prisons throughout the country.

When I was growing up I knew better than to act like that. If I had I would have had a very red bottom. My son also knows better.

If I would have seen this "poor excuse for a human " slapping this child..the man would not have been able to walk!! I would have kicked him a couple of "pearl earrings"!!!
Lets hope that he or anyone else tries this again. This story is out and mothers are ready to protect!!
Ever see a Mama Bear protecting her young???

What he did is my wildest fantasy. I would never do it, but we've all wanted to knock an obnoxious kid out. I think it's crazy that he did it!

First of all, it would have never gotten this far...that's for sure! This guy would have been DROPPED on the floor the moment anything came out his mouth! Who does this guy think he is?!.. Grown man aint got nothing better to do!

I have 2 children and they are not always well behaved but I will NEVER and I repeat NEVER let my kids throw a tantrum or act up in public. I use a little trick on them that my mother used (and before you get started in on me it doesn't really hurt) when I used to act up as a kid. She'd pinch my bottom. Not hard enough to leave a mark just hard enough to get my attention. She didn't have to hit me or spank me she just put her thumb and finger together and showed me. If I still acted up I got a little pinch. I do that with my girls and they understand and stop. I do NOT condone what this guy did but I understand wanting to do it. He should definitely go to jail. I have never hit my girls and I never will but they never act up in public. The little pinch works.

I do not take nicely to people talking to my children rudely. If someone slapped my child I would have to slap them back and im sure that old guy would be walking away with my foot up his butt. I hope they throw him in a jail cell with the little girls dad.

Good man!! I wouldn't have done that because I don't want to be where he is but I know it's what everyone is thinking when that happens (but are afraid to admit-shhhhh)! Things sure have changed since I was a kid. Now you have to discipline your kids according to whatever everyone else thinks is the right way to do it. So, you get parents like that mom which should have smacked her kid but she didn't because she doesn't want to go to jail!! When did a smack become illegal. I know you'll say that it wasn't the mom! It was some guy! Good for him!!! He did what everyone else knows they probably should have done a long time ago! And now we'll here from all the sensitive types..

Ok everyone agrees, the man went to far – and needs to be locked up.
It is NEVER ok to HIT a child, especially someone elses (this does not include spanking). I am a mom that would have hat to slap the shit out of the man also. After others restrained him, I would begin to shut him up!

I have to agree with a large majority of people here. IF YOUR KID IS CRYING AND YOU CAN NOT CONTROL HIM/HER TAKE YOUR CHILD TO THE BATHROOM, OUTSIDE, OR THE CAR UNTIL THEY QUIT CRYING. And if it happens every time, leave them with a family member or sitter or do someting!!!!! You dont know when its going to happen true, but if it does and you can not calm them down after 3-4 minutes, then leave and come back later. Maybe dont go at nap time, or take something to distract them for 10 minutes. Dont stick a tired cranky kid in a shopping cart for an hour and a half and expect not to hear from them. If there is no other option GET YOUR BREAD AND MILK AND GO HOME – come back tomorrow.

I have kids. I NEVER DRUG MY CRYING CHILD AROUND WALMART
for everyone to listen to. Its my right to not have to listen to a wailing because you are ignoring your child. Go home and ignore their tantrums.. Giving birth does not give you the right to disrupt other peoples lives and quiet just because its a public place.

WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO PUBLIC "common courtsey???????

I have a right to shop in a quiet store, just as I have the right to breathe air without someone's cigarette smoke. If your addicted, too bad, take yYOUR nasty habit somewhere else. The same with your loud crying child.

Its YOUR problem – you need to suffer your consequences for your choices, but I dont have to suffer with you!

C'mon all you parents of 20 minute screaming kids, its common sense. Go get some

First if all when He said something to the mother the first time she should have stopped him right there. She should have told him that it wasnt his place to say anything about doing anyting to her child. So ok she didnt the child is still crying so he takes it upon hisself to discipline her child. Well I tell you he wouldnt have been the only one going to Jail that day. I would have kicked his tail all around walmart had it been me. To many weapons in walmart for him to just walk out in handcuffs he would have been heading to the hospital first. Just my opinion.

JessicaG, you are a complete idiot. Way to use a forum for intelligent debate and conversation for propagating your insane belief that YOU – unlike ALL THE OTHER PARENTS in the world- are perfect and that your kids are perfect just because you're a dictator. As a mom, I'm embarassed for you that you do not have the slightest bit of compassion for another mom in a tough situation, and that you are making assumptions regarding her parenting skills based on a moment in time, just so you can uphold your self-righteousness.

For all those people, parents and non-parents that think that you can control any other individual on this planet, especially a TWO year old, whose time it is to learn that the world doesn't revolve around them which many of us haven't yet learned!..), you're crazy. Plus, please stop assuming she was a "bad parent"... She may have been on her way out, she may not have had a choice but to continue her shopping until she was done. Why is this about Mom and speculation as to her parenting skills? A STRANGER CAME AND HIT HER CHILD. Who cares about her? Lock him away

One look at this guy and you can see he has at least some mental issues – the tics, the scowl, etc. Perhaps, AS/HFA - these disorders tend to react badly to noise and abnormal stimulus and a shrieking child would qualify. So if he does have some diagnosed mental disorder does that negate the "I woulda pounded him into the dirt" reaction so many are posturing?

No one has the right to put their hands on someone's child unless that child is being threatened or harmed. Even then you run the risk of some parent overreacting to your interference.

Let's face it, people have dogs who behave better in public than many children today. Yet somehow the mindset has developed that regardless of whatever appalling behavior small children exhibit, adults are supposed to just grin and bear it or move away because after all "everyone was once a child." What a load of swill. Perhaps if there wasn't such rampant and ridiculous entitlement by parents in this country , people wouldn't react so badly to the presence of small children who misbehave.

Yes, we all probably misbehaved, but not all of us had parents who walked blissfully on in public like some kind of inconsiderate deaf zombie. Case in point, the ones who say: Oh yeah, my child has 'small fits' but I ignore it so he can learn to behave or my child has the right to behave in any manner until I decided to discipline him. You can almost guarantee these same people are the proud parents of children who belong on upcoming episodes of Nanny 911

What would I do? Well, I have to weigh in with the commenters who indicate that they guy certainly would not have been in any condition to be 'led out' in handcuffs. And as for the guy being 'of the generation' that believed kids should be whacked around if you felt like they were misbehaving, let me just say I am the same age as he is, and I and every other parent I know near my age finds that sentiment apalling.

However, I would like to share a few thoughts about hitting and spanking for the commentators who are such strong advocates of that philosophy, especially the ones who are not yet parents but someday might be, about what the long term effects are. I did not find out until a few years after we were married that my in-law's method of "disciplining" my husband was to assign a certain number of pointsfor each infraction he supposedly committed over the course of the week, and then on the weekend lay into him with one lash of a belt for each point he had 'earned.' However, he only got the beatings if he did something to annoy his parents on the weekend, so he learned to lay low and be a 'pleaser' whenever he was around them on the weekends. The end result – a really pleasant guy who everyone, including me, loved to be around, but who turned out to be incapable of participating in any kind of true adult realtionship, since he is fundamentally scared to death of displeasing anyone. We have handled it as best we can, but in the end, his dysfunction, which he can't bring himself to address, has ruined our relationship. I know I will spend the rest of my life paying the bill for the damage his parents did. Please think about what costs you are imposing on your children and the people they will love in the future if you choose to hit them.

I'm gonna completely honest here....

I'm really not much for listening to little terdss scream their heads off. It bothers the crap out of me and I always mumble to myself that I'll do something about as a joke/stress reliever. You really should try it because it does indeed work.

But what that guy did is kinda... extreme. I already have the protection of a Father(or at least my younger siblings seem to think so), so if that had been my child and I was truly in that situation I probably would've dropped the man with a single punch to the nose. And then done worse. Details are not nessecary, you all have an imagination.

In the man's defense though, I'm sure everyone has had the urge(or at least the thought) to tell some woman or man with a baby to get the little maggot to shut up. I know I have. Many, many times. Luckily, humanity hasn't completely failed yet and most people have self-restraint.

Anyways, that was just my two cents. Thank you for reaidng this if you actually did.

if that were my child, id be in prison for manslaughter! this is a 2 year old GIRL! her mother needs to be punished for allowing this to take place. you dont put your hands on anyones child unless, you have permission. even if you do, you dont hit them in the face. so help me GOD, they would have been calling the police on me!

It's to bad Chris (Boughton?) or someone like him wasn't there Rick. Remember him ? He was the patriot you bad mouthed for exercising his 2nd Amendment gun rights by slinging his AR-15 at the town meeting. "An unarmed man (or woman in this case) is more likely to be attacked than an armed man ". Thomas Jefferson
Do think this thug would have been so bold if the mother had been slinging an AR-15 Rick ?

Wow... this one takes the cake... But I have to say that I am just not surprised... I'm only surprised that I have not heard any reports saying that the mother is going to sue the Walton family for this incident... I'm sure it's coming….. I hope this man faces a jury of mothers...

Nothing worse then screaming kids in public. But seriously how are parrents sopposed to prevent kids from doing it. Now days if you even look at your kid wrong its child abuse. In all honesty the kid deserved it no matter who did it.

The time out crap dont work, Nor does all the other punishments of todays society. In the ends kids just need a palm across their face.

I can't believe the hatred filled and stupid remarks that are being left regarding the crying child. Too many of you are responding with angry and unnecessary jargon. God, this is just a two year old crying, what's your excuse? There are much bigger problems in this world than to vent such venom... PEACE TO EVERYONE

The man who hit the crying child had finally snapped. The woman with the crying child assumed she and the child were immune from the effect her child was creating in another person. The woman should have had some sense of decency to think of the mental and emotional well being of the other people nearby and removed herself and her crying child until they were able to politely interact in public again.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the socially well behaved people with manners had some privileges?
Like letting a child run around without supervision, the child can be injured and that will be the result of a lack of responsibility. Irresponsible behavior=accidents=permanent damage or death.
Don't pass the buck.

Bravo! This man has done what the rest of us wusses who simply grind our teeth couldn't. I'd like to contribute to his bail/legal fees if I could.

I'm sick and tired of a**hole parents who think they somehow earned the right to cause noise pollution in public places just because they had their retard baby.

He warned the mother once, and she still failed in shutting the kid up. At this point, he did what he could to shut it up himself. I grant that slapping it around a few times is a bit harsh – I would've preferred duct-tape on its mouth.

The message here is that if you're too incompetent to discipline annoying kids, don't have them in the first place (bonus: helps the population problem). If you screw up by not getting it aborted in time, kindly do us the favor of keeping your ugly baby at home. It's called a "baby-sitter". Finally, if you're still too much of a miser to have a sitter, and someone in a public place tells you how big of an annoyance your 'bundle of joy' is, have the decency to take it OUTSIDE the public place while you make your pathetic attempts to shut it up.

Its high time moron parents learned that we can do more than simply grind our teeth.

If my child were screaming in a public place, I would at least have the courtesy to take them outside. It does not take a complete stranger to discipline my child, I am a good parent and a good PERSON who does not force other people to deal with that type of nonsense. That woman should learn to control her own offspring. I do not care what age the child is. If you do not discipline them in some way, they will be obnoxious forever. It doesn't go away if you ignore it, it only gets worse. I respect Roger Stevens for doing what I have wanted to do on many occasions. The little brat wouldn't have needed to be slapped if the mother had cared enough to pay attention and take care of it in the first place. If you call that physical abuse, then you can't discount that the mother was being negligent by not attending to whatever NEED was causing the child to cry in the first place. Take the child away and give them to someone who will raise them to be a decent, civilized person.

I cant believe some of you people. at one time or another you were all kids, and put up a hissy fit, probably even louder than that kid. Kids are Kids, but a two year old doesnt know better.

I feel really bad about your kids. I would like to see how you handle your screaming two year old. Let me tell you theres nothing in the world to get them to hush up unless you get a gag. Take it from me, i have three kids. The best thing to do is to mind your own dang business and hope that the parent doesnt go bonkers!

Kids scream and give hissy fits because its in there nature. If you all cant handle that i suggest you dont propagate your species.

Everytime I think about this I get infuriated. I have a 1 month old son, and even just the *thought* of someone trying to harm my child, or anyone elses for that matter outrages me. If I had been a witness to this I don't think I would have had the self-ontrol to keep from violently assaulting this poor excuse for a human being that thought it was okay to beat that poor kid. If someone tried that with my own kid though I know for a fact it would have taken a crowd to peel me off that scum bag. I really hope he gets a judge that can make an exception to go over and above standard sentencing ranges and lock this guy up for a very very long time. Then they should dump his butt in general population and let all the other inmates know he is there for slapping around a 2 year old.

Come on guy.... A TWO YEAR OLD! He surely would be suffering with some broken bones next to death...Certainly wouldn't have the capability to redo it ever again...thats for sure.

Well, if the guy thought that BEATING the child would actually make it STOP crying, he really is insane and needs to be institutionalized... If it were one of my kids, HE would have been the one slapped in the face for speaking to us like that! But... then again, if it had been my kids, I would have had more respect for the other people in the store, and my duties as their mother, than to allow my kid to act that way and get away with it... My thoughts – That man needs to pay the maximum penalty for child abuse, harrassment, assault, whatever they could get away with sticking him with, BUT... The mother needs to be penalized, too, for disturbing the peace! Both of the adults were very much in the wrong, but the one who inflicted pain on a child is more out of line. One is a menace to socity, but the other is a danger to it! She should be fined and he should be punched in the face four times and then locked up.

There must be something seriously wrong with this man's head. Watching the video of him he has a strange twitch. There is no way this guy is "normal". If it was my toddler or anyone elses toddler and I was present when this occured...i'd be in jail for assult or worse!

Maybe that particular little girl didn't deserve it – can't say, I wasn't there, but there was a time when parents were embarassed to have a screaming child in public. Now days parents feel entitled to have their misbehaving wailing little brats out shopping or in restaurants and theaters. God Forbid if somebody were to object to something their snot-nosed little spawn is doing!

And a P.S. to all those who leave comments talking about hating the sound of children... I agree that parents need to keep a better reign on their kids in public! I feel very strongly about this as a mother to 2 toddlers myself. However, don't forget that you too were at one point a whiny two-year-old who annoyed the crap out of people in stores... And, someday those same squawking kids could be the adults that work in the nursing home you live in and have to put up with YOUR squawking and whining. The difference is, they'll also be whiping your butt and serving your food!

I am positive the mother was in shock. I just can't imagine this guy doing what he did. Taking the child from the mother and slapping her in the face. I have never been slapped in the fact in 68 years. He is "White trash" and should be committed. He probably has a family of his own and the DHS, I hope will investagate this family.

If he just serves 30 days in jail he will have to be isolated from other inmates as they would kill him. Just like pedifiles, they are not in the general population in prison for their own safety; but should be.

Val apparently miss the point. As I type this my blood is boiling over.
Mr. erg Schweibel. What nationally are you? You must have really caught it from your parents, wheather you were in Poland, Amsterdam,
are whereever.

Fisrt off it's a two yr old kid . Next and excuse me cause when I read this story I went 'there" but next I would have kick this guy's butt until my kneecaps caught on fire .. NO lol REALTALK .. That is not your child period point blank..

Walk up to the mother of the child and tell her that I know of a place where she can buy cheap hearing aid,and that she should go for counseling .."How to raze kids! when in publick..."

If crying babies aren't allowed in Walmart then I don't think tweekers, smelly obese people, or cranky old a-holes like this guy should be either!!!! And what's with all the people on here whining about kids in stores whining? They're children and still learning public behavior. What's your excuse?

Does everyone have a screaming crying baby on the plane within 5 rows of their seat, or is it just me? I say we put him to work on airplanes and let him do some patrolling and slapping.

That is the grumpiest looking dude I have ever seen, probably in my entire life. He probably steals kids' candy and kidnaps puppies too. Uncle Scrooge is written all over his face, maybe this will teach him that being a happy person just may be a better alternative.

It has been proven through behavior modification studies that if you want a behavior to stop you ignore it. If you give your kid a cookie every time they cry they learn to cry for cookies, if you take them to the car, they learn if they cry they can leave.
A 2 year old has so much going on even when they are perfectly healthy, they get cranky when they get tired, cold, hot, hungry- they are teething etc. If you took your 2 year old to the car every time she cried you would never get groceries. The best way to deal with crying that seems to not have an obvious cause is to ignore it. This is a proven scientific fact. If someone smacked my child I would do what this mother did and have him arrested for felony assault of a minor. No one knows what the circumstances were as to why this child was crying in the first place but we all know now that the slaps did not shut the kid up as intended.

i KNOW HIS FRUSTRATION! These men and women who inflict their nasty children on the public should be fined as they and their children are public nuicances. (Yes, I understand about difficult children- I had an ADHD child – and I knew I had to keep him at home and only take him out when he wasn't tired, etc.!) If you have a child who doesn't behave, you should keep him/her at home. If you don't keep it at home you should be fined or jailed for infringing on the peace of others. Barking dogs, screaming children, extra loud music – it's all the same. It's disturbing the peace. I wish we all (including this man) had the option of calling the police to get the mother arrested. Maybe then, he wouldn't have felt the need to slap the child. Yes, Yes, I am sick of screaming children – take these tired hungry children home and put them to bed!!! Sorry, a two year old is not a baby. At that age, they may be difficult, but usually they are toilet trained and understand most important things- i.e. no, hot, don't touch, be quiet, that will hurt you, etc. If your child doesn't meet those requirements, then it should not be out in public. It is not ready for society. Keep it at home! It's time we all banded together to make certain that we don't have to suffer from the noise and nuisance of unruly children who aren't ready for the public experience!

I would mind my own business unless the mother needed help and I would ask her is she needed my help. Usually I just smile at parents with adorable children crying or not and tell the parents how cute their kids are than keep doing my own shopping. I have toddlers and my twins sometimes have tantrums in public it's usually more stressful on the parent than on other people in public and reverse psyhology helps to stop my kids tantrums or giving into their demands if they are within reason.

If a stranger (or anyone) slapped my child, I would without a doubt, and without thinking, beat them until they did not move or until the police got there, which ever comes first. That would be my reaction if I seen a person raise their hand in my child's direction. I know that is what would happen, because it is my job as a parent to protect my children, and I take my job very seriously.

Sincerely,
Geneva Gordon
North Carolina mother of 4

Oh, and if people are talking about child abuse, it's not because childrens' bodies are weaker, it's because their minds are more fragile and learn heavily from their early childhood experiences. An abused child will most likely grow up to be an abuser, because this is how they learned at this young age. Anybody see Goodwill Hunting? Anybody? Yeah, it's like that.

This is what makes this so difficult, because this grumpy A-Hole was probably abused as a kid, which is why he is like the way he is. So you can blame HIS parents, only they were probably abused to...so where does it stop? That's why I don't really believe in trying to blame anyone, but solve the damn problem.

gimme a break...mind your own business loser....obviously he has anger issues and cant handle himself in a public place....or handle himself in an adult manner period

Correct me, but a 2 years old is not a baby. Noone has the right to hit someone else`s kid, but parents need to try to give a discipline to their kids. SOOOOO common, that Moms don`t care about other adults around them, bc they can not think about anything else than there sweet lil babies.Her own Mom should have slapped the kid(off course gently and on the ass:) for not stopping the scene.

OK. Clearly hitting the kid was wrong. But I have to say that I have been so tempted to do the same thing when some ridiculously overindulgent parent is allowing their bratty over entitled child to scream and cry with no consequences. The airport is the WORST! The man is guilty. More of a lack of implulse control than anything else. But all of us live in this world, not just people with kids. If I walked through the store or the airport squealing and screaming obstinantly would it be tolerated? It is a parent's responsibility to control their children, teach them proper ways to act in public, and respect the others in public space. Sorry parents, but those of us without kids don't think its cute when you let them run wild, screaming, touching everything and everyone.

The man who hit the kid was wrong. But I am not sure he was felony wrong. I am sure he feels ashamed at having lost control. He should be punished no doubt.

But parents of screaming children...if your kid is so wildly upset that others are pulling their own hair out, take the kid out of the store for a few minutes and calm them down.

I THINK ITS OUTRAGES FOR ANYBODY TO SLAPPED A CHILD ACROSS THE FACE MUST LESS A COMPLETE STRANGER,I FEEL IF HE DIDNT WANT TO HEAR THE CHILD CRY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. A CHILD GOING TO CRY NO MATTER WHAT & FOR HIM TO SLAPPED HER REALLY MAKE MY SKIN CRAWL.YOU REALLY GOT TO THINK IF HE DO THAT WHAT ELS WILL HE DO?HE AINT NO BETTER THAN THEM PEOPLE WHO GOES OUT & RAPE & KILL A POOR DEFENSSESLY CHILD. THEY SHOULD BE HUNG UP & BEAT DOWN THEMSELFS. SHOW THEM HOW IT FEELS. THAT IS IF THEY GOT ANY FEELINGS.

NO NO NO! U NEVER put yr hands on SOMEONE ELSES child!!! And if I had been the Mom, I'd likely been calling some1 to come get my child because I'd have been kicking his butt all over WalMart! Just like in any other public place tho, the Mom should have just taken the kid out when s/he started cutting up. Still, u just dont put yr hands on any1 else's kid. And with the way the laws r 2day, u gotta be careful putting yr hands on yr own. That man needs his butt kicked. Sure, we've all been tempted & some have said something 2 the parent. But if that kid wasnt being abused, he shouldve minded his own business.

Also, I find it interesting that some comments mentioned that Walmart shoppers are the "scum of the earth", etc. Frankly, I shop at Walmart on a regular basis – usually a couple of times a month. My IQ is around 162-168. My credit score is fantastic. I wash my kitchen and bathroom floors twice a day with detergent and bleach. I shower in the AM and take a bath in the PM daily. I shop at Walmart (with coupons) because I am frugal and proud of it. I have a Bachelors Degree in Accounting and a Masters in Business Management with honors. I put myself through school as an adult while working a full time job at 50 to 60 hours a week. Yes, I'm a Walmart shopper, but for some reason, I don't think I'm "scum of the earth" If you think all Walmart shoppers are disgusting, you obviously haven't looked closely. We deserve to be treated with respect and not have to suffer irritations from people/children who lack common courtesy!

It appears from the video he has some mental issues. But, I,m sorry mental / not he woulsd Have to get his butt kicked...BIG TIME!

As to what I do when someone's kid is screaming, I try to do one of three things: A.) give the parent(s) an understanding look and don't let it get to me. B.) make what I hope is a funny face at the kid to get him/her to laugh and not cry...although I admit, sometimes they do cry even more. C.) if I'm in a bad mood, don't show irritation, because he/she is a child, afterall, and move somewhere else.

I THINK ANYBODY THAT AGREES WITH THAT KIND OF BEHAVOIR IS CRAZY AS HE IS. NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO SLAPPED A CHILD ACROSS THE FACE. I DONT CARE WHO CHILD IT IS.THAT AINT RIGHT.LET SOMEONE ESPECIALLY A COMPLETE STRANGER WALK UP & TOUCH MY DAUGHTER & SEE WHAT HAPPENS.I ALSO AGREE WITH JULIET & NICOLE. AND HONESTLY FOLKS DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT IF YOU HIT A CHILD 4 TIMES ACROSS THE FACE THAT THEY GONNA STOP CRYING GET REAL THAT JUST GONNA MAKE THEM HOLLAR MORE.HERE YOU SIGN!

No one condones the use of violence especially with children. But there is a very real problem today with parents who absolutey do not discipline, or place boundaries for, their children. Worse, the parents' behaviour is often a terrible role model. Rudeness rules.

I love seeing all the comments from those people who CLEARLY don't have children or any idea what it takes to properly raise one. If you have a child, you'd lay down your life for him. You'd do anything at all to protect him and make certain nobody hurts him. If somebody does hurt him, your instinct is to make that person pay for his crime. If you don't have these instincts, I feel sorry for your children. A two year old child cannot be simply "controlled" like a little walking, talking robot. A two year old lives between fantasy and reality–more of it fantasy than reality. A two year old cannot understand for himself why his emotions get totally out of control. The mother nor the child is to blame for what happened. If that were my child, that man wouldn't have been able to make the threat first and then still wander around. He would have been in handcuffs before it escalated. That was the only mistake the mother made–not turning him in the moment he made that threat. That, and not immediately marching to Sporting Goods and getting a bat to beat that loser over the head with. All of you who think the mother and child had some fault in this ought to think about the scars that event is going to permanently leave on both of them. The mother who then begins abusing her child for fear of further public retribution, or at best who is later afraid to send her child to school for fear of adults abusing him or his peers. The chld that withdraws socially or becomes a hitter without realizing he's been previously reprogrammed to do so. This child has been changed. His life's course has been changed. This event will never leave him in one way or another. Penny, Ace, and Mr. Schweibel, PLEASE don't EVER EVER breed. Talking at the top of your lungs annoying not just the mother, but everyone else?...are you serious? Grow up! If a child is out of control in public, it's an unfortunate, obnxious, temporary nuisance. If a grown man can't keep physical control over himself, that's a psychological problem and a public nuisance. It doesn't matter how hard he may or may not have struck the child. What matters is his lack, as an adult, of self restraint. Lock him up!

Personally if it would have been my child the man would not be living today... If a stranger ever lays a hand on my child.. there will be a smack down where ever it takes place...

As far as the mother... Why didn't she stop the man. I mean seriously you can stop someone from hitting your child was she just not watching?

The Innocent bystanders.... Personally if I would have been one. There would have been a major problem because if the mother didn't take the matter into her hands I would've taken it in my own... I"m kind of disappointed in people these days..

My point of view on the whole situation... I'm a Substitute Teacher, and when I'm anywhere a child is I'm going to protect it due to I took a vow to take care of and protect all children, in or outside of school..

Personally I would love to get the chance to come face to face with the man in a dark alley. You don't just go around hitting other peoples children..
Sometimes it is aggervating when you are shopping and you are hearing the constant screams and non stop crying but you just move to a different aisle get your stuff and leave.. Never hit someone elses child..Maybe look at the kid to make eye contact they usually hush because it embarrasses them but never hit them, nor confront the parent.
When I heard this it made me mad not only at the man but also at the mother and the other people in the store.. Yeah they held him in the store until police got there. But I, myself, when the police got there I would have probably been in another car on the way myself for beating this man within the last breath of life. Or trying to at least.
All I can really say is I'm really disappointed in people these days.

Everyone's like "What's this world coming to, why has it changed" The answer to that question is..... The world hasn't changed it's the people of the world that have changed and the reason why children are unruly like they are these days are because the government has taken away all parent rights.. When I was little I got my hind end busted if I done something like that.I knew better than to pitch a fit if I was told I couldn't have something. Wasn't abuse just a good ol' fashion butt whipping and it helped me learn as I was growing up, crying for something isn't going to get you anywhere you have to work hard to get it and if you ask and they say no just get over it..

My opinion on the whole " Is Spanking YOUR child right?" topic.. I believe there is a huge difference in spanking and beating.... Spanking just makes them learn that it was wrong and that they shouldn't do that... little pat on the bottom..
Beating (leaving marks, bruises, or phsyically hurting the child) Is totally wrong...
But if the child is not yours you never lay a hand on it.. that is the parents duty to calm their child and teach them right! Not us bystanders that hear the whole "I didn't get the candy bar I wanted, or the toy I wanted" bawl fest..

Nothing wrong with good old fashioned butt whippings (for your own child) it makes us stronger and I believe the government needs theirs whipped theirselves due to they probably didn't get it when they were younger and that's why we have so many people in jail and so many idiots like this man in the world today because it all starts AT HOME simple as that....

Kids will be kids. That baby-slapper should be grateful that the kid's Dad wasn't there or was he?

2 year olds cry. It happens. It's sad how so called grown ups can let a baby get to them.....who's the baby now?

@ Smith, I'm pretty sure you could benefit from some psychological help. Perhaps you were beaten as a child? Would explain a lot.

On a lighter note, this guy is gonna rot in jail for quite a while. Maybe his new boyfriend can teach him some better manners.

First of all to answer, said question. You can't always stop a 2 year
old from crying but that's up to the parent to do. If the parent don't do
anything who the hell are you too. I have read alot of stupid a** comments " un " about strating a new trend, hiting other people children. Which will only open up a can of wip a** on a stupid person,
like that because everbody is not like that mother. I would have lit his
ass like a fire cracker, on the foresure enough forth of July. Anyway
to all of you so called parent of the year, just, stop the sweet hony ice
tea. all children act out at one time other and even we ourslef, when we
was 2 or what ever. Don't like noise, stay your a** home or shop on
line. 2 year olds are in there 2nd or 3nd stage of leaning how to communicate, she or he are still learning. That, so...so had know right to hit that child or any other child. He needs more than help, he needs
a foot in his a** and so do the people who made these comments,
philip, colin, bill, debby m., jessica g., swilliams, chris, patti, sue baeta, tim, lola, and last but lest dana tolick, what's up, why couldn't you-
try to stop or go after the guy who beat your son with Autistic, he wasn't
being a brat, he has Autistic a mental disabiliy. If I miss take what you said -
than I'am sorry. Two the 2 year old + mother my prays go out to you,
that people can do and say such nasty things about a 2 year old child.
Just go's to show you what kind of world we live in and oh, leave the
parenting to the parents"thank you" and if there not parenting or being a-
good parent them pray for them or try to help them in a peaceful way,
please. The people names I commented on Suck, you need some
Humanity. One finial note, let people say what they want to, you was there and know what really happen. This
comment is for the mother of the 2 year old.

hit that child or any child. He could

Walmart is a warehouse full of stupid parents and their screaming kids. I feel tense just walking in the door of a Walmart and it ALWAYS gets worse once I'm in the door. ALWAYS.

People'scomments on this board just show the complete and total IGNORANCE that they have for raising children. Sure the guy shouldn't have SLAPPED the kid – the MOM SHOULD HAVE. But they NEVER DO. They always expect EVERYONE in the store to put up with their SCREAMING KIDS and they don't do a thing about it.

Parents – LEARN HOW TO PARENT.

A parent shouldn't even slap a 2-year-old in the face, let alone a stranger. And four times? This guy has an anger management issue. Children that age cry and scream, it's just what they do (especially in Walmart, it seems to bring out the worst in them). If you don't want to hear a screaming child, go to another part of the store. I'm amazed the mother didn't beat this guy after he touched her child.

First,
the guy needs a incredible beating himself then the guy needs to go to prison for his actions assaulting a two year old. it is incredible to think we have to tolerate and let these jerks live among us.
An assault on the helpless should be justification for the use of capital punishment.

Second,
anyone who finds an Assault on anyone who is helpless and cannot defend themselves funny in any manner needs a good beat down themselves. or perhaps lifelong monitoring by law enforcement for candidates likely to abuse children.

He had no right to slap a child 4 times in the face. Yes, some children are out of control and parents seem to do nothing, however, if a stranger man or woman hit my kid in the face 4 times, 1 time, looked at him crosseyed, believe me, I'd go to jail for killing the MF. Now that I have seen what he looks like, a picture tells a 1,000 words. He's a nutjob and needs to be admitted to a hospital for mental evaluation. Not normal.

Rick, by nature I'm a mild man of 47 years old. I have several children and know how annoying it is to have one of the crying in a store, but if this guy or anyone else for that matter took it upon themselves to hit one of my children like in this case, at first I would have calmly told him that I was going to knock him out then with a hook to his kidneys followed by an overhand right to his temple and a note left on his chest saying, 'you see I told you I was going to knock you out'. I only wish I could do that. But seriously, along with filing a civil suit against him, I would have in someway included Walmart in the suit, settled and lived happily ever after.

Every one of you people making negative comments about the screaming child forget that you were once one yourself. There is no such thing as a perfect child! As far as this man hitting a strangers child, I hope he gets horsewhipped by someone. It ANY PERSON ever approached my child as this man did this little one, he better hope he's quicker then I am, because I would kill the sob. I can't understand, how this man had the ability to slap this child not once but four times with the mother right there. My safety is no concern when it comes to protecting my children. I would have intervened immedietly. Maybe he could have gotten in the first slap without prewarning, but guaranteed there wouldn't be a second much less a fourth.

Rick,

I would have introduced this scoundrel to a level of pain he's never known.

I HAVE BEEN READING EVERY MORNING ABOUT THIS NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS BEEN TRYING TO PUSH. WHY CAN'T SOMEONE IN THIS POWERFUL GOVERNMENT WITH OUR HIGH TECH. WORLD RUN A COMPUTOR "MOCK" VERSION FOR ONE YEAR, IF IT CAN BE DONE. THE IDEA CAME INTO MIND WHEN I WAS WATCHING THIS MOVIE YEARS BACK ABOUT A COMPUTOR RUNNING A MOCK TRYLE OF ATOMIC WARFARE. THE ONE ACTOR THAT I REMEMBER IS MARRIED TO THE X-STAR OF SEX IN THE CITY. HIS NAME IS MATHEW BRODERICK, NOW THAT I REMEMBER. OR AM I TALKING OUT OF MY MIND. WHY NOT, TRY IT. WHERE DID THE NAME "MOCK" COME FROM IF PEOPLE DON'T TRY AND EXPERIMENT INSTEAD OF BOTH PARTIES CHEWING AT EACHOTHER AND FIGHTING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. SO WHY CAN'T THE GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYONE MENTION THIS IDEA BEFORE. I COULD BE WRONG

People People People....In reading these posts I see so much about the corporal punishment laws and how the right to discipline using corporal punishment has made so many "bad" children.
Realisticly, the laws were incorporated for those who can not determine the difference between a spanking and a beating.
Nobody is going to be arrested or have their children taken away because they were spanked. Leave a bruise, that is a different story, that is abuse! A child who is brought up by parents who spank will not become child abusers. They will become better citizens of our society who have something to contribute rather then grow up to be drug taking, gang bangers, who cost the tax payers a huge amount of tax dollars due to their incarcerations. Just maybe this should be a wake up call for our government to reconsider corporal punishment laws and set parents straight on what is discipline and what is abuse.

Dear Mr. Sanchez:

I understand how frustrating it is when parents of small children continue to shop, oblivious to their children(s) needs, while the rest of us suffer to their cries in silence. I don't condone violence in dealing with children, period. However, in past generations, parents were far more considerate of others and would remove misbehaving children from the store until such time as those children could behave. Now, except for a very slim minority, parents shop away without thought for the child(s) needs or our ears.

As a parent myself who has been through the toddler years, I dealt with tantrums by:

* Stopping what I was doing to ascertain what the child needed. If my infant/toddler needed a diaper change, we headed for the bathroom to take care of it;

* Carrying a small lunchbox w/ icepack containing snacks such as crackers, cucumber slices, carrot sticks, fruit, and milk so my child could be fed whenever she was hungry;

* Putting a rug in the bottom of the shopping cart so my child could be comfortable while I shopped;

* Holding my child if what she really needed was love;

* Removing ourselves from the store, if necessary, until the child settled down;

* Postponing shopping altogether if it was apparent my child wasn't feeling well.

When children's needs are met, tantrums are virtually non-existent.

Shame on parents who don't take the time to ascertain their children(s) needs and meet them. And shame on people who hit kids. Violence begets violence.

A bad guy, to be sure and it is hard to see how this would ever be justified but Rick, this should not be a national news story.

This man was way out of line. I have a 2 year old myself, and sometimes feel like slapping him when he shows out in public. They are upset for a reason. No one has the right to touch or hit ANYONE else. They don't call it the "terrible 2's for nothing"! The man would not have gotten that close to my child. I would have beat him to a pulp for touching my child! As a mother, I do believe in spanking as means of correcting bad behavior, but there is a time and place for that as well. It is the parents, and ONLY the parents, place to disipline their child. This man should spend some time in jail and get slapped a few times himself!

Toward the beginning, Jessica G stated "Yay for the baby smacker!! THe mother should be completely ashamed that she cannot control her 2 yr old!! "

You must be kidding! No child needs to be slapped God gave children butts and a swat now and then is an attention getter. Jessica G, nor I or anyone else knows why the child was crying but, that is what children do – mine did and I am sure all of Jessica's did too.

For me to even think about corporal punishment or any other type on someone elses child is unimaginable. As someone stated earlier, Walmart is a large store (and yes, there are children that accompany their parents there) go to another department or get the hell out!

I would have taken that guy and beaten the ever-lovin' snot out of him. How dare he hit my child.

I can understand the man's frustration at the child crying,I myself have been in stores when parents just pretend not to notice when their child cries.I have wanted to tell the parent I can show you how to make that child shut up.But I would never have slapped the little girl in the face or anywhere else.I have wanted to smack a few bottoms at times,but it's not the child's fault it's the parents.If they don't dicipline them at home that's how they act out in public, and we as the public just have to be annoyed with what goes on.One thing I can't understand is HOW the Mother let the man get in 4 slaps, had that been MY child he would have been on the floor because I'd hit him over the head with anything I could get my hands on.

Rick,

I have a son that age and I'm sure he's had a bad day too. We try to control it the best we can but there are times when nothing seems to help. In more occassions I see and hear kids that are crying and annoying everyone around them and usually all it takes is for the parent to distract the toddler with toy. But no matter how loud and how annoying that child can be, only a coward would even imagine hitting that child. I can only speak for myself when I say this – and perhaps I'm mentally ill – but if that happened to me, you can rest assured it would take a lot of people to stop me from bitting this guy up senseless – I would sweep the entire walmart with this guy, period.

Alex from Orlando, FL.

If they let this man lose they are crazy than he seems to be. I know that if it was one of my children I would probably be in jail too. He deserves what ever punishment the courts decide. Lets hope just hope he does not get a liberal judge and lets him off. As they say with a slap on the wrist. He should be publicly beaten. I am not by nature a violent man but sometimes you just have to get violent with certain people.

He should have slapped the mom for her parenting skills!!! No means No and if you are consistant your child knows it!!! If you say" if you don't stop crying we are leaving and the child still crys Then Leave!!! Spanking in public isn't O.K. anymore so we have to be consistant to let our kids know what we will not allow!!! It is not the child fault that her mom is poorly skilled on how to properly disipline her!!! Leave the store and go home and put her in time out a couple of times and she will behave better for you I promise!!!

What would I have done if I saw a grown man slapping a baby?

Well, they would also have needed to call an ambulance for him, and more than likely the police would have had to arrest him at the hospital.

If he made it.

Forget what I would do about the crying child...I would have broken the man's neck for slapping my kid.

If he would have slapped my daughter all I know for sure is that he would never have used that hand again. I cannot believe the audacity of this piece of trash to strike a child, let alone someone elses child. I hope they lock him up until the child is 18 and then she can slap him 5 times and he will be free.

Many comments are directed towards "unruly" kids. But this is a two-year old. A two-year old has very limited vocabulary and the only way he knows to communicate something is by crying or screaming. We don't know why he was crying; maybe he wanted something, maybe he had a tummy ache, maybe he was uncomfortable and the seat was hurting him, maybe had a dirty diaper. If he was 3 or 4, he could say, "mommy, my tummy hurts, or this seat is hurting my legs." But he's TWO. What if it turned out that the seat was hurting him and you disciplined him for crying?

Really parents are to blame I cant stand going to restaurants and shopping with kids yelling at the top of their lungs kids dont belong in grocery stores, one parent needs to stay home or leave them at home with someone. Everyone has rights and we need to consider everyone's. I dont agree with someone hitting a child that is not theirs, but parents are to blame for pushing others to the extreme

I'd still be hitting him!

Fabian

I couldn't believe ever hitting a child, let alone in a public place at that, but to take it into your own hands as a stranger and to walk up to someone's child, who's still a toddler, and hit them repetitively because they are crying, is outrageous. This man should be in jail for a very long time.

I am a single mom of 2 beautiful children. I am a very caring, open, happy, giving and loving person. Until you mess with someone I love. All I have to say to the person who does, is pray for death. By the time I get through with them, they will be begging for it. Like most parents, I'm sure that the child was upset about not getting something she wanted at the store, and any good parent would ignore the temper tantrum and not give in to the child's request. I have been applauded by complete strangers at stores on how I handle my kids and I applaud anyone who goes into a public place with the understanding that they are going to see crying and screaming kids; and that doesn't roll their eyes when they see a kid being disciplined (non violently, of course). I urge any person who sees someone, anyone with a child who is behaving or a parent who is making their child behave to comment positively about the situation. We all need to do our parts to ensure we are setting a good example and raising our kids to be good adults. I know I am.

I have to say if my kid is crying and you have a problem with get over or leave the place. I been d**** that anyone suggest how I raise or treat my child. My question is when the man made the comment to the mother why didn't she react to him right then and there. I guess she's alot nicer than me because it would've been a knock down right then and there. But for this man to go through with his threat well I promise he wouldn't have walked out of that Walmart on two legs. I'm sorry but I would be going to jail for murder 1 because I would have killed that old b******!!!! And for the comments that parents are ignorant that just shows how stupid some people really are and I def wouldn't want you around my kids. Yes nobody wants to here a child crying for long periods of time but at 2 years old somedays thats exactly what you get and you can't go putting your daily routine on hold because of it. I get annoyed sometimes too but I would never make comments or threaten any persons child. I hope that lady sues this man but I also hope next time someone makes a threat like that to her about her child she takes a stand before it goes this far.

I would move out of line to another register.A lot of children will cry it is natural.

What would I have done? Well, I have a Texas CHL.

For a reason.

tweaker

How would you like me to hit you? Of course you wouldn't, and I wouldn't do it. It is a crime, assault and battery.

Regarding what a parent should do with a crying child? You pick the child up and leave the area.

What I want to know is – did the child stop crying?
Probably not. The guy doesn't know child raising
practices, he just knows violence. I'm glad he's off
the streets.

Do nothing.Her mom would have sotted it out.

Retailers should ask anyone who is disruptive to leave the premise. This includes a mother who refuses to address her screaming child. Societal values teach us from an early age that screaming and being loud in public are only acceptable in certain settings. This mother should calm the child or leave the store. I simply can not concentrate when there's a screaming child in the store. Walmart stores are notorius for parents screaming, "if you don't......I'm going to beat your ......" followed by wailing and screaming. I cringe and leave. I'm sure that I am not alone.

There is NO reason for a child to scream the entire duration of a 30-40 minute shopping trip.

The man in this case should have politely asked the woman to calm her child or leave. If she refuses and depending on her attitude, he can do what all of people seem to be doing......report her to child protective services.

The man had no right to lay a hand on someone else's child. If it would have been me, I would have hit him with my mama's purse, and a brawl would have taken place. He probably would never strike another child/person again. I just hope and pray the prosecutor doesn't make any kind of a plea arrangement with the man. If that would happen what would that say to everyone. You could go around slapping other peoples children and get slapped on the hand yourself.

I hope the child and mother are doing well.

I would not have let it get to me and/or I would walk quite a few isles away. However, if it were my daughter that he slapped, I'd be the one getting arrested. He had absolutely no right to touch her at all. I can understand the frustration sometimes (I'm a single father of a 6 year old girl), but he should have kept his mouth shut and walked away.

If the child was screaming simply out of fatigue or crankiness (as opposed to screaming in reaction to mistreatment), I'd move to another part of the store, if the noise was bothering me. Never in a gazillion years would I think of threatening the mother or slapping the child!

This is insane wether downplaying what he did or backing him up. The fact remains he had no right to discipline someone elses child. If it were my child I would have opened a can of whoop A*& on him. In todays society parents are scared to discipline thier children in public due to the fact that anyone witnessing them they might turn them in for child abuse. So as a whole (for most) we let our children get away with almost anything. If you have an unruley child leave them with a family memeber or take them to the car and discipline them. A two year old doesn't understand most things. Do we know why the child was crying? As a mother of 2 boys who are grown I understand the frustration of a crying child. We tens to tune them out and ignore it. Although it may disturb other people you are in a public area not a church or library. Think about it people if you live in the flight path of a Naval station and get the joy of hearing the jets practice at 9:00 at night does it give anyone the right to shoot them down out of the sky just because they are aggravated with the noise? In todays society we have our priorities screwed up we need to focus on our future. I say make the man pay for what he has done.

I hope the judge is a woman.....and a mother. We need to protect society from a man angry enough to slap a toddler in public.

Honestly, this is a situation of an older guy looking to prove a point. However he failed miserably. Why would he hit a 2 yr old 4 times in the face? What a fool! I am all about spanking kids, to an extent. When I was growing up, in the 80's/ 90's, parents would spank their children but with control. One or two smacks on the backside got the point across. My parents disciplined me as needed, and didn't abuse their power.

That said, there is no reason to spank a 2 yr old bc they don't understand anything they are doing. Worst of all, the child wasn't his! This guy would have gotten a serious beat down if he did that to my kids. Its one thing to tell a child to have self control, but its another for the adult to not practice it themselves.

I would have "whack, whack, whack, whacked" him. Oh, and maybe one more whack.

I'm with Bibbles!

Tim obviously you don't have a child because you still seem to be one yourself.

I would have started slapping him or kicked him in his groin area before he could have gotten 4 slaps in. I'm looking at the man on video in court. The way he keeps blinking and scrunching his face looks like he may have Tourette syndrome. I would bet this man has a history with mental illness, or even hospitalization at some point in his life. And, no, I'm not the type of person who always insists that a person has a mental illness. I know that some people are just plain mean.

I am really afraid that I would also be in court today. There is no way a grown man would put his hands on one of my children. I shop in that particular store all the time and I am shocked that anyone could be so callous. I do believe that these kinds of stories are a sign of the times we live in and the tension that everyone walks around in everyday.

I have a two year old daughter and if someone did that to her you wouldn't have to worry about a court date- you could visit them in the morgue!

Hitting a 2 year old is BAD, Hitting a 2 year old GIRL is worse. This lunatic should be investigated, he has probably done far worse and a home behind bars is a good place for someone without his sense of reason. If he touched one of my kids, they would lose count trying to figure out how many broken bones he had in his tired old body. Having no tolerance for the screams of a helpless child can mean only one thing....this old relic needs to be committed for institutional psycho-therapy

Every older person(I am 62) is annoyed by crying children BUT that man hitting the child shows a person unable to control his actions. I am always astounded at the way some people simply do not HEAR their crying child. Other people always do.

wrong, wrong, wrong! his behavior WAS criminal.but we all know how irritating undisciplined children can be. i don't know what it is about wal-mart, but EVERYTIME you go, there are screaming, whining children. the last time i went, i kept running into an oblivious mother whose youngest (about 2 years) was screaming and cryiing every time the oldest wouldn't do what she told her to do. the oldest was about 6, and every time the youngest made a childish demand, which was ignored by the oldest, the mother would make the oldest obey the 2 year old, just to keep her quiet. (which didn't work, because two minutes later the youngest was crying about something else). talk about reinforcing bad behavior! what an irritating noise to listen to, and what a stupid mother!

I dont like screaming out of control kids. But I just move away. That parent needs to know how to control their "own" children. My son was never like that. But even if he were, no one would have gotten close enough to him to slap him. But to stay on track here if it were my 2 year old or even someone elses 2 year old, That Georgia Hospital medical team would still be in the process of removing my foot from that mans a**.

This is unreal.
A 61 year old man and a 2 year old child?!
It would have been ludicrous for this to happen to a grown adult but a CHILD?!
Nothing about this is funny in my opinion.
Sad is more like it.

We are missing something here. Why was the child crying. Tooth coming in, maybe isn't feeling well. Maybe just fell in the isle. There are a whole host of reasons the child might have cried. NEWSFLASH! Children cry...its thier way of communicating. If the child was just being a brat because she couldn't have a toy and the mother wasn't attempting to quiet her......smack the MOM! Nothing a 2 year old does is really their fault, it is the parents. Even so, if I was in the isle, the guy would not have to be detained at the Wall Mart, he would be detained at the hospital. Eye for an Eye, let the 2 year old kick him in the balls four times.

I would give this man some type of award for trying
to help control noise pollution.

Look, this was at a WALMART, a public place where any reaosnable person would expect to see babies and children – some of whom will act out. It wasn't an upscale hotel, a specialty store, or five star restaurant. We've all heard the crying babies, and no one really likes it.

BUT, no one should take it upon himself to slap a stranger's baby, and it seems to me that Stephens was the one misbehaving in Walmart that day. Lets not forget this was a two year old. At 4 or 5, I would expect children to know how to behave in a store, but two year olds simply do not have the mental and emotional devolpment necessary to entirely avoid metldowns like that.

For those of you who say the mother should have taken the baby out of the store, depending on the child and the circumstances, this may have only encouraged a repeat performance next time they went shopping. We don't know why the baby was crying or what the mother was doing to try to stop it. As aggravating as it it, sometimes ignoring a behavior is the fastest way to make it stop.

As for why the mother didn't defend her child, sometimes you are so suprised and filled with disbelief at something you hear or see, that you don't react. This probably happened within a matter of seconds, and really, who goes around expecting that a complete stranger will walk up and slap your two year old in front of you? If it happened to me and one of my children, I'd probably have a moment or two of being frozen in place, but once I recovered, the perpetrator would have been leaving on a stretcher so kudos to the mother and others in the store who had the self restraint to keep from assaulting him!

As a class we have decided that the action taken was totally unacceptable by any means. In our class discussion, we had two different opinions among the class. Some students supported harsh treatment of Mr. Stephens for committing this crime on such a small and helpless individual. Others were more charismatic in their decision to provide additional support to Mr. Stephens. The common theme felt in the classroom is that Mr. Stephens was wrong for placing his hands on another child. However his punishment should not exceed those of criminals convicted of murder, theft, and sexual abuse. This class will follow this story to see if justice will be served.

If that man would have put his hand on my kid or kids let alone a 2 year-old. Today he would be clinging to life in some hospital ICU or he would be enjoying a free ride to a local cemetery.

Dear HUmpty Dumpty

**he can do what all of people seem to be doing……report her to child protective services.**

This is why we as a society tend to NOT discipline our children in public. Just because a TWO year old was crying and we have no idea why we should report them to child protective services??? WOW how do you know that she took the child into the store crying... how do you know the child wasn't crying because mom HAD disciplined them. Yes the parent should have removed the child out of the store until he/she had calmed down and stopped crying. Lets be realistic about this not report everycrying child to protective services. You must not have children. Have a couple and you will understand (maybe)

I would hold the man until the police arrived to arrest him for felony child abuse, THEN I would insist the man press charges against the mother for disturbing the peace.

While I don't condone the man's behavior, I can understand his frustration. I have three sons, ages 37, 33, and 27. When they were children and misbehaved in stores (in public in general), I would give them one chance to behave and if they didn't, I'd stop what I was doing and leave. Children today, in many instances, are ill-behaved and they parents tolerate the nonsense – and somehow have developed a high tolerence level for that horrible screaming.

This man should NEVER have approached the woman and her child. But, on the other hand, she should have had the sense to remove the child from the store and not gone back until the child was under control. Ridiculous.

Good. Kids need discipline. If she was unable to do it, she should be happy someone else was there to do it.

I would not have done anything. The poor kid was probably just told of her share of the national debt.

Wayne Savell

He calls himself a man.. A man would not do what he did.. I would have pulled his hair out and if he had brains I would try to beat them out. There would have sure been a seen.

There would have been a bigger fight in Walmart, there would be pictures of me skull dragging his ass down aisle 7 for putting his hands on my child, so I guess we both would have been arrested.

I am in a different position as an adult male but let me ask you...have you ever seen a mother bear, or moose, or any other wild animal protect her young...yeah...the woman should have singlehandedly beat the man into submission. Not only would she be protecting her young she would absolutely humiliate the dude...that and jail time would be apropriate for his cruel act.

Maybe he needs to be sentenced to going into the boxing ring with a professional boxer. The mother is a good one because, he would have felt the wrath of God by means of my FOOT in his scrotum if it had been my baby!!!

I would have been sitting right next to him court because if he laid a hand on my child; it would have been whack, whack, whack, and whack, look Mr. Stephens no teeth…

Sreaming toddlers are a regular occurance in grocery stores. I usually run to another isle and am thankful that my kids are all grown up!

This also applies to parents who let their children run around in a restaurant. I am a senior citizen who walks with a cane. I have been hit from behind by a six year old and toppled to the ground. The parents initially thought it was funny that a six year old could tackle a senior citizen. They didn't think it was funny when I sued both the parents and the restauant for injuries sustained. I had a concusion from hitting a table which required stitches and broken elbow and knee cap from falling down.

In restaurants I have my table changed if I am seated next to children, and when children are seated after me.

That would NOT have been the end of the story if it were MY child...HE would have gotten a 'beat-down' right there, and would have been picking himself up off the floor.

Who is anyone to take another persons child and hit them!! This man is insane. I would not have done anything. The parent should be able to control their child in a public place. Of course those of us with kids know that is not always possible. I say deal with it or move to another isle or even another store if you don't want to hear the crying. If anyone thinks they ever would have gotten a hold of my child, I think they would have had one insane mother on their hands! I might have beaten the life out of that man.

Labotomy? Is that sufficient?

It is very simple. You attack my TWO year old child in front of me.
I respond with 150% of my physical and mental abilities to destroy and kill you immediately. By any means possible and without any regard for my own well being. Until you are dead, I will not be done.

Sorry in todays world I do not have the luxery to analyze your reasons. or try to understand why you are messed up. I will protect my children with my life.

Dad

This guy is a nut case and should be locked up where he can get the beating he deserves and to state otherwise is just plain ridiculous.
(That's to all the people who have posted semi-defending him).
And to all the people who have posted about "crying brats" shattering their peaceful dinners at chain restaurants and their shopping experiences at malls and Wally etc.
You are obviously always grumpy and your life must be awful anyways so I do feel for you a litte...but...
If you walk around with a crappy attitude all the time then you will surely find fault with ANY evening out no matter if you even see ANY kids.
Mean, cranky people SUCK!!!
Try and cheer up people, learn to laugh....they're just kids!!

I can't believe some comments made. If we discipline our children there wouldn't be millions in jail? People who abuse children are going to do it regardless. You have a major screw loose if you feel the need to hit a child in the face. That IS abuse. I have no sympathy for him and I hope they set an example and keep in jail for as long as they can.

Rick asked "what would you have done" in his CNN video broadcast. My answer: he wouldn't have gotten anywhere near my kid, especially after his warning. Anyone who would threaten my child let alone actually assault her would wind up in an ambulance in short order. That's what dad's are here for, to beat down anyone who would dare place them in harms way.

the man? in question would not have had to worry about going to jail as I would have picked up the nearest heavy object, smacked him with it and gone with the police with a smile on my face. I would allow no one to touch my child.

I would have ended up getting arrested becuase I probably would have attacked the guy. There is no way anyone is gonna hurt mama bears cub and get away with it.

First I would like to address the issue of corporal punishment of a child. Do I think that a child needs to be paddled (not beaten!!!) when necessary? Yes, but never never never should a child be struck with the hand. Why, you may ask? Because the same hand that you just administered punishment with, will be reaching out, probably within a few minutes, embracing the child in a loving and compassionate gesture (but certainly not by this JERK!!). Nor should it take place in public, even a two year old does not like to be humiliated. How confusing could this possibly be to the child? As far as the "Old Man" goes, had I been in the store and witnessed this event I am afraid that I would have gone to jail for abuse of the elderly. After all he's and adult, thus the above thought DOES NOT apply.

I would of called the police when he first said this to me , and grabed my child and left , but i gotta tell you i hate screaming kids in stores, my children where well behaved . I live in the midwest now and near a mall where people talk loud in this mall and let there kids do what ever they want and scream so much and loud u can not hear your self think ,

What the man did was outragous , but some thing needs to be done with screaming bratty disruptive children in public places , these kids have behavior problems, working in public just about drives u mad , and these women from the south look at you like you and who else they don't care what there kids do . dif ]]] a pet peeve of mine .

Well, don't get me wrong - what he guy did was wrong, and he's probably not all there in the head. BUT, where the humor comes in is that he acted out something that many people have imagined in their minds, when people don't discipline their own children, and think that the rest of the world should just "put up with" their screaming. I was in a Wal-Mart one time and a kid was screaming so loud that you could literally hear them all over the store, and the parent did nothing, they just kept on shopping, for over at least 45 minutes, going up and down the aisle, with the kid screaming at the top of its lungs the entire time disturbing everybody in the store. I hope that this is a cautionary tale to THOSE parents - please don't let your kids disturb thousands of people shopping in a store, cause one of them might be CRAZY. Your kids screaming is far more annoying to others than it is to you. Think of the rest of the world, and please calm your child down when he/she is crying so the rest of us can enjoy the specials on aisle 3.

First of all this guy would have wound up in a hospital if it had been my child. BUT, WE have created these kinds of problems! For the mother to take action, as in giving the child a couple of whacks on the rear, most probably would have resulted in child services, the HOLY GRAIL, cannot do anything wrong, being involved. If you cannot feel free to discipline your own children then what are we to expect. EVERYONE is now in your face and personal business. Don't get me wrong here, there is a big difference between discipline & beating, but we, as a society, have taken this option away from most families.
I also agree, looking at this guy, that he has some problems, but if he gets away with it because of them, then we are opening the door for a whole lot of problems.

This man was out of line, he should have paddled the child on the bottom. That mother has no business having children that she can not control! Sure all kids will misbehave but it is what you do about it that will teach them how to behave in the future, ignoring them is not an answer. You are teaching them that they can misbehave and get by with it. This trend is why so many young people do not have any respect for anyone or anything. I have a 4 yr. old granddaughter who behaves the same way and her parents allow it. Many times I have snatched her up and paddled her bottom. I think I am the only one that she will listen to, her parents use me as a threat when she misbehaves – "Grammy will get you!". And guess what? She still loves me and is a pleasure to be around when her parents aren't around! If you can not control your children then you should keep them at home where they won't be an embarrassment to you and a pain in the rear to everyone else! They will probably end up locked away as adults anyway. Everyone in this country needs to get back to raising kids the way they were raised 30-40 years ago. Spare the rod and spoil the child!

I must confess I took my son to take a test yesterday and I saw how a 5 year old child hit his mother, and I mean slap accross the face! I was mortified. I dont believe in beating a child but I do believe in discipline! I honestly felt like grabbing the child off of his mother and having a few good words with him.. if you dont teach children to respect authority at a young age, how could you expect him to function successfully as an adult in a world where you MUST OBEY LAWS! I dont believe the men had any right to hit the child but it's the parents duty and responsability to educate and reprimend their children!!!

His actions should've been what the mother should've done!!!!!!! But in this gentler, kindler, country that we have allowed it to become. You can't even scold your kid without going to jail. Parents need to take control back from their kids so this country doesnt continue to go down the pipes. Politicians, Policeman/woman, etc....... need to tend to their own business and stay out of the parenting, other than there own. This government cant even fix the current problems we have!!!!!

I know how irritating a screaming child is in a store. I get tired of hearing them myself. How the man ever got close to the child is beyond belief. I see mothers and fathers on their cell phones while shopping and the children are screaming. Hang up the phones, schedule shopping after naps and when children are not cross. I have four children, they knew that when we went shopping they were to behave. If they didn't, they were punished. I'm not talking a beating but usually a swat on the behind or they came home empty handed. So many parents are afraid to discipline their children for fear of
being charged with abuse. Thank God the people in the store helped officers to arrest this man. NO ONE should ever slap a child or anyone in the face. But at the same time, parents if your child is screaming, deal with it then, don't ignore the child.

You know what if this guy was on a place and there was a crying toddler. I think this freak should be thrown in Jail for a long time and should be banned from visiting any place with kids including airplanes. All of this would be treating the symptoms though. This guys needs to take anger management classes (after he gets raped in prison for doing what he did) and stay away from kids at all costs. Just look at his facial expressions, he looks like a demon.

I would have unleashed on the guy and beat the living daylights out of him, someone would have had to pull me off him!

If you notice the business was Walmart, and as you might expect what kind of people shop there. And besides the 2 year old was 9 times out of 10 just whining to receive something they wanted and the parent did not have enough money so the toddler as Americans would put had a meltdown. Besides the mother could have been a good parent herself and left the store. I am sorry America, but I stand behind the 61 year old.......

First off I must say that Missouri Dad is absolutely correct.
And for the rest of us it is not for us to judge the mother. We have no idea what her situation is, maybe she has no one to help her or has a hectic schedule and shops when she can fit it in. Did anyone think about that?? didn't think so. NOW as for the man who thought it was within his right to slap a total strangers 2 year old FOUR TIME . Mister like so many other people who have posted before me NOT MY CHILD...

betcha this guy votes republican

I am rather sickened by the harsh comments and condemnation that's so freely exerted here. There is no question as whether or not his behavior was acceptable (it clearly was not), but I am saddened that no one is asking, in a respectful, compassionate way, why this man struck a child.

The behavior of this man was so out of line that I wonder if he didn't suffer from some kind of psychotic break as a result of some illness–mental or physical. (In the video, he has a definitive tic–maybe he has had some trauma–or some kind of illness).

I think almost anyone would agree that his behavior was not that of a normal, healthy person. I can't imagine that if this were his normal behavior, we wouldn't have heard of a long history of terrible behavior by now. (you know how our media outlets love to dig at the nastiest stuff they can find....)

Perhaps he is ill and needs our compassion and concern rather than our judgment. Of course, this child needs our compassion and concern as well.

I would have jumped on the man and attacked him. I know that isn't the right thing to do, but I'm almost certain it is what I would have done. I would have ended up being arrested too I'm sure. I would have tried to phyically and permanently harm him with all my might.

oh and one more thing...to all the people still talking about "brat" kids ruining their lives, maybe sometimes these children have a special need or mental disability?
I always think of that when I see a child out of control. Some parents have such a hard time doing daily activities with their children that we can sometimes do quite easily and take for granted.

But aside from that... the kid was only 2 years old...she is a B – A – B – Y!!
To defend this guy in any way is just plain wrong.
I really hope some of you are doing it as a bit of a joke.

If he had hit my child both of us would have been in the court room. Because I would have pick something up and knock him out with it. It would have been the biggest fight in the history of a Wal-Mart.

This man crossed definitely the line. He will deal with the consequences of his actions. Recently, I too was in a Wal-Mart with a child that was having a meltdown. It echoed throughout the store, I passed the mother and child and she was not trying to manage the situation. She was shopping like there was nothing unusal going on. Everyone in the grocery area of the store could hear this child. It was very unnerving. I have grand babies myself. After approximately 40-45 minutes I decided to leave the store. As I was checking out, I heard a comment from another mother, stating how her small child was reacting. He was crying. Other people were making comments also. She did have 2 older children with her and could have figured out some solution. When people have small children they need to be sensitive to the childs needs. I don't know what was going on with him, but when you are out in public you need to be responsible and sensitive to other people that are also affected. A 5-10 minutes is tolerable. This woman needed to either leave the store or manage the situation differently.

Unacceptable behavior!!
What would I do? Nothing. Must probably the mother is ignoring a tantrum.
Maybe, if you get eye contact with the baby you can smile and try to entertain her by playing hide and seek from the distance...
Lynda

I am 64 female. Been on both ends. My boys constantly cried at stores. Got looks by older people. Some comments. Actually wished someone would take my kid and slap him, but not in face–on behind is acceptable to me. When strangers do that, kids begin to realize that they are not doing something acceptable by others. My husband has told off parents and kids on planes when they are kicking the back of the seats. Love how the father seats himself away from the mother who has no control of the kids. Its these mothers who do not whack their kids or scream at them but keep on asking them who drive me crazy. I would rather seem the parent out of control at the store yelling. Than I feel sorry for them. But a parent who just thinks it is dandy for the kids to do what they want and they themselves just leave their kid screaming while they are looking through the store. That drives me up a wall too. Few times in this scenerio would love to slap the kid on the but and yell at them.

But hitting on the face is really unacceptable, especially a man hitting a little girl on the face. Than it becomes abuse. Smack on butt is not. Guy lost it. Probably was angry about something else. At least he wasn't carrying a gun because if he was and blew up, he wouldn't think twice about using it. Just think if he was armed. I don't even want to think about it.

Is he going to be required to attend anger management sessions after jail? He is going to jail? This is why there should be clear laws- this is assault and battery not just cruelty to a child.

everytime I go to Walmart there is a child screaming so loud you can hear them all throughout the store. you may want to make them stop but you have no right to do anything. parents should leave there fuss children at home but they subject the entire world to the childs tantrums.

it would be none of my business unless the child was being abused by the mom. but, if someone else slapped my child, i would kick his a** right then and there.

RICK, I COULD HAVE ONLY HOPED TO BE IN A HARDWARE AISLE. I WOULD HAVE GRABBED THE CLOSEST WEAPON AND BEAT HIM UNTIL HE COULD NOT MOVE. THEN CALLED THE POLICE. CNN DIDN'T SAY IF THE TODDLER WAS OKAY "PHYSICALLY". I'M SURE IT DID A HELL OF A JOB ON HER MENTAL, EMOTIONAL SENSES. I AM SURE THE JUDGE WILL SLAM HIM GOOD. THANK YOU, LESLYE SEYMOUR CORNING, NY

I totally understand where that man is coming from! However, you can not touch someone else especially children. It's one thing to say something to the parent or even to the child if they are out of hand but criminal to go beyond words.

I think he might have a bit of dementia going on. you think?

Well if that were me, the guy would not have gotten to get in one slap, the whole situation would have stopped when he said "Shut that kid up or I'll do it for you". Then all heck would break loose and he would have been slapped by ME. he should be charges with child abuse too. And I hope he doesn't have any grandchildren of his own because if I were them, I would be very scared of grandpa!!!!

I have been a single mom for the better part of 12 years...and even though toddlers can be a handful and a disturbance to 'other' people in public places..you dont handle it the way this jerk did. As for dealing with the child, you try your best to just smile, stay calm, comfort your child as much as possible and get your shopping done in a hurry!
As for dealing with this man......I agree with Missouri Dad. There is no way in Hell I would EVER let someone smack my kid around like that! If I had to grab an ink pen out of my purse and stab that foolish man in the eye or groin, I would have! Lets put it this way....A child may scream and throw a tantrum temporarily....but STUPID is forever – and THAT is what this guy is. Just typing this comment has got me all irritated and wanting to punch this jerk.
Wonder if this guy has kids of his own...or been around a relatives child, etc? What do you think he has done to them?!?!?! With the audacity he had with a complete stranger's child....I'll bet there's no limit to what he'd do to his own family.
As for punishment? Real world: oh, he may do a little time or get a slap on the wrist and some probation. What (I think) should happen: He should be treated like a sex offender and have his name be put on that list of Shame they call an 'Offender Registry' for all the world to see. He should not be allowed around schools,etc. And then, they should let that woman and her entire family line up and take turns slapping the hell out of him. ~Yep, its my opinion and I dont care who doesn't like it~

As a parent and now Grandparent this happens. Your child acts out in public. They're tired, they didn't get a toy they wanted, they're hungry, or... they're just 2 years old. It happens. You asked "what would I do?" If by chance I made eye contact with the parent, I would smile with empathy and probably say something like "Somebody's not happy" and then walk away. Hoping to have let the parent know that it's OK.

This 62 year old man (and I use the term man loosely when describing him) was having a temper tantrum similar to a 2 year old. Unfortunately there wasn't anyone around to "make" him behave in time to prevent him from hitting the child. I'm sure he'll get much more than a "slap" for this one!

So this man who slapped the child really should have slapped the mother! A child can't really help where the mother takes them. When you decide to become a parent you give up some of your rights for your child. For instance... When a baby cries loudly at a movie theatre or wedding, get your butt up and take the baby out! I HATE SCREAMING babies..... the child is two years old... spank the child. there is a difference between abuse and discipline. when i was a child screaming in public back in the early 80's i was spanked and no one called DSS. If i disobeyed or cried in public, it didn't happen very long.

I really want to say good for this man for taking action, but he took action against the wrong one. SPANK YOUR DAMN CHILD OR YOU SHOULD BE SPANKED!

I'm a small woman...5'2", but I guarantee you that if this despicable human being had headed toward my children, there would have been a lot more in the pursuant news story than a man being held by Wal-Mart customers until the police arrived to arrest him! I would have thrown DOWN with this dude right there, and NO WAY IN HADES would he have gotten one hit on my child, much less 4!

The thing I don't understand about this story is how this...creature is able to STAND UP in court to face the charges brought against him, and without so much as a scratch on him??? He would not have walked away from a confrontation with me, and his face would be barely recognizable. How did the witnesses in Wal-Mart not start a brawl and give him as good as he gave? I am not a violent person, but I WILL defend my children, physically if necessary.

Come on, Moms! Where is the outrage?

He would not have lived to go to court. I would have killed him on the spot.

I suffer from anxiety, high blood pressure and high levels of stress. To someone like me, hearing a crying child across a store is worse than running your fingernails down a chalkboard for some. Is it fair to someone like me that due to medical conditions I fear shopping just because of BAD parenting? No one forced you to have a child yet your child inhibits my reasonable enjoyable shopping experience. Maybe if the law makers decided to enforce enctycing a fight or arguement when a parent refuses to leave a store and continue shopping due to poor parenting skills and their child is out of control. Have resect for other shoppers.

As for this man involved... First no one knows if he has any serious medical conditions. A heart patient... who knows. If someone is a heart patient and you child starts screaming you could be the cause of a serious or fatal medical condition because of your childs actions. Start to think about others people and not be so self centered.

For his actions...

As one person said... He slapped the wrong person. With the mother refusing to leave the store she should have been the one who was slapped then given $100 to attend parenting classes.

Slapping a child without proper guidance or education from a parent is uncalled for. The child acts that way because the child knows it is their way to control the parents and get what they want. Agree or disagree it is the truth people. How a child reacts in a store is how they react at home and a clear indication of the loss of control a parent has over their child.

I agree with his stand enough is enough and it is well overdue to enforce parents to control their children in public but his approach was poor. He spoke to the parent to control their child. He should have approached store security to escort the lady and child out of the store until the child settled down or he was finished his shopping experience.

I can see his lawyers now going after Wal-Mart for failure to provide a peaceful and enjoyable experience while on their property and if so... I can see Wal-Mart enforcing new rules about out of control children. So be prepared to take back control from your children.

This "stranger' took the "it takes a village" too far, he must be the village idiot! You do not put your hands on someon's child to get them to stop crying. You do not have that right. That clearly is assault and endangering the life of a minor. Had that woman slapped her own child in public in that manner she would be locked up for child abuse! People need to mind their business and learn to walk away. You never know if that crying child has underlying issues like being mentally disabled or autistic. For the record, healthy babies and toddlers have limited coping skills and can sometimes only cry to show they are upset.

I would have picked up whatever was closest and conked him over the head with it, repeatedly.

If that ugly man threatened to shut my kid up by force, and then proceeded to grab and slap my child, i would have been in fear for my life. i would have shot him dead right in the store. He might have killed my child. An act like that deserves immediate intervention. I would have killed him literally on the spot. I have a legal right possess a concealed pistol and the legal right to protect my life and that of others. I know many people are against guns and might think that was too dangerous to shoot in the store, but i am sure I would have gotten a clear shot. He could have killed my child. Not only that, I think if more people were willing to protect themselves against villains like this, we would have a much more polite society.

Rick,
If I saw an adult whacking a 2 year old for crying unfortunately I would have to stop them. One time I would ask that they stop immediately. If they did not, I would have to physically prevent them from hitting/whacking anymore. I would stop 'preventing them' when one of two things happened. Either they stop and become still or the authorities came to take them away. Whatever his psychological problem is: I don't care. What I do care about is stopping folks like him from beating defenseless little ones. What a coward he is.
Pjl

While it is pretty heinous that he slapped that child, felony child cruelty?? Are you kidding me? That's just ridiculous. There are far worse people out there , doing things so horrible, that it brings tears to the eyes to even think about it. They'll get off with a couple years tops.

The punishment in this case is excessive. While he had no business striking someone else's child, and honestly if he'd hit my kid or the kids of someone I was with , I'd have been sitting next to him in court for assault, he doesn't deserve this kind of penalty from our judicial system.

To all those people who are saying "he is lucky I wasn't there or I would have (fill in the blank)"

You are no better than him!!! ASSAULT IS ASSAULT. Does not matter if it is a child or an adult. You are NOT a judge. That is why we have a justice system and get off your cloud... I am sure is someone is unstable enough to slap a child 4 to 5 times he would tear you apart and leave your carcus for the morgue to scoop up. Lose the tough guy mentality and grow up. It makes things worse. It took what... 12 customers and security to restrain him until police arrived... I doubt you would put him in a hospital. Reality check people.

A cranky two-year-old is perfectly normal. The ideal situation is to simply pick up the child and leave the store. If you cannot do that, you simply ignore the tantrum and hope that other people have the common sense to do the same.

I am the mother of a teenage daughter with severe autism and epilepsy. The cruel and ignorant remarks and comments we have heard when she has a seizure or melt-down in public would break your heart. How about controlling an 18-year-old who is screaming and stripping off her clothes? Or banging her head against the wall or floor? I can only imagine what this man would have done if he had been present when my daughter displayed this behavior.

But a 2-year-old who is acting like a 2-year-old? I think this man has more going on than a short temper. Maybe HE has a caregiver someplace and HE wandered away .... because he looks like he may not have all HIS marbles. Regardless, he is obviously a danger to the public and I'd love to know his history. I'd hate to think what his children endured, if he has any.

Regardless, when you see a stressed out and desperate mom with a child who is throwing a tantrum, or with a special needs child, offer a helping hand or at least have a little compassion. We are not "bad parents."

I've been at the end of my rope many times and I think if that man had attacked my child, I'd have run to the sporting goods aisle for a baseball bat.

Rick,

Sounds like the man who slapped the 2-year old was successful in quieting the child. Sure, he used an improvised technique, but I'm sure the former VP would have approved.

My question here is, WHO EXACTLY IS HAVING THE TANTRUM in this scenario?????

If you watch the clip of him in court, you can clearly tell he has some mental issues going on...

The man was wrong, plain and simple! I would have lost it if he hit my child.
Some people mentioned the mom leaving the store, or her walking out to calm the child. I like most parents have a limited time for things such as shopping. I usually go in get what I need and get out. but a crying child is not going to stop me from what I need to do. Us parents all know sometimes its as easy as changing the subject, making the child laugh, but we all know that sometimes there is nothing that you can do.
And Jessica, it doesn't make me or any other mom a bad mother cause we can't get our children to stop crying in public. Seriously she should be ashamed that she couldn't control a 2 YEAR OLD, are you completely insane, the whole phrase is an contradiction. 2 yr olds are probably the hardest to deal with, children are very emotional at 2. Gosh my 2 yr old cries when i wont give her milk right that second, or if i tell her NO! I spank for big things but tantrums I ignore. Gosh if I spanked my children for tantrums, I would be pretty busy.

Sometime in the 60s, I was sitting in the cart at the check-out line, screaming like a banshee. I was two or so.

My mother looked around at all the silent but disgruntled people around her–then SMACKED me across the face. That shut me up.

Good for her. I deserved it!

I got three kids of my own, now...only had to spank two of them once...no big deal. Now, all I have to do is give them a Sting-style scowl, and they shut up.

I don't know if there is a "right way" to raise kids...you just have to do your best. As for strangers: they have a right to curse your kid out–but touch them, no way.

Taking your toddlers to Walmart is OK. Taking them to the opera, theater, fine art museums–whatever (to "educate" at a an early age) is pure selfishness on your part.

My .02

I POSTED A COMMMENT EARLIER. THE 11TH COMMENT DOWN. READ IT (IF YOU WANT), TO UNDERSTAND WHERE I WAS COMING FROM.

THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMENTS ARE FROM SENSIBLE PEOPLE, AND HONESTLY, I BREATH A SIGH OF RELIEF!

THEN THERE ARE A FEW OF YOU, WHO SEEM TO JUSTIFY THIS MAN'S ACTIONS! YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT OF THE MAJORITY! ALL THINGS ASIDE. WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IN CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, WHETHER YOU HATE KIDS, WHETHER YOU HAVE KIDS OR DON'T HAVE KIDS, WHETHER YOU THINK THE MOTHER SHOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY, OR THE MAN SHOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY, WHETHER THE CHILD WAS RUNNING AROUND LIKE A WILD ANIMAL AND NEEDS TO BE CONTROLLED, WHATEVER YOUR BELIEFS, THIS MAN WAS A STRANGER!

THEY WERE A CHILD, HE WAS AN ADULT! REALLY. MY POINT SHOULD STOP THERE!

HE HIT A TWO YEAR OLD! A TWO YEAR OLD! A TWO YEAR OLD!

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A 14 YEAR OLD TALKING TO THEIR MOTHER LIKE THEY ARE A DOG AND SCREAMING AT HER AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS! NOT THAT BEING A 14 YEAR OLD WOULD JUSTIFY BEING HIT EITHER!

IT IS NOT HIS RESPONSIBILITY, RIGHT OR ANYTHING ELSE TO TAKE PUNISHMENT, REVENGE, OR DISCIPLINE INTO HIS OWN HANDS!

WHEN DID WE BECOME SO ENTITLED? TO THINK THAT WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE TRUTH, THAT IT IS GOLD!

LISTEN, I DON'T THINK WHAT I AM SAYING IS GOLD OR THE TRUTH! IT IS JUST ANOTHER OPINION AND WAY OF THINKING RESPONDING TO THE OUTRAGEOUS COMMENTS ABOUT HITTING A CHILD IN A PRIVATE PLACE. YES A PRIVATE PLACE! WAL-MART IN A SENSE INVITED THAT MOTHER AND HER CHILD. THEY WERE THE HOST! BELIEVE ME. WAL-MART WOULD RATHER HAVE A MOTHER AND HER SCREAMING/CRYING CHILD THAN ANY ASS WHO THINKS THEY ARE ENTITLED TO SHOP IN 'PEACE', WHETHER IT BE WAL-MART, TARGET, A RANDOM GROCERY STORE. IF THE PLACE OF PRIVATE BUSINESS, WHO ALLOWS THE PUBLIC, YES ALLOWS THEM INTO THERE BUSINESS, THINKS CRYING CHILDREN BECOMES A PROBLEM, THEY WILL PROHIBIT THEM.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHEN THAT HAPPENS. ALL CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY WHO THINK WHAT THIS MAN DID WAS OKAY, OR EMPHATHIZE WITH HIM, WILL BE COMMENTING ON HOW IT IS NOT RIGHT TO BAN CITIZENS WITH CHILDREN FROM STORES!

Did you see the horrible twitchy look on this man's face? This seems like the kind of man who is deeply disturbed and if he is so inclined to be so rude in public, who knows what else he is capable of. With all the missing children and abuse that goes unsolved, remember there are people who walk among us every day who are more wicked than we would ever want to imagine. Most people try not to think about this or simple give zero consideration at all about this fact. I may considered cynical, but I think, I know I'm right. More people should stop being so naive. I already commented about what I would DO to this man. This is just what I think about him.

It's so difficult being a parent. We try to control every situation but sometimes it is beyond our contol. Babies get tired, hungry and frustrated. It happens one at a time, all at once or a combination of each. We parents don't want our kids to scream, but it will happen at the most inconvienent time to you, whether we are shopping, eating at a diner, or at church. I try to keep our babies out only a couple of hours at a time so we do not over stimulate them. Keeping my babies happy is full time job alone, so I am surprised that others think playing with my babies all day will solve their crying, how will I get everything else done if I'm at the park all day? Spanking is not an option because I do not want to hit out of anger or teach that hitting is ok to get people change their behavior. It takes intelligence and creativity to change behavior, not physical harm. I know physical discipline does not work because my parents believed in that and it did not work on me. I would fight at school and I beat up my brothers because my parents hit me with belts, coat hangers and chairs. However, I do believe that we should defend ourselves and our babies. And this guy deserves 4 punches to the face. So please, use restraint when you think a parent is doing a poor job handling a crying baby. If you choose to be judgemental and outspoken, you may find yourself waking up with a concussion and bloody nose with me standing over you.

If that old fart had laid 1 finger on my chield, I would beat his _ss!!!

T-Rex

I can't believe that some of you think slapping a child (any child) is funny. As a child and even into my adult life my mother thought the way to control my life and my mind was to slap me in my face, beat me upside the head with her fists, punch me in the mouth and throw knives at me... and it all started when I was two years old. Imagine the post-traumatic stress I still carry with me to this day.

Imagine the anxiety and fear that little two year old will carry with her throughout her life, for I am sure that incident is her first "formed memory" that she will never forget.

The question is what would I do.
I have said to parents: "Would you mind?" or "Please stop your child from crying", etc. They do nothing of course. Usually I just leave the area.
I've even been in a situation that went on for so long, AND the parent was shopping and moving around the store (I couldn't get away from them!), I had to leave the store.
I did not like the tone of the reporter on this store, like the man is depraved. He isn't. Less and less people care about decency and public behavior.Why are others being subjected to an out of control screaming child in a store?
Number 1, their parenting skill are crap. 2,The child is not comfortable for some reason, and it should be addressed. 3, the parent doesn't give a crap about anyone else but themselves. And, 4, I don't care what it is just shut that kid up! Rude! Selfish! Bad parenting!

I am seeing all these posts about how the parents should be the one that should be smacked. I have 2 daughters that are as different as nite and day. Who knows what this poor mother was going thru w/ the child so upset. The child might have had a cold and the mother was there to get medicine. It is noones business to approach someone elses child and try to discipline them. If you do not think the parent is using the best skills, so what. You take care of your own and leave everyone else the 'H' alone.
That man would have never had to go to jail b/c he would be 6 ft under for touching my child. He should get the maximum of whatever. This is what our society is coming to. Everyones in everyones business. Stay out, it makes the world a better place.

If that would have been my child he would not have walked out of that store on his own free will. Who does he think he is, slapping a child in the face! As a mother, I would have went to jail for battery/assult on this loser and for those who justify his behavior they deserve to be beaten as well. Kids cry and they do not deserve to be slapped in the face for it.

I just remembered a few times this worked: I actually addressed the child myself. Usually, during their tantrums or unhappiness they really just need to get interrupted. Mind you, EVERY time I got a nasty response from the parent, or they (this is the best part) they get insulting AND LEAVE THE AREA....
Then I smile and blissfully continue my rightful peace and quiet.

To all those that say if your child is screaming, etc... leave. You can't always do that.. I was recently in Wal-mart after 2 specific items for dinner. My 3 year old (who had missed her nap) was screaming and crying. She wanted to be carried. I was pushing a cart and couldn't carry her, she had two choices ride or walk. She didnt' want to do either. So she cried. She finally stopped about halfway through the trip. And it's not always a discipline issue. My children ARE spanked when they need it, even if it is the middle of Wal-mart.
But if another person EVER tried to discipline my child for me, in the manner that this man did. They would not be walking out of there. At least not w/out limping and pain. There is NO WAY that someone would do that without me responding back. That is for certain.

Just one point – Not one person has the right to hit another persons child. No matter what the circumstances are!

I would have to be pulled off the guy by the police, if a stranger slapped my toddler. He would be charged from the hospital. Children deserve safety over shopper convenience . He could have just walked to another part of the store if it was really bothering him. What he did showed a complete self-absorption and a total lack of respect for others.

hi. as a mother of 4 i have been in this situation. so if i am in the store by myself and here a screaming child you need to realize the mom or parent is doing the best they can. do you think they love the sound of a screaming child? any disciplary action should be left up to the parent. certainly not anyone else.and i have heard slapping on the face is the worst because maybe not at the age of 2 but later on studies have shown it lowers a child self esteem.

I dont have any children but I will say that children can at times test adults with their crying but it is only up to the parents on how to react to it. The man should not have touched the child. He should be punished. I want to ask the mother though why did she just call for security and not react? she should have reacted the same way if she found out another woman was sleeping with her husband and kick'd his a**. she have called for security and then kick his ass while she waited. and as big as walmart is where were the witness to help out? we are suppose to UNITED WE STAND? I know there were other parents in the store. It would have been self-defense and the mother would not have gotten in trouble. From looking at the video of the man he should have been with a home help nurse anyway b/c he is mean and crazy looking.

Incredible! This jerk could have and should have walked away if he objected to this crying child. Obviously, he's unstable. The mother was probably frightened of him and would not have stood a chance in a fight with this nut case. Screaming for help would be in order, for sure! I'm delighted that he was arrested. Maybe he'll get what he has coming to him in jail from other prisoners. Ha! I'm glad he's off the street.

If I was that mother I'd have taken him down!!! NOBODY has the right to touch someone else's children. Make snotty comments if you want but it goes no further. This jerk obviously doesn't have kids. I hope he goes to jail where he can get slapped and humiliated. I would turn into mother bear and shred anyone who lays a hand on my kids. Thank you!

the old guy that slapped the 2- year old.. he should have slapped the mother for not picking up the little one (maybe).. but he would have needed an ambulance if he had slapped my kid... and I don't believe he would have had the chance to slap her more than once! I do agree that mothers (parents) let their kids run wild in stores and scream and run around and I sometimes wish the stores would ask the parents to leave until they have control over their kids. I also believe a good spanking never hurts a kid.. however a slap on the face to a 2-year old.. I think not! That's what God created padded butts for!

So many comments, too many to read them all, so if I repeat someone, oh well.

Soooo many times I have wanted to the crying of a baby to stop in the store but I am most usually just annoyed by the parents lack of attention to it or solution, the parent just allowing them to cry and whine the entire visit...it's the parent that I want to smack.

And if it had been my child, they would have had to pull me off of him! Don't ever lay a hand on my child, I would probably be in jail for killing that guy who hit my kid.

As parents myself, a father of 2 not so perfect kids, I have to say that
parents really don't have control on their kids anymore. It's hard to bring kids up when a world is always pushing the wrong things at them. From TV, music and everyday attitudes from others.When I was a kid if my mother just looked at me , that's all I needed to shut up and if dad was there....oh boy I was dead meat! Kids are very out of control nowadays and many of them aren't taught any better so I understand the emotions of that man but......that kid was 2? Are you kidding me? A grown man hits a little kid at that age that doesn't even belong to him? WOW he's lucky to still be alive, the man that is. What has happended to society in America? Does anyone even know what the words *right and wrong* mean anymore?

This man that slapped a little kid no matter what the kid was doing was wrong. Had it been my child, he would've gotten the beat down of his life because it's a parent's responsibility to protect their children! I'd die for my kids and I'm proud to think that way!!!

Jail will show him what a beat down is over and over because I'm sure a guard will accidently let the inmates know about him then from there it's all behind the prison walls.

A parent's job is to protect and guide their children but where was that parent? If that were my wife, that man would be dead and if I were there he'd wish he were! The mom should've done something or maybe she did and we don't know about it.

All kids have to learn so the next time you hear a screaming kid in a store, remember that was you once! Just walk away.

A very angry father!

wow i know for a fact that if it was my kid i would be in that court room in that man's chair but not for hitting a baby but for man slaughter. If it was my child's mother that was there instead of me well i can't say the out come would change cuz she is crazier than me.

I get so tired of hearing screaming children in public places to get what they want. But this person has a problem- I want to hear from the mother- was she just too stunned to react?

My own kids know that when mommy says do "WE" have to go to the bathroom it it "ON".

The truth is most people don't know how to handle a child. The nuns that took care me, gave me spankings, when I would act up. Of course they gave me a fair warning, My dad and mom did the same thing, I soon figured out when things didn't go my way, I can't act like a fool.
Personnally I think people are too seensitive about their feelings, I'm physically disabled and don't expect special treatment. Sometimes tough love is better for some kids and others need to held a little longer. Overall the guy shouldn't spank the kid; however parents need to act adults not become the child "best friend".

This is most assuredly no laughing matter!!! If i were the mother in this situation i'd be going to prison for murder! I hope the idiot gets what he deserves in prison!

I would have kick his @$$! I still want to kick his @$$.,

You don't touch other people's children. You don't hit children especially in the face.

If someone hit my kid 3 times. I would of gone to sporting goods grabed a baseball bad and wacked him across the head with it 4 times and ask him if that will keep him quiet. I am sure the other shoppers would hold him for the time it would take to get the bat. I would even let them take a few swings for helping me. I think the cops would understand.

Had I been in that Walmart store and witnessed that man's insane reaction to a crying child – I promise you – he would have been left crying like a baby himself!

Timon Atmar

What kind of idiot would put his hands on another person's child??? If this man has children of his own, I think he should be investigated for possible abuse. Someone who doesn't hesitate to slap a stranger's child would surely dish out much worse to one of his own. He needs to go to prison where grown men can slap him around for a long time!

Re: Screaming child
If it was my child who was grabbed and slapped, there would be a 61 year old man on the floor with his testicles yanked off and stuffed in his ears. Seriously, how did that baby's mom control herself?

He should of slapped the parent too!

Face not good , the butt would have been better. children grow up without any limits. This is the reason we have the problems we do because parents don't teach the, No.

My mother use to stay, "I'll give you a reason to cry, you better stop it." And guess what...it worked.

DId the baby stop crying. I bet it did. Again, butt would have been better.

Rick

Speechless . . . .

Buy an iPod and listen to it while your shopping if you can't stand interacting with people! Seriously, put your earbuds in crank up the volume and tune others out. You don't even have to turn it off to check out. Go through the self check out and ring yourself up. My children are insured by Glock. If you can't control yourself while my 2 year-old is having a fit, and you begin hitting my kid, you better have a will in place.

I can hardley blame the guy even though by today's standards it's the wrong thing to do. There is a total lack of disapline with parents/ kids these days...and the fustration can carry a person overboard. The parent was just as much at fault for leaving the child as the guy was for smacking him/her.

Our Society started down hill with the generation of "Do No Spank". Our Children built the current society of uncontrollable children and now we all have to live in it. The 61 year old is from my generation when children were raised to mind their elders. No my children never behaved badly in public; sure, they got tired and disgruntled and picked at each other; but, when moma said no, they knew she meant it. In my child bearing days, a squalling brat was immediately removed from a public places as a matter of simple courtesy.
The man only did what the parent should have; only, in today's society, even the parent is not allowed to chastise in public. We live in a Catch 22 society that our own childen created.

Rick,
What kind of a question is that?
I guess that what your really after is what i'am about to give you some radical answer. If this jackass would have done this to my child I would have gutted him like a fish right there. No body but God himself could have prevented me from killing that a******. The next thing that the Wally world shoppers would hear would be mop up on isle 7.
regards Wild Bill Seifert.

If the mother had paddled her own child in the Wal-Mart, she risked being sent to jail for abuse. This guy needed to be slapped himself. The reason 2 year-olds need parents in the first place is because they have no self-control. This guy has none and he's, what, 60?

And to the people who think somehow this mother was at fault for not slugging the guy after the first slap - you all are dreaming if you think she wouldn't have done so, if she could have. He wasn't exactly a midget, you know. I'm glad someone else stepped in to help her. You guys are too hard on this woman. She and her baby were the VICTIMS, for Christ's sake. Have some compassion!

omg, so many people here think that , that sicko was justified in abusing a child just because he/she was crying! I have certainly tapped mine on the rear when they were young, but not their dad...and certainly not a grown, Strange, man!! What is this world coming too! I bet he has a prior record.

If it was my kid or if i witnessed it on someone else kid, they would have to pry me away from this man. I would go after him until i kill him.
I can not believe he would slap a 2yr old child. I hope he stays in jail for a long time.

I would have jumped on him and beat him silly. I am a grandmother and I would never allow anyone to touch a child, mine or anyone elses if I was there.
He should go to jail for a while.

He needs someone to slap him around. what is wrong with people anyone trying this with my child look out buddy.

He wouldn't have gotten a chance to hit my kid the second time, I would have beaten him within an inch of his life.

I have but one thing to say "I would have gone to jail with him." I swear on a stack of bibles if I had been in that situation I sure as H*ll would of gauged his eyes out and bitten his hands off so that he may never again lay a hand or look at another child.....thanks.

That old geezer wouldn't have left the store with his dentures by the time I got finished slapping the haites out of him! Furthermore, he would not have gotten the chance to get near my child without me interferring. Goodness gracious, people are CRAZY! wow!

All I can say is that this idiot wouldn't have had time to hit my kid four times...

I would have found me a baseball bat and slapped him a few times. This is unacceptable and inhumane. He deserves to stay in jail a long time.

As a single mother, I am very protective of my 2 children. Children are unpredictable and sometimes restless. This is reflected in cries & tantrums. Though children try every bit of your patience, you have no right to assault them, especially if they are not yours. I can honestly say that while he may have gotten the first slap off he would not have been physically able to do anymore. I would have gladly gone to jail to protect my child. He may have been in the hospital.

Clearly the mother was also at fault here. She was ignoring her child's needs, by not addressing the behavior. She was selfishly ignoring the impact that allowing her child to continue screaming in a public has on other people. She could not have been paying that close of attention or properly caring for her child, if a stranger was able to come close enough to hit the child not once but 4 times. She did not behave as a responsible parent.

The better solution would have been for the old man to complain to a store manager, and for the store manager to ask the woman to take her child outside and calm the toddler before returning. Unfortunately, in our overly litigious times, the woman probably would have become indignant, as though it was her right to disturb everyone around her and neglect her child in public. However, this would have been the right way to handle the situation.

All of these people saying that they would beat the old man up, etc, etc. What makes you any better in this case? You would become violent to show someone that violence is not the way? Would any of you stepped up to the woman and politely asked her to pay attention to her child's needs and respect the other people in the store, by taking the child outside and calming the child before returning? Would any of you have approached the store manager to ask them to intercede before this situation escalated?

There seems to be a lot of misplaced anger being posted here, and no one addressing the larger issues.

Rick, If I had been that child's mother, that man would have pulled back a bloody stump where his hand used to be after the first slap.

Its wrong to slap a 2 year old. Wrong Wrong Wrong! People with common sense would have just left and went to another isle.

First off, he wouldn't have gotten any more than one slap off before he would have had me to physically contend with.
I note in the film he has facial ticks. Something is obviously going on with this guy,,,

My two year old (at the time) was with me at the grocery store and because she misbehaved, I put back something that I was going to get for her. She was a screaming lunatic from that moment on. I promptly took my cart up to the checkout, asked them politely to hold my cart for me and took her home and told her that she would never be going to the grocery store with me again until she learned how to behave. Daddy took care of the rest. As I was going back to my car, I could hear her screaming for mommy...I'm sorry...don't go...(No, daddy didn't spank her even though she deserved it.) But she got the message...She never even WHINED at the store again.

If that guy had touched my kid, I would have nailed him where the sun never shines...then I would tell my child to never hit anyone unless it's in self defense.

I guess the guy lost it. I would not do what he did but I do understand him. It was the mother who probably need a good slap. Kids today a spoiled rotten and run the family. They can do no wrong. If you don't agree with me you are probably one on "them". I hope he gets a good slap on the hand!!

Well, as the father of a 2 year child let me just say that there are plenty of times that she has temper tantrums and this does occur in Wal-Mart. This is a normal part of any parents life and of a child's development. In response to the stranger coming up and slapping my child, all I can say is that this individual had better hope that Wal-Mart sells caskets, because there is no way they would make it out of the store alive. There is no justification or defense for striking a child, and striking someone else's child is even more wrong if that is possible. This so called "man" had better thank his fates that the child's father was not there, otherwise he would be picking his testicles and his teeth off the Wal-Mart floor.

First of all, I do think what this man did was beyond appropriate. No child deserves to be abused or hit that hard.

However, it brings to light the growing trend: parents that do not discipline their kids whatsoever or accept responsibility for their behavior. At that age, if I was crying up and down store aisles, my mom would have probably just taken me home and I'd get a good tongue-lashing.

More parents need to step up instead of merely ignoring the situation.

This old man is simply, lonely and suffers from alzheimers. Had been any of my children he would sure as hell have a whole lot more ailments when he arrived at th emergency room. I hope he rots in prison where he'll probably see what it feels like to be slapped around

Well I have to say if any person were to put a hand on my child I would throw them a beat down like they never had in their lives!!!!!
I know that a screaming child is never a good thing to listen to , but he should never have laid a hand on that child, it would be a very unlucky thing to do to MY child I probably would have killed him!!!!

This man has very severe anger issues..And if it had been my child I would have beat the crap out of him!!!..or any other child for that matter...he deserves jail time!!!

To: Senior Citizen:
There was no need to identify yourself as being in the same generation as the man that committed this act. Your outdated mode of thinking is very clear and easily identified as over-the-hill. As a father myself I have removed my child from stores when they chose to throw a tantrum, but to say that hitting a child is right under any circumstances is not only antiquated thinking, it is also against the law. Your generation's time is well past and as such you cannot see that in today's world hitting a child for any reason will simply get you geriatric butt stomped by that child's father. I suggest that you pass the word along to the others at your next Metamucil/Ben Gay/Ensure party to keep your hands off our kids, and if you don't like hearing kids, stay at home.

Picture this, Seattle 1981. I am in a take out sandwhich shop waiting for our order. My four year old son saw something he had to have. I didn't have enought money along to buy it. On the floor he went, kicking his legs, screaming blood curdling screams. He would not stop. I calmly took him by the hand, took him to the car, opened the door, sat down, and YES I PUT HIM OVER MY KNEE!!!
A few pats on the behind and he knew I meant business. Back in to the store, a quiet sniffeling little boy but a whole lot better behavior.

As I potched my little one on the butt, a lady hollered over to me, "I am going to call social services and turn you in." I hollered the number to her! I got applause, a better behaved child and our lunch.

My son is 32 years old now, and he actually remembers this. By the way, he is a great father and raises his children in the same manner as his mom and dad did.

There is a difference between a spanking and a beating.

Nobody but nobody, has the right to dicipline any child but their own.
Slapping a two year old in the face any amount of times is not alright.

I hope this man gets his due punishment if for nothing else, but to use him as an example, as I see by reading these posts, there are alot of idiots in this world that need an example shown to them.

Children can be unruly at two. You also have to consider that developmentally, no two children are alike. Where one can speak clearly and get across his needs verbally, the next may not have that ability. This can cause a child to become frustrated and yes make them cry.

Have a heart people. Children are children and they all deserve to learn proper behavior in society as they are able. We can't expect them to be perfect 100% of the time.

I know of many many adults, who when in public, display much worse behavior then this little girl did. Take a look at teenagers today. My god they are shooting one another. Maybe if they got a few spankings when they needed it , we wouldn't have such a screwed up generation coming up. I cringe at the thought of what this country will be like for my grandchildren.

All you people who would beat him or worse are no better than him.
Listen to yourselves. You are animals. What if the guy is sick. Would you like someone to beat the hell out of you dad or husband because he slapped a crying kid. When we don't what we are talking about we should do what that kid wouldn't do "shut up"

This man is a bully - plain and simple. He could have told the mom to get out of the store. He could have complained to the management and had them ask the mom to leave the store. He could have even just left the store himself and gone to another Walmart. Instead he physically attacked a 2 year old girl. The only weaker victim he could have chosen would be an infant. My 2 year old daughter weighs about 30lbs. The thought of a large man grabbing her and striking her 4x is beyond frightening. That man was looking for someone to victimize.

And for anyone who is a bystander while a parent struggles with a screaming or crying child - instead of passing all kinds of judgement on their parenting skills based on that one incident - how about if you have a little compassion. Peek-a-boo works wonders to distract a little one. Saying something like "You should listen to your mommy (or daddy)" is often enough to get an older child to straighten up. So, if you really want to intervene - try showing some positive support for the parent.

People that can't handle listening to an innocent child cry should stay home! Children have meltdowns but that does not give anyone the right to hit the child. I don't know how that man managed to get in four slaps. He would not have made it past telling me to "shut my child up" before he would have been eating his teeth!

Okay as a mom I would have been mortified that a complete stranger slapped my child but also if my child was acting up and throwing a fit I would have left the store without buying anything and came back on a day that might have been better for my child....i.e. had a nap before going in the first place. Or told him that he was not getting anything and mommy was only getting a couple of things. My mom would have walked myself or my brother out of that store so fast we would not know what hit us. The mom should have grabbed the child and her purse and left. I would have been totally embarassed if it was my child but in complete shock that a stranger took it upon himself to stop it.

If I saw someone do that to a child, that person would be in the hospital for a very long time.

There have been many times especially at Walmart where there is a kid screaming and the mother just keeps pushing the cart and ignoring the kid and 10 minutes later I pass them again all the way across the store, kid still crying, mom still walking like a zombie, I consider it abuse to ignore your childs crying for looong periods of time anyhow so I have wanted to smack the mother for not handling the situation by say.. taking the child out of the store and helping the kid calm down but of course I never did and never ever did it cross my mind to to take it out on the kid,

This was unnessisary, many times as I would have liked to do have done the same and walking away may not be the answer. A big store echoes the screams, I was recently shopping in a local town, where I went into 3 different stores, (chain stores) and there was a child in each one screaming. That is a noise that penetrates ears, nonetheless, sensitive ones like mine. I thought the parents were following me around just to irritate me. What is happening here?
These children obviously scream at home knowing it gets attention...so they do it wherever they want-getting that attention, be it good or bad.
I have given up shopping in most of these stores, and use the towns local stores, or go after hours when these children should be in bed, but that too has changed.
No one should ever touch another persons child in anger. That is abuse.
I have also seen in stores where the child getting slapped in the face (a child of 2-3 years) by its parents for repeating their bad language...
Anyway, the man should go to the manager, complain about what is bothering him, maybe that could have helped.

My husband and I wish that we had been present during this cowards brutal attack on the toddler. Even though we are both disabled and grandparents, there is no way we would have 'just stood by' and not come to this child's defense and the defense of the child's mother. In fact, I have Multiple Sclerosis and must use a wheel chair...but if I had been there (and got there before my husband, who would probably have knocked the jerk out) I would have either rammed him with my chair or managed to get between this animal and the poor child. Our hearts break for the child and the mother that were the victim's of such atrocious violence. We hope that the courts throw the book at this creep and that he is NEVER allowed to be around another child for the rest of his life!

The blavery of some people these days are getting very scary. Down to this so-call pastor speaking ”hate” against Pres. Obama…And this guy slapping somebody else child. These people right here are destroying our country with hate and violence.

We don't know why that baby was crying. She and her mother both were having bad day. I have been in that position too!(My kids are grown and I still remember, those days do happen) Just because a baby is crying doesn't mean it doesn't know how to mind it's mother. Have a little compassion for that baby and MOTHER! I'm sure she was checking her child to make sure she was ok and was quite shocked that a man(that is not a man) would do that! Thank goodness for the other people there that came to her rescue and held that man for the police..

Hoping it would have been in the canned food section – where I would have proceeded to pelt him with cans.

I am surprised that he had the time to slap the child 4 times. Was Mom just standing there? Maybe she was too shocked to respond quickly? I think addrenalin would have taken over and I would have kicked his cranky old ass.

I was once chastised by a woman in JC Penney for spanking my son. It was horrifying. She treated me like a child abuser. I "spanked" him on the butt... that was it. We aren't even allowed to do that anymore – and there is any question about a STRANGER SLAPPING a child in the FACE for times? Please. Who does that? He is dilusional and shouldn't be walking the street.

I am the father of a 3 year old son who to date has yet to be spanked. Had this man taken it upon himself to be the first spanking of my son's life, I would have ended his. Period!

If I had seen this happen or he had hit "my" kid then I would be in court charged with beating the *&^%& out of some old man. I can't believe he made it out of the store without a single mark. I have to give credit to the people in the store, the ones that stopped him and the cops that took him in. I'll sleep better at night if he goes to jail..... even hardened criminals hate people that hurt children.

Rick,

While I suppose I grew up as part of the "Do Not Spank" generation, my parents never got that memo; and neither did I. Being a mother of a 2 year old myself, you can bet there have been times that i've been caught in a public place with a cranky child. Reading previous posts about removing the child from the store when they're fussy slightly erks me. Why let the child get what they want? (to leave?) Not hardly.

Now, as for the man, this is nothing more than a cranky old man thinking he can put someone elses child in their place. Mom obviously can exercise some control as she did not kill him, can't say that I could do the same. I'm sure she was caught off guard and was stunned that the entire incident took place–it happened before she realized it was happening.

To the mom–kudos for keeping your cool, that baby needs a mommy with it, not in jail for murder (i'm sure I would be). And who knows why the little one was crying, not your fault.

To the man–Children cry, it happens–if you're going to be grouchy, be grouchy alone–no sense in making everyone else miserable.

As annoying as a screaming child can be, sometimes the most well behaved child can have melt downs too. It happens to the best parents, and some of the posts I've read assume that it's due to bad parenting. As a mother of a 3yr old and an infant, grocery shopping (no matter what time of day it is) can be a challenge. After being told "please don't touch" and "no, I'm sorry you can't have that" a dozen times in one trip, the toddler can get frustrated... and thus, it leads to a crying bout to relieve that stress.

Slapping a child who is crying is just plain wrong, regardless of the details around the story. I liken it to shaking an infant for crying. That's abuse people! That man should be locked up and those of you who are responding positively to his actions should be ashamed.

The incident should have been over when he first spoke to the mother in a confrontational manner. What he said was clearly a threat. The mom should have gotten herself and her child away from him immediately and reported him to store security. Since that was not the case, he is where he needs to be..in custody.

On the other hand......If you are in the store and your child is screaming, please take him home!

I am disgusted at some of these responses. DISGUSTED. How can you call yourself a decent person.

Rick...what would I have done. Well as mom I would have given the other mom a smile, a look of understanding.

As for the guy...if that ever happened to me, lets just say a hell of a lot of pain would have been coming his way.

I dont care who you are, NO ONE has the right to hit another persons child EVER.

I have a two year old and all I could see was him hitting her, and then my right fist coming back at his face.......he so would've wished he kept his mouth closed and kept moving that day had it been my child....jail would have been heaven for him once my husband would've finished with him..

He could of just shushed the toddler instead of touching for crying out loud

I've been in this very situation and told the parent outright that she ought to take her child outside and let the little girl calm down.
It's unfair to other people in the store to have to listen to a shrieking child. In my situation the parent gave me a dirty look and did nothing. I complained to the clerk and left the store.
The cretin in Walmart who slapped the child five times across the face was completely out of line. I hope they toss them in jail where his fellow prisoners give him a few good slaps across the face.
Parents, when you are shopping and your child starts in on a temper tantrum, please, take the child outside, give him/her some fresh air and calm the child down before returing to the store. Kids get overstimulated in bright, busy environments like Walmart stores.

Ok one more item... if I was the guy sitting next to him in court and heard the charges and that he hit some strangers kid i would have just jumped him right there and beaten the *&^%&^ out of him. I'm in trouble already and this would have made my own problems worth it:) I sure hope his cell mate is named Bubba with some small kids at home....

From the court appearance it's obvious there's something wrong with the guy by his apparent facial twitches and teeth grinding which leads me to believe he has a nervous disorder.

That aside, common sense dictates you never touch anyone's child or pet for that matter. So if I were the child's mother, the guy would have been wearing anything that wasn't nailed down on aisle 7 until he either got away from me and my child, or the police arrived.

I can not believe how many people post on here that they think this was ok..... you must not have children of your own. I have spanked my children, I have had to leave a store because my child was throwing a tantrum but I can tell you that I will discipline my child not some strange old man who thinks that children these days are unruly and need a beating. And honestly for all you that think this was ok, if you were in a store and some strange man grabs your kid and slaps her 4-5 times in the face your gonna thank them??? I don't think so. There is no excuse he should go to jail. Do you think he would of pulled that crap if it was a man with his child? Probably not. I would of been a raging psycho if someone touched my child.

While I was growing up in the late 60's and 70's, you could expect to be slapped by any adult who knew you or your parents, and who witnessed your misbehavior. Gramps needs to realize that TODAY many parents LOVE their bratty kids and would never DREAM of slapping, spanking, or disciplining their kid. Let's face it, if such parents and bratty kids did not exist, we wouldn't get to enjoy such wonderful shows as Super Nanny. Don't worry, the brats will be running the country in 30 years. Then you'll all wish there would have been a whole lot more slapping going on.

For those posting their justification to what he did, much less what you would have done similar to his actions are obviously taking advantage of the security of sitting brave and comfortably behind a screen. The majority of humane individuals will agree that we wouldn't tolerate what he did much less the actions some of you posted in his justification.

Having 3 children with Behavioral problems ( 2 on the Autism Spectrum), I have been in a store and they have pitched a fit.... but these are my children and NO ONE will get on to them for crying out...much less a STRANGER....... I hope he gets JAIL TIME!!!!!!

When my son was about 3 I was having a garage sale. I turned to help a lady for a few seconds and he got away from me. The next thing I heard was him screaming that he wanted his momma. A man (who I pegged as a big jerk a few minutes before while he was browsing) had picked my baby up and was jerking him by the arm and yelling. I took time to yell for my husband and my brother-in-law but before they could get there I was climbing that man like a spider monkey. That maternal instict kicked in and I don't think he'll ever do something like that again. He told me I was crazy and he was right! Here's the rule – don't put your hands on someone else's child! This shouldn't even be an issue. C'mon!

This is such an unbelieveable story. First of all they were in the wrong aisle. The mother needed to have been in a location of the store where should could have picked up an object that would caused bodily harm. This is truly a Monster, and he should be locked up and they need to throw away the key. Hurting a precious little 2 year old is unbelievable. I wish I've been there to help the mother. Had it been me, I would have body slam him to the floor with all my might. I'm a female "5.6, but I would have found the strength to tackle that MONSTER. I also would have picked up anything and try to knock him in his private area so hard it would have made him CRY. So, thank you for letting me vent., and I pray that little precious baby is doing ok.

what i want to know is how that man even came close to touching that baby at all? if that would have been my mother the the would have literally been decked. as for what my wife would have done at tha time, lets just say he wouldn't ha ve gotten a second shot at the kid. my wife is not a very big but god help the person would have tried that with any of our kids. if i'd been as the other shopper the man would have been on the floor looking up. if i was the father i'd be waitong for this some where between the police staion and his house and see if he could slap me . i'm not very big but when it comes to my kids i'm 6 foot 10 inch and a monster.

beat the crap out of him and see if he liked it.

I do believe he was wrong for hitting the child, but the point is this...If the mother had the common sense to control her screaming & crying child none of this would have ever happened. I have been in stores, restaurants, airports etc many times where parents do absolutely nothing when their child is having a meltdown. Which is absolutely annoying! No one wants to hear your child screaming, crying while they are eating, shopping or whatever. Common sense would've told her to take the child to the car, restroom or whatever and calm her down. The mother should have been the one to get slapped because she should know better.

I would have never let him get the first slap in for one thing, and just having him threaten like that, I probably would have taken my child to safety. If he pursued, I would have kicked him and dropped him where he stood!

I've read and re-read this article 3 times just to be sure I was reading what I thought I was reading! WHAT?!?!? This STRANGER picked up woman's child and smacked her across the face 4 times?!? You have got to be kidding me! If it were me? I'd be standing right next to him in that court room on assault and battery charges. He'd be next to me with a crutch, in a wheelchair, a head bandage, a beat up, swollen and battered face, casts on both arms and both legs, no teeth, eating and drinking through a feeding tube, on dialysis with a catheter, while on a morphine drip! And that's just my reaction to what he did to someone else's child! OMG(oodness)!

I believe the parent of this screaming child should have taken the responsibility to attend to her misbehaving child. Early on in their upbringing children can be taught what is appropriate in public. Tantrums are not acceptable in public and the parent should not subject others (customers at WalMart) to her child's misbehavior. This does not
excuse the gentlmen's actions either, but come on parents.... take responsibility for your children. Teach them.....

I've heard scream kids before and I've walked away. Plain and simple!

There is NO WAY this man would have put one finger on my child.

First of all, where is the mother to allow a stranger to slap her child FOUR times!!!!????? He may gave done it once, then my wife would have hit him with whatever she could get her hands on !!! And if I were there, my child or if I witnessed it happen to another, the police would definitely know which person he was... it would be the unconscious bleeding man !!!!!!!

As parent to three successful and grown children I believe that we must: advocate for, teach (parent), and protect our children. The mother of the 2 yr. old toddler should have taken her daughter home when she was unable to calm her after a couple of minutes. The mother should have alerted Wal-Mart security immediately following the initial threat to harm her child. One has to wonder why the mother continued to shop with her distressed child, why she did not alert authorities at the initial threat, and why she failed to stop the attack! My recommendation for this mother would be several sessions of family counseling. She clearly needs to learn to better parenting skills!

This man is SICK. SICK SICK SICK. I hope he goes to jail.

Slapping a 2 year old is stupid, because you know what they learn from it? How to hit. Great. This man is a stranger attacking a defenseless child. If I it were my child, I'd like to think I'd have hit him hard in the head with something because the mama bear instinct would kick in. But I bet it happened so fast that the mother was in shock AND assuming she was trying to defend her toddler, she also had the child's safety to worry about. I'm not going to go after the guy with a bat when he's holding my toddler, he could duck and then... perish the thought.

OK now to you morons who "understand" how the guy felt. Think again. As a mom of a disciplined and generally well behaved 6 year old who was a toddler just a few years ago, I'd like to speak for all parents who shop (and fly on planes) with their kids who may occasionally lose control and be bothersome to others. None of us like it when our kid acts up. Ever. None of us don't try to correct such behavior with various methods of discipline, threatening, cajoling, removing from the situation, etc. You may not see the type of intervention YOU'd do with YOUR child if you have one, and if you don't HAVE one, try to remember you WERE one once. And rest assured you acted up when you were a kid, no matter what kind of an angel you think you were. But you do not know MY child, what works on MY child, or the even the circumstances of the upset in question. Maybe the poor kid had a terrible earache and the mom was there getting medicine. Who knows? Who cares? If you are having such a hard time with whatever it is, YOU are the adult and YOU CAN LEAVE. Show some compassion.

Someone commented here: "This does draw to light a common problem I see. parents do not consider that others around them may not want to hear thier child scream,cry,screech,bang,etc in public places."

This is not true. You think parents don't consider others, but you are wrong. Sure there are some neglectful parents but most people DO care, and what you may think YOU see isn't necessarily the truth.

Before I had a child, I used to sit in front of a kid on a plane and wonder how the heck the parent would let the kid kick the back of my seat even once. I thought I'd never let that happen. Well, I learned the reality. My kid knows not to, but he forgets and kicks, it's usually not even a conscious thing, and I remind him incredibly sternly and I apologize to the person in front of him and I can get him to stop but "never letting it happen", well I try, but a girl can dream...

Show some compassion. Be human. And if you can't be human, walk away.

Rick, I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and I know that it's normal for kids to cry. They cry when they are tired, hungry, thirsty, mad, sad... you get the point. People need to realize that we were all children at some point and we did the same thing. Even the most perfect child cries in public, it's normal. We don't know the entire story, but it's never ok to slap a child in the face especially if you're not the parent. Maybe the mom was annoyed by Roger's face twitches, that doesn't give her the right to slap him across the face 4 times! Haha.

This man would get the beat down of a lifetime. I hope he gets locked up and has some big man slap him around. What a worthless human being to do something like that.

If it was me, I would have been on the way to jail and that man would have been on his way to the hospital....I don't play that...NO ONE has a right to put their hands on someone else's child...This infuriates me the nerve of some people...And where was the mother when all this slapping was going on??...Unbelievable...

Having 2 children of my own I have to say I have been in situations multiple times where the child reaches the end of their "shelf life" and it's over. Time to get your crap and get outta where you are at. Sometimes you just CAN'T quiet your child not matter WHAT. Don't forget also, 2 years old is such a headstrong age! Tantrums and such are common place. I tell you right now that man would have gotten MY hand across his face or my boot to his a** to get him away from my child. Sour puss old man – bitter as heck – you can tell. He probably didn't eat his prunes that morning.

The instant he touched my daughter, I would have been all over him. He would have come out of the fight in worse shape than my daughter.

I don't know what he is charged with, but should throw everything in book at him. How dare he touch another persons child!

What has this world come to?? I waited a long time to have children and understand the annoyances of being around screaming kids before I had my own. Now I feel it's my responsiblity to help my child know how to behave in public. He is only 10 months old but he already sits quietly in a cart or in a high chair and doesn't fuss for 30 min to an hour. When he does I'm respectful of others and pick him up, that usually works.
BUT if anyone ever approached my child and made a threat like this, I would have slapped himself. NEVER COME BETWEEN A MOTHER AND THEIR CHILD unless there is signs of abuse. I am not an angry person but I will take you out if you threaten my baby.

I am also 61 years old, and the grandmother of a 2 year old. As it happens my son and his family live in Stone Mountain and they were in Walmart on yesterday. All I can say is that if that FOOL had slapped my grandaugther I would have beat his but, and would have taken a swat team to get me out of there.

Children cry when they are tired, hungry, upset, mad, any number of reasons. It is NEVER appropriate to slap a child in the face, much less the child of a stranger! I can't get over the fact that the mother stood there and let a complete stranger strike her child! I would have attacked him. The child needed it's mother's attention and love, not the brutality of what was done to her!

First of all I can't believe someone could do such a thing. Second, where was the mother? I'm sorry, but if someone would have made a comment like that to me, i'd make sure that person wasn't close to my child. Also, I would have defended my kid. And that would have been me holding the guy down, not another customer. I have a toddler, and I don't believe that all children are perfect shoppers. People just need to relax. I know screaming kids are annoying, but they don't deserve to be slapped, especially from a stranger.

...only a few issues;
a) why would i ever go to a Walmart?

b) again, why would my child (either my boy (7) or daughter (4)) not stop crying when ask; either by their mother, or some other elder?

Basically, if you are going to take a child into a public place, get control of it! What if I went everywhere blowing a whistle? My business, does not hurt anyone else (just like the child, who should be at home), but we seem to let the old rules of civility and common curtisy slide today. Even to the point they become completely covered and it causes the lemmings to not even ask the correct question.

So a child can sit and disturb anyone they like; we are all in someway held hostage by this two year old, and her mother who does not seem decent enough maybe to just step outside briefly, to calm the girl?

I certainly would never lay hands on the child, but may he should have maced her with pepper spray...

As a parent of two and a pediatric nurse, I have often felt like smacking a child but I know better intellectually and spiritually. The problem is that that children today are SO OUT OF CONTROL. Their parents allow them to do and say anything anywhere. You cannot enjoy church because the parents allow them to disturb the entire church (or bus ride or classroom) with their screaming and loud talking. This is wrong. BUT this situation is clearly WRONG. There are ways to manage a child's crying but parents are self-absorbed and do not parent (control–manage) children's actions and behaviors so that the children are not learning acceptable behaviors. This spills over into the schools and courts daily. In that situation, I would have defended the child in the store and been a witness against the man. Parents, it is your responsibility to raise your children to be good citizens, caring and respectful people.

A crying child and a temper tantrum are 2 very different things. A temper tantrum is a spoiled kid. I raised 2 great kids, a boy and a girl and only once did my daughter throw a fit in a store at 2 years old. She was outside and in the car before she knew what happened and yes with a smack on the butt. That is something that is missing today, a good tanning on the back side.. My kids love me and will raise their children the same way according to them. A spoiled kid is a problem child in the future. You don't have to admit it, we all know.

As soon as this fool announced what he was going to do!

I would have stepped in front of my child and dared him. Then you would be seeing my picture instead of his!!!

I'm a mother of two boys – both are now older than two. But I've been shopping at one time or another when one, or both, have had a meltdown. And when it's happening, make no mistake, we – the parent – know that it's annoying other people. We want it to stop and we're doing our best even if it doesn't seem like it to the other people in the store. If we're pushing the cart along seemingly ignoring the loud yells, trust me – we're not ignoring it. Chances are, we're trying to get through it without bursting into tears ourselves. And while all this is going on, yes, we are embarrassed and aware of the stares and whispers about our bad parenting. Everyone has bad days – whether you have kids or not – where it all kind of falls apart and there's that one little straw that breaks the camel's back.

So now when I see a parent with a child who's screaming or having a tantrum, I go up and offer my help. Because I know that poor parent is having a way worse time than that child, and when you see someone who needs help....you help.

My my, everyone jumps to conclusions. As I read about this and saw the video there were several things I figured could have avoided this entire thing. First, the child was obviously crying a LOT. Most people don't get that upset if they are crying for a minute or two and stop. We don't know if the child was sick or just being a brat. Let me say here I totally agree you NEVER slap a child in the face; and never someone else's child. However, if this had been me no one would have slapped my child because 1. my children were never brats in public because if they started, I removed them from the store and went home with them and told them they would never go back again if they behaved that way and 2. had my child been ill and crying I would be holding and hugging and soothing and if someone approached me I would have explained I was there for medicine and they were sick. No one would be upset about that.

I have seen many parents who ignore their kids screaming in public because they don't want to reinforce that crying will get them what they want (or they are just plain lazy). Excuse me but there are other people around who don't want to hear your screaming child. We all understand children but we do not want to hear screaming ad nauseum, unless, as I said, the child is sick and will be leaving soon. As far as "the store is big"? I have heard kids screaming from across the store before. Amazing.

This guy is a piece of work to have slapped the child. I would have gone to the manager and explained this parent was ignoring her screaming child (which is obvious since he managed to slap him/her four times without the mother stopping him) and ask him to tell her to remove the child.

I don't know what I'd do to a crying child, but there's no way in hell that I'd EVER go that far.

I wouldve kicked his butt, of course I wouldnt have waited until he put his hands on my child, I wouldve gone off on him when he commented on shutting my kid up for me....Nobody has a right to lay hands on someone elses child. You toucha my kid, I breaka ya face

All you "good" mothers that would never let your kids cry, and all you "great" parents that would have killed this man, or severely crippled him, or whatever you would have done. That's great.

SIMPLY PUT, THIS MOTHER DID NOTHING!!!! Which leads me to believe that she wasn't trying to shut her kid up. Most parents have common sense. But the way it seems to me is that this newer generation of mothers just dont care! They do what they want when they want and drag the child around with them.

If any man messed with my children, i probably would have beat him up or he would have beat me up. Either way, as a father i will defend my children. this woman DID NOTHING!!!! NOTHING!!!!!

But then again, as a father, i do what i can to keep my child in line. Yes, all kids throw temper tantrems. That's a given. But it's how you as a parent react to that!.. This woman should just shouldn't be a mother.

There would have been an aisle clean up and it would not be for the child or myself.

I would have to applaud this man even though I would not have slapped anyone's child, but at least he did let the woman know her child's crying noise was getting next to him (and more than likely the crying noise was getting next to the other patrons). It is very nerve wracking to go to a grocery store, restaurant or the mall and have to listen to a child crying or being unruly. I know I have been inside of Michaels, standing in line waiting to be checked out with two other patrons in front of me and we are complaining along with the cashier that this woman needed to taker her crying daughter, whom was crying her head off, to the restroom or just leave the dam store but instead this woman walked around acting like it was nothing. I wish there was a law when a parent brings a child to a store and that child starts to cry or become unruly and the parent(s) chooses not to control their child, then the Store Manager should ask that parent(s) to leave because it does get next to people. I am a firm believer that if a child acts out in public, that is how they act at home.

I shop at walmart all of the time. I have three children and have experienced what this woman was going through with her child crying. If someone threatened me like that I would have reported it imediately. If he proceeded to attack my child, I would have grabbed the hardest object out of my cart or off of the shelf, and beat him with it. And everyone in the store would hear me too! They would have to peel me off of him.

First, I hope this man doesn't have children or grandchildren. He's an abuser. Throw him in jail and loose the key.
Second, if that happened in front of me, I would have continued to kick him as hard as I could until he let go of the child.
Thirdly, what did the child's mother do? Didn't she slap the old man back and grabbed the child away from him?
What a bitter old man. Toddlers have temper tantrums that test our sanity many times. But do you know that medical studies say that temper tantrums in young children are the result of not knowing how to express their anger or be able to verbalize their frustration? Think of what it would do to you if you could not say what you felt when you were very angry.
I've read that when a child has a temper tantrum, it could help if you hug the child tight while this is happening, tell him that you love him and let his steam get out (if you can do that) or if at home, quietly carry the child to his room and leave him there by himself until he's finished. On the way out say "I love you, you may come out when you're done crying" and close the door.

Good for him! Kids are annoying as hell. When I was a child I was well disiplined and respectful, when taken out to a restaraunt to eat, I sat there quietly and ate my food. My mother and father didnt put up with out-bursts. Parents don't care anymore and they have no consideration for other people that have to put up with their childs annoyance. The mother should have jacked her kid up, taken her to the restroom and given her something to cry about. Way to go Mr. Stephens! Maybe now the mother will respect the fact that other people dont wanna hear her annoying screaming child and to do something about it.

Aye,..I can feel for the mother however why did she allowed him to make 4 wacks. If it is was my kid, they would drag that guy out on a stretcher. He has no right to discipline someone else's child. I feel that it is abuse no matter what certain people on this blog mention and he should be put away in jail for some long years. Your kid is your kid and not for a complete stranger to slap 4 times as that is way too many.

There are good reasons why the preacher didn't stop. The preacher may have had his windows rolled up and music and did not hear them. He as backing up and did not see the badges. If the badges were displayed around thier necks, but if he did see them at all it may have looked like bling. I think he may have thought it was a robbery or a car jacking as any normal person would when you see guns flashing and people in plain clothes!

well rick we've all been there and wished that the parent would do something to control a screaming kid. (and occasionally wanted to do it for them.lol) but this guy is 3 kinds of wrong and should be punished as a child abuser. no exceptions....

Re: Pastor's recent shooting

When will we realize that the war on drugs ruins more innocent lives than the drugs themselves?

Rick the cops get away with murder...no pun intended.....

Too bad the parent didn't know how to control their child. Which is how most parents are these days.

Rick, they'd have to haul me off to jail too, because I would have beat the daylight outta him!

I am watching the story about the Preacher that was shot and killed. Rick, you keep referring to the man as a preacher as that should keep him from being stopped. HELLO--you can find in the news almost daily items about religious leader's being charged with a crime be it Fraud,Drugs,Illegal Sexual Act's. etc. They are only human the same as the rest of us. It is so sad that this happened to an innocent person.

NOBODY has the right to even tell another child to be quiet. That man was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy out of line. It is the parents job to discipline their children...unless you know the ppl, you have no right to interfere. Slapping a child...FOUR times. . . that's ridiculous.

Mr. Brooks just plain don't get it – just like the agents who shot the preacher. In this day and age – you do NOT trust anyone. If someone stopped me like they did him I would be scared out of my mind. Mr.
Brooks keeps saying they had badges. And how much time did the preacher have to get a good look at the badges. All he knew that a group of individuals converged on him for NO apparent reason and he was probably scared to death and just reacted – the police were the professionals and should have acted professionally.

If a grown man can hit a 2 year old little girl, then he's probably capable of much much worse. Hmm...wonder how much he abused a wife or kids. Obviously this guy is a coward and needs to beat up on a little gril because he can't acutally take on another man. If this was my child, that guy wouldn't have left the store alive, but then I'm sure he'd be too scare to try that with anyone who actually could hurt him. By the way, I doubt there isn't a person out there who didn't cry at 2 years old, so all these sickos who enjoy hearing about a little girl getting violated should go get some therapy. Then again, I'd be happy to volunteer to slap them around and see how much they enjoy it.

Seems POLICE in the us are ex-milatary?? why? do they hire them to come home from WAR and put them on the streets of any COUNRTY or where they obvisously! are not equipped to be dealing in a every day occurance in a land of a people of who dont NORMALLY walk about with guns strapped on thier hand or shoulder!?

I have a homeless and street ministry for going on 7yrs now! What r my chances as being gunned down bcoz i take one of my homeless people to the clinic or to get mental care ? Becoz i give a ride to them and love them enough to try steer them into a better LIFE! I who have no RECORD! will or could be shot dead!?
Something is very very wrong with this piture. I personally was held for a "speeding" ticket out in the countryside and urinated in my pants coz i needed to get to a restroom to a friends house that was only literally less than 2 miles away. the chief said he had no control over my bodily funtions SCREAMing @ me! over the phone when i called him to report the incodent,, Remeber we are being watched by one who is the author of our lives...

This guy, obviously has an issue with anger management.
But, I believe this is indicative of how many people in our society believe that violence is the solution to everything. He probably would have gotten the child to be quiet by showing a little love....

There's nothing he can say that would justify his actions. Why waste air space and the public's time with him having nothing to say! Useless......

I was appauled when I read the headline. This man needs among other things, anger management. We've all encountered annoying children but we simply walk away or ignore them. It is the role of the parent to raise a well-bahaved child, but if for whatever reason they can't or won't it is not the job of a complete stranger to step in, especially not with violence. Shame on him.

Rick, Mike Brooks ALWAYS takes the side of the police. Over the last year I can't think of even once when Mike said the police were wrong. I wouldn't stop if 2 guys came running toward my car and I've instructed my wife todo the same. To drive to a public location with lots of witnesses before getting out of the car....

I'd shut him up myself after he grabbed my child (if i had one). Also, if he did manage to slap my child I would punch him across the face and him off his hands until police arrived.

Battery is against the law and slapping a stranger's child is outrageous. That said: parents, control of your children in public places. Take the kid outside, don't subject the rest of us to your miscreant munchkin.

If the woman had control of her child and was executing her public obligations to others that her childs behavior conform to societies norm in public ( namely that he behave and not scream and cry unless he is injured or sick ). Every parent is obliged to silence and control their children in public when they become bothersome and irratating to others, She should have removed the child and herself from the store until she had the situation under control. No it is not OK for a stranger to strike the child, but had the woman correctly and properly removed the child immediately until she had him/her under control she would not now be dealing with this.

These pastors are truely sick, and do not understand the potential ramifications of what might happen if something should happen to the president.
I don't support Obama, I support America, his death natural or otherwise would not be of a benefit to the nation. Wake up dummys.

I have twins they are 2 and a half yrs old. If someone was to slapp my child i would beat that person down. it is against the law to harm any one. But he then could of filed charges on me i guess, but that is not acceptable. I hope he rotts in jail .I hope the mother will put him away for the rest of his old life. People get old and they must not have any patients , because it happen to me in super walmart also , my child was crying because she wanted me to open a big box of fish crackers . I was trying to find a smaller package and was trying too hurry because she was upset and a lady yelled stop allready and looked at me and i looked at her and i was tending to my child at the time or i would have said something after my child was ok and happy i went looking for this women and could not find her . She was old also probably 60 something. I was going to tell her a thing or two.

I had this happen to me and my son in a Wal-Mart store in Alabama about four years ago. The difference being that I stood up to the bully and he never got near my son. My son was screaming..he had wanted something that I would not let him have and he was having a fit. But being a mom I know that small children do not understand reason or the fact that other people are affected by their behavior they just have their tantrums. What punishment are you really going to give a child of 2 or even 3 that they are going to respond too? If, you spank your child in public these days you go to jail. Not, that spanking would do anything but increase the screaming or crying that is already going on and as far as leaving that is not always an option. Even parents with kids must shop sometime. Anyway, this man if he could really be called that approached me and my son in the frozen food isle. This man (from his attire-scrubs) was in the medical profession, I am assuming a nurse. When he first approached me I thought that perhaps he had thought my son had been injured possibly fallen from the buggy. But, no he just wanted to insult me and demand that we leave the store if I could not keep my son quiet. I feel that he only had the nerve to approach me thinking that me being a woman alone with a small child (my son was 2 at the time) that I would run away crying and would be no threat to him. He may as well have gone into the forest harrassed a bear cub and poked the mother bear with a stick. He got what he deserved, which was a very loud and public cussing with no words spared. The shock of this was apparent on his face and the faces of the other shoppers that had stopped to see what was happening. (I apologize to the other shoppers for my language) No one else stepped in at all, there was no need. I had stepped between my son and the (man) so no harm could come to him. He ended up turning tail like all bullys when someone stands up to them. I feel for the child that was actually physically attacked, apparently her mom was just a bear cub herself..Had this man even tried to strike my son...they would have needed a bag to pick up the pieces. A note for the (man) who did this in my case..I hope you read this and now understand exactly how wrong you were. I already know you didn't have a clue who you were messing with...and I hope if you learned anything it was to keep your opinions to yourself. I have no doubt that you had no children then, I wonder if you do now and if someone did this to your wife and child how would you feel?

FYI: People are not always what they seem...

Dear Rick, about the Preacher that the cops killed_You can clearly can see in the video from the store, the movement of the car was backward-away from them and turning away from them and moving forward. They were never in the path of the car. They were never in any danger from the movement of the car!! The badges, if he saw them, probably looked like the big jewelry that all lot of people where. This should be criminal!!

Throw the book at the child hitting SOB. Kids should only be spanked by their parents of others designated by the parents. A stranger in a Wal-Mart, no way....

As far as Chris Brown... their is NO excuse to hit a woman. I don't care what she did. You control yourself... That interview...he was soo nervous it was crazy. But when he talked abt I'm not gon talk abt what went on because of her & his privacy! That was just DUMB because your don't have privacy buddy!! & If you really wanted to set the record str8...you would have said what really went down..that's if the things the media says isn't true..because I know if some mess was going down..and i was the one accused. I sho' nuff would have set it str8

Man smacked a baby for crying? Are you serious. If he did that to my child only God knows what Ill do to him.

As a class we feel that Mr. Stephens shouldn't have placed his hands on anyone. His punishment should be two years and a day. We also feel as a class that he should be given a second chance. This can be a teaching tool to other Americans.

Being outraged at a child's emotions is often a sign that one has been abused oneself childhood, bottling up the humiliation and rage of being "shut up" and forced to show no emotion until something triggers a loss of control later in life.

Unfortunately, when adults lose conrol, they often do so while attempting to control children (or if in uniform, other adults). That man who hit that child was throwing a tantrum himself, but in his own eyes he was "taking control". The issue here is not how "evil" that man is, but how common that reaction is, and how much need we have for dealing with the fallout of childhood abuse before repeating the cycle.

I am AMAZED at how many HEARTLESS people are offering up their callous opinions on how obnoxious crying children are, expounding on their views of parental irresponsibility and admitting how they too would like to beat children, all though they won't because thank god, there are laws that protect children.

And all the people who say that kids are so horrible today and so often end up in jail because they aren't beaten, "spanked", properly. The ignorance is simply jaw dropping.

Honestly, it would take 10 pages to craft a response that addresses all of the ignorance, one that gives sound reasoning for each of the incomprehensible assumptions and judgements that people make with just a tiny amount of information.
What scares me more than the crazy old coot who still thinks its 1950, is the sheer volume of people who seem to share the same mindset.
WOW...

That man who disciplined that kid; where do I contribute to his defense fund? Parents don't discipline their kids anymore and somebody finally had the guts to do it for them. When I was raised my parents made sure I was under control at all times, no matter where we were or what we were doing. These kids that are always out of control in the stores and restaurants don't know what discipline is and I guess they will have to learn it the hard way. Good for him!!

A lot of people wanted to hit that guy. See how contagious violence is? It only takes one news item to turn us into raging monkeys.

I can't say I didn't have that reaction at first, but really, do I need to internalize society's problems with aggression? I'd rather do something to prevent further child abuse, and to get counseling for those who are in danger of losing control, preferably before they hurt a child, rather than after.

I would have lost it and started screaming at the man! Being that I am woman I wouldn't do anything but get hurt if I went after him physically. But I can tell you now that if my husband were to witness someone doing that to one of our kids he would have gone after him. And probably had a charge against him as well. I have had my share of the boys crying and throwing tantrums in the store. I haven't ever had any one say or do anything about it. Usually because I take care of it pretty quickly I guess. But I can't imagine what I would really do. It infuriates me just thinking that some one did this!

These are not contractors,,,,,,THEY'RE MERCENARIES !!!

I hope they give the guy the medal who disciplined that child. Parents don't discipline their kids anymore and they need a wake up call and quit coddling their kids.

I am a mother and grandmother - i truly believe that my instinctive response to this individual would not only have landed him in jail for striking my child but would have landed me in jail for attacking him. How dare he strike another individuals child - that's like attacking a bears cub...we all know what the bears response would be.

Lucky it wasn't me there I would have smacked him back so he would have felt it.

Rick, Thank you for your in depth information to the public daily.

My question: Has anyone taken DNA on the two girls of Jayce Dugard.
Somehow I would like to alleviate the notion that the two young ladies are Jayce's daughters. Please someone do this because I would want to confirm that because there so many children missing in the United States. Jayce could be brain washed enough to believe those children were hers and not brought to her by that crazy man and woman (beasts),

Thank you, Margaret

I am a grandfather of a 2-1/2 year old and she does have her outburst as well.
I personally would have purchased a treat perhaps like animal cookies offer it to her, with the permission of the parent of course
It doesn't take much to put a smile on a child face.

He shouldn't have went after the child. He should've went after the mother. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

He should have slapped the mother. She allowed the child as like that.

What kind of stranger slaps SOMEONE ELSE'S 2 year old baby

While I don't condone what the guy did, I have been in his position, today's parent's have no grip on their kids' behavior.

I thought it took a village to raise a child. What's the problem?

I have been in many situations with noisy/uncontrolled children. This is where a lot of the problems in this country are started. A parent does not control, they want to be a friend of the child.

Discipline starts in the home, not in a kindergarten class. If the parents don't control, this is what we get.

I don't condone it, but this guy did what most of us wish we could do.

Slap my kid you get hurt........But parents today unlike my wife and I removed the kid when they started this so as not to annoy other people. Can't count how many times I have wanted to go slap a parne or two.l

Breeders keep your screaming kids at home.

i would dare for someone to even try and hit my child. to me, that is enough for justifiable homicide.

George Lakoff, cognitive scientist, calls private "contractors" (like those in Afghanistan)"Privateers" who carry out the moral mission of government, while charging the public vast sums but avoiding all accountability. He says democracy " is the first casuality of privateering" The Political Mind-George Lakoff– a must read!!!

thats why the world is the way it is we no longer scold our kids instead we reward them when they go wrong...gone are the days

I see nothing in that video that indicates the preacher tried to hit the supposed cop–only that he tried to escape an apparent attack-also with so many attacks and robberies in that area–and so many crooks appearing as cops-why shouldn't the preacher have been alarmed and tried to escape from them?

Parents these days need to have better control over their kids. I've seen way too many children running around rampant and wanted to slap some of them myself.

Had a man attacked my child I would have defended her and shot the man. Period.

This man needs someone bigger to slapp him. he has neo right to smack someone elses child

This guy needs to serve some time, in a prison full of inmates who know he's a child abuser. Being slapped 4 times would be a dream come true compared to what might be done to him there.

Rick,

I guess you and I are the only ones on earth who believe this simple little saying: "Identify Your Target, Before You Kill a Priest... My lord people, Police hold our lives in your hands.I'm sickened by it all

I don’t think it is right to hit anyone, but parents do need to take responsablity for their children in public places. It wouldn’t have happened if the parent had just taken the child outside. Removing the child from the premises is a GREAT way to discipline them!

Stress is a killer.

Everytime a kid shrieks, it stresses us all out.

Secondhand smoke has been found to only increase lung cancer by 17 percent.

Stress causes many more ailments.

Can I smoke in my neighborhood bar again if you can bring a child into public?

SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT GOOD PARENTS and let their kids bother people. Everyone has wished they could smack these kids for the parent, I applaud this guy for breaking through the political correctness BS and smacking the kid. Hey .. it shut the kid up! The parent could of done this.

Let me just say this, if some person can slap a two year old child that first of all isn't even his, what does this man do to his own family? He apparently has never had small children or been around them enough to know that when they are hungry, tired or sometimes just plain bored they don't know how to get their needs known and it is frustrating. So, they scream! Anyone who says that they would have also slapped that child or commends the man who did needs to be required to take a child development class and learn all about child behavior.

bottom line to me is the man showed he was ignorant to a well know life situation. he would not have got nowhere near my child, its not his plaqce, and does he have children?, if so hes the worlds biggest hippocrate!society in general has zero patience. we , want, we get,hes just another self absorbed, angry man. pitiful really. thats my thought...p.s. cnn is the greatest keep on pulling out the teeth of truth! unity

Rick:

The man had no right to strike another woman's child. Its right that he was arrested, its child abuse. Only a parent has any business punishing their child.

Look at this man, he obviously has a psychiatric problem. He needs a psychiatric evaluation.

considering his age and his situation, he cracked. a simple court hearing with couseling should and proper apologies will remedy the situation.

Should have been felony assault, if it were my child they would be waiting for him to get out of hosp. to go to arraignment.

I wish I had been there when it happened.....he would be hospitalized and I would have been looking through bars......what was this mother thinking by not retaliating????.......you protect your children no matter what ........I live in Georgia and he should have been given some good old southern justice......

I don't agree with the man slapping the child, but please if you have screaming kids don't bring them on planes, take them to nice restaurants or to the theater. PLEASE hire a babysitter.

What this man did is inexcusable if he did that to my child he would not be walking. However, I worked in Wal-mart for eight years and everyday there are dozens of crying children. Parents need to not shop for hours, and not shop when their children are tired or hungry. I intervened in many, many cased where the child cried for twenty minutes or more while the mom blithely shopped.

It is unfair to the child and people in the store to allow a child to cry for an extended period of time. Find a distraction, feed, or change the child and if they are inconsolable leave.

To all of you who think that what this man did is justifiable....Clearly you have no children and you have no idea what real love is. If any stranger, or anyone that I knew for that matter tried to slap my kids, not only would they have to deal with my parents, I would have gone to jail for kicking the crap out of them. They are my children.....And I will dicipline them when I see fit. Let this guy come to the Wal-Mart in my city!!

Why aren't stores obiigated to remove unruly children & their parents from stores? If they want our business, they better start considering this as a policy.

Even though unruly children are the bane of my existence, no one has the right to hit anyone's child. If anything, slap the parent for not controlling their child. A two year old is going to act up, but it's up to the parent to put them in check. You never, ever slap someone else's child even though the temptation is there.

Secondly, if he had hit MY child, they'd have to scrap his old behind off the floor, and they'd be hauling me off the jail for assault. Did this mother just stand by and let him hit her baby?

if that was my daughter that he hit ... that man would have been calling the cops to get me off of him and he would definetly needed an ambulance or body bag! Oh an to all those people who say he is justified in what he did...you all need to have kids of your own to know what that feels like so put your foot in your mouth!

Do your news directors ever talk to each other? As someone who watches CNN all day, every day, I was struck by the juxtaposition of the Chris Brown interview on Larry King and the earlier interview with a black woman who talked about black men and abuse. Good tie-in that you guys missed.

On the pastor shooting, I saw an officer trying to keep himself from getting run over, that's assault with a deadly weapon. This isn't the first time police have shot someone in this manner. A 3,000 Lb car vs officer with 9mm, police are marked with badges and shouting "police, stop!" , pastor unmarked and trying to run over cops. Case closed!

Why are people so disturbed by crying children? They're living in a hellish world in which they have no control and get little understanding. What don't they have to cry about?

We should all be crying a little more. Maybe we'd be less aggressive if we let our real feelings out.

maybe ,the man is mentally sick and thought that hi was at-home around grant-kids.

That sounds like assault to me. A more reasonable option could have been to ask the appropriate authority figures to handle the situation, by asking the parent to handle the situation or be removed from the area to protect the other people and there level of comfort.

Okay now I have a 2 year old daughter so I understand how they just sometimes will through a fit and I am in no way saying that what this man did was right but I have to ask the question of how this man got that close to this woman's child in the first place to slap him or her. As a mother there would be no way he would have gotten close enough to grab and slap my child. The scenario would have ended up with both of us in jail, him for attempting to slap my child and me for beating him to a living snot.

He is very lucky he did not assault a child who's parent was armed! The parent would be prefectly within their rights to shoot him. Because the parent, at that point, could not know if the child was in danger of life or limb or possible shaken baby syndrome. Slapping the child, in the face, repeatedly would indicate imminent danger to any parent. I am a paramedic and I would be sure to have the child checked after usch an incident.

I do believe parents should expect their child to behave in public and remove them from the store if they are disruptive, but that is the parents job and of course store security. Store security should ask parents to leave or go to a secluded room until the child calms down.

Just one woman's opinion, but if it were my child or grandchild he might have been shot.

Look at that man, how his face is twitching. You can bet, this there is some thing more then stress going with that man.

Everyone has been annoyed by a screaming child at some point. I’m sure each of those persons wanted to quite the annoying child their own way but no one has the right to touch a child that isn’t theirs. He could have simply walked away, but choose to conduct an unspeakable act. As being a parent myself, if someone hit my child I’d go crazy on the adult…verbally and physically

I'm sorry we have all wanted to shut a kid up at one point or another when shopping but would never actually do something. Common sence people! It's not his kid he had no right to lay a hand on that child! That mother should be allowed to slap him around a couple times!

Obviously, the man was in the wrong. However, the mother of the child should take some responsibility for the actions of her little brat.

Well if a kid is crying in the store I used to try to ignore it but in my head I would be like could you shut that kid up and I feel bad that I could ever think that...but now that I am a mom to a one and a half year old I realize how this is not so easy...and now I'm like get over it...I can't believe what this man did and he's lucky I wasn't that mom...I'm not a violent person but you just don't mess with my kid...or any kid that you don't know...I don't hit my kid so why would anyone else? I don't know what this mom did but I don't know if it was me that my kid would have been hit four times...I'm not saying she's a bad mom at all she might of looked away for a min and it happened so fast that she couldn't block him...but I hope the little girl is okay and isn't scared for her life every time they go to the store now...and please remember that we as moms try to keep our kids quiet but it's not always easy and were not going to stop our everyday life because our kid has a tantrum because it's nap time or he/she didn't get the candy bar or gummies they wanted 3 aisles back.

one more comment I have to make I would like to say to those people who think that they have the right to shop, go to a movie or eat dinner in peace, that there is nothing in the constitution that guarentee's you that right, it guarentee's you the right to free speech and if that speech happens to be from a screaming 2 year old , their right is guareentied just like your's. As for your personal space, it is only guareentied in the privacy of your own home, not in a public place, so as long as the child is not physically touching you they have the right to scream and shout through your entire movie or dinner. Now having saying that it may be rued for the parent to allow something like that to take place but its not with in your right to not be bothered by other people in public places

I just read the article about the man who slapped the 2-year old girl. I think I'm in shock. He must be a very unhappy and miserable person to do that. Do you think his family was aware that he was capable of such a thing or DO YOU THINK HE DOES THIS REGULARLY TO HIS GRANDCHILDREN and thought it was right? I don't really know what to think, honestly. Can you imagine how frightened that little girl was? Oh my, please punish this mean man!!

Obviously, the gentleman is white. No self respecting black man would treat a child as such. The man should be sent to the electric chair. Black men have been executed for less. This is an outrage.

YOU ARE A TROUBLE MAKER THERE WERE RED LIGHTS FLASHING AND THEY SAID POLICE. WHAT IS THIS MAN A MORON.
IF HE HIT A OFFICER WITH HIS CAR THATS A WEAPON. WHY DID HE RUN? I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERANT AND I AM NOT A COP BUT A 72 YR.OLD WOMEN. WE NEED SOMEONE TO PROTECT THE POLICE FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU. THERE IS A LOT OF DIRT HIDDEN BEHIDE THE CLOTH OF THE CHURCH. AGAIN I SAY WHY DID HE RUN?

OMG – I would FLIP OUT. He would be in some real pain, and I'm sure I'd be making quite a scene. However, if my husband were with me...he'd probably get arrested. It would be bad.

Oh, and Mr. Tellitlikeitis – Tantrums are a part of a two-year-old's life. That's just the way it is. And there's only so much you can do to prevent one.

I seeing upset & screaming children in stores, or public places all of the time. What do I do? I ignore them. The parents are already upset or embarassed enough and generally dealing with it in their own way whether that means ignoring the behavior or hurrying to get things done so they can get out of there. Another person has NO right to touch my children, just as I have NO right to touch someone else's. What that man did is unforgivable.

I know how it is to be standing in line waiting to get to the cashier and a child in front of you is wailing away, it is uncomfortable and nerve racking, but the man who hit that child had no patience and cared nothing for the welfare of the child. I would have tried to see if I could help the woman with the child and maybe tried to see what I could do to help calm the child down. The man definitely had no concern for human life but was seeking his own selfish needs. My heart goes out to that young Mother and child.

I feel he was terribly wrong when stepping in where he obviously did not belong. The problem is children will scream in stores for attention or toys, letting the child scream is annoying yes, but everyone has to be taught the boundries of society. This man apparently has far greater issues than just intolerance to a wailing child's cry. However if it had been my child, he would not have touched him/her and likewise he would not have walked out of the store under his own power either...

Tom and Steven Smith:

You are both idiots. Discipline is defined as the correcting of one's child or charge in a non-aggressive, non-hostile manner. This so called "man" is much like you two, out of touch with reality. But the good new is that morons like you don't often times have kids, leaving the world a much better place. What this man did was abuse, pure and simple and as someone who works for the court system and closely with law enforcement I will be very happy to arrest either one of you if you ever law one of your moronic hands on a child.

Parenting in Public Can Be Difficult
Sadly, it’s clear almost everyone has and will encounter situations where they hear a child screaming persistently in public. Many of us wonder what, if anything, we can do to help de-escalate the stressful moment and help things go in a better direction. For the past 7 years, as part of The Wakanheza Project, we have been teaching easy-to-learn and use principles and strategies for stressful moments like the one at the Stone Mountain, Georgia Wal-Mart.

For all of your people who say removing the child from the store for screaming and crying uncontrollably is "just giving in to what the child wants (to leave the store)", please remember that this child is two years old and hardly old enough to think leaving the store is a reward for bad behavior. What the mother would have been doing is showing respect to the people shopping and the workers working.

I have tinnitus in both ears (a constant ringing) and loud, screeching noises reek havoc with my hearing. I get headaches and I get nauseous. I have had to leave many a store to get relief. One might ask oneself, why do I have to leave and not get my errands done on my Saturday off from work for one screaming child and a parent who doesn't have the brains to realize how upsetting the noise can be to many others?

And in answer to giving in to what an older child wants (to be able to leave the store), you take them out, take them home, and be sure they understand that leaving the store was hardly the end of the punishment. Take away TV, playing with toys, whatever, but be sure they understand that by inconveniencing you (not getting your errands accomplished) and by upsetting others AND YOU, they are going to be punished. Serious punishment and not this minute in the corner or in a chair for every year of their age.

Mixed emotions here. While I am outraged that any stranger would smack a child for acting out, I can understand his frustration.

I think everyone reading this will admit that children nowdays are, for the most part, out of control. Parents are either unwilling or unable to control them in any way, shape or form. I see it daily in my job, where I work with the public.

I'm not saying that there were no out of control kids 30 years ago, but I can bet the percentage then vs. now is way different. Whether it's the lack of discipline, lack of care or what – there needs to be more common courtesy for others. Don't let your kid scream at the top of its lungs until a stranger takes matters into their own hands. It's your kid, it's your responsibility to correct them and quiet them down.

If I ever doubted we live in a violent society this is proof positive we do, indeed! Those who most object to this man's physical outburst threaten the same to him. Cant you see from his distorted, twitching, angry face he is not "normal"? Is there so little compassion or real understanding in our culture that so many threaten to do the very thing for which we hold this man accountable? Would ANY adult – capable of reason – have even dreamed of hitting another persons child? Maybe "capable of reason" is the operable phrase here. From the majority of these posts, we don't seem to have that capability.

It seems fortunate from all appearances that this man did nothing worse than slap. It is also fortunate that there were bystanders willing to intervene. I am often annoyed in stores (even high-end department stores on occasion) by rude kids AND adults! But normal people don't slap other shoppers around or hold others accountable for their medically induced headaches and other acute sensitivities. I cant believe some contributors were so ready to justify this sick and abusive behavior.

Where is our objectivity in this case? And then I wonder if the news media isn't just fanning the flames of intolerance by the way they present these cases (Sorry, Rick) in order to gain ratings. Oh what a shame. All of this is just a simple, tragic, shame. Apparently we need more mental hospitals and fewer abusers loose on the streets. And a LOT more wisdom and understanding.

I cannot fathom anyone having the nerve to THREATEN the mother and child like that, let alone to actually follow them and carry through with it. Number 1, the mother could be deaf and not hear you threaten, or not speak English and not realize the threat. Moving away from the man seemed to be all the response that was necessary and by the time the poor woman realized the "danger" to her child she was in shock and slow to respond.

I am not a violent person by nature, but if you trigger my "mother" instincts I wouldn't like to be you. If anyone as much as touched my child let alone SLAPPED them repeatedly, I know they would not have been walking away from it unassisted. The man should be getting the stiffest penalties the courts can throw at him AND be required to go through follow up medical supervision.

I've seen some children, that I wanted to discipline in some way. I've seen parents usually in Wal-Mart or a grocery store who allow their children to talk back to them and behave terribly. When my two-year-old grandson chose to scream (he wasn't crying) shrilly his displeasure at the top of his lungs in McDonald's because I wouldn't let him play in the playroom before he ate, I swooped him up, marched to the bathroom, stood him on the floor, and announced to him that he was free to scream. When he was finished we would return to our seats and eat. Then we would go to the playroom. I explained we didn't scream in restaurants. We didn't upset other people who were eating. He looked at me strangely. He couldn't believe that this time it didn't work with grandma! With a hiccuping voice, he said, "OK."

I don't know what this mother was had allowed from this child up to the time of the incident and I don't know what this man's problems are. Obviously, he behaved inappropriately. There have been times I wanted to discipline a child or say something to a parent, but bit my tongue.

The man will have to be punished by the law. However, he may have serious mental problems. if the mother has parenting problems or if she is the parent of a typical two-year-old, is a question I can't answer, but it is a moot point.

We've all been there feeling the urge to slap a child but to do it is appalling! Wal-Mart is a place that when I shop I expect kids to be there. We don't know the parent so to judge is wrong. I do not have family here or can always find a sitter so my children go with me. Sometimes they do throw fits and if I need something at the store I just try to hurry it up. If they are really bad then yes I will leave the store. If this man had touched my child I'd absolutely would be pressing charges against him.

This man should be very lucky that he lives in the land of the free, otherwise if it was Jamaica, he would be begging for the police to come and arrest him, how dare him!!

1st off if any1 hit my child and they would never live to talk about it and since when is it som1 elses responsiblity to disapline my child and a baby none the less a defenceless child obvioulsy the ppl with think he is justified in his dispicable actions dont have kids becuause any1 who is a parent knows you child is your life i no i would die for mine!

The nasty excuse for a human being, they guy who took it upon himself to slap a screaming child of a stranger - he's the type that our world would be better off without. If he ever had children of his own, he should be investigated for child abuse. Some people really don't like children, and with no experience of their own, think they are qualified to comment on others' parenting skills. I hope he goes to jail for this.

wow. Unbelievable!
I just go up and try to say hello to the child...try to get themto laugh. What a cranky old man!

This could have been my child a few weeks ago. there was a man arguing with a female in the same store aisle that I was in. My 5 yr old was staring at them while i got some items i needed from that aisle. The man walked up and asks my son (5 yrs old!) if he has a problem with his eyes. Then he punches his own hand as if he's threathing my son! I just stood there for a while taking in what had just happened....stunned

I am schocked to see the number of comments comparing this man's actions to DISCIPLINE. News Flash: A random stranger at Wal-Mart has NO RIGHT to discipline your child. None. Zilch. Zero.

And there are comparable number of comments with the "well, she must not disclipine her bratty child." about the mother. You don't know that. Maybe the child was sick. Maybe tired. Maybe hungry. Maybe just ready to get out of the buggy. SO many possibilities.

And maybe she WAS trying to find a less crowded spot in the store. Maybe she was trying to get out of the store. Maybe she was trying to calm the child. Maybe ignoring the cries are what work best for her child.

Maybe some of these commenters should have some compassion instead of cheering a man for striking – IN THE FACE – a child who is a fraction of his size...a child he did not know.

I am shocked at the people taking up for this jerk!! I raised 3 kids by myself, worked full time because their dad ended up being a worthless piece of s*)(*, I now have 6 grandkids, Are all these people so stupid that they dont understand that 2 yr olds will cry for any reason?? When mine did, I would try to get them out of there asap, but groceries still had to bought as well as meds, diapers , etc.
It is damned if you dont and damned if you do when it comes to discipline. Obviously, this 62 yr old was not disciplined as a child either. So it is wrong for the kid to pitch a fit and cry, but it is okay the the 62 yr old to pitch a fit and assault the child???? This world is crazy!!!
And to the person who said people who shopped at Walmart were trash?? You need help!!!!
That a****** is lucky that was not my grandchild, he would have never made it out of walmart alive!!!!

I never post to any sites but I felt I had to after reading some of the posts here. Did anyone every think the child may have been crying because she/he felt bad? The kids mom might have been there buying medicine for all we know. The 2 year old may just have been having a bad day and that's how they show it. I have a 7 year old son and I promise you one thing. If ANYONE was to ever lay a hand on my son in a public place like that they would draw back a nub!!! It would have taken all of the Wal-mart employees to get me off of him. This old man should've realized he was in Wal-Mart and if he didn't like it he should've taken his behind some where else.

How many times havent you sat on a subway or a buss, or been in a cafe or some other public place, while a baby or child drives you nuts with their whining and crying? Although he is clearly out of line slapping a strangers baby, lets face it, this guy did what we all want, but never step out of our shell to do: shut that baby up!

First: Please stop the annoying phrase "drill down." And, if you are going to drill down, why not drill down on Obama's excessive use of "Czars" to fill unelected positions accruing a great deal of power. Why not investigate why people in power should not be subject to votes by the populace. Case in point, Van Jones.
These are the reasons why people don't trust the administration on health care. They don't want some "czar" controlling their futures..whether it's health, finance, jobs, etc. That's why we have elected officials. Get these guys out of there!

This man deserves a good old fashioned behind the barn a$$ kicking.
Too bad he didn't get it while he was in Wal-Mart. He may not have got enough whippings when he was a kid. He should have to pay the childs mother for pain and suffering.

As for a child being in the terrible twos, is a bunch of crock. They are going through a diffcult period of life. When they are crying there is generally a reason for it. They could be teething, sick, feeling bad, hungry, sleepy, diaper may be dirty. There is a number of reasons why a two year old is crying. Maybe all the child wanted is to be held, or the child wanted something and mom said no..

I have a 10 yr. old and she got spankings when needed. And she got her bottom swatted when she pitched a fit in a store. That is what is wrong with our kids in America today. They have taken spankings out of school and if there is one little mark on our kids and teacher or anyone else finds out someone calls Social Services or Child Protection and stars squalling child abuse.

And as for that man HOW DARE HE HIT A ANOTHER PERSONS CHILD!!!!!!!!!!!!! How would he act if someone hit his 2yr. old child in front of him. Would he put up with it? I don't think so.

Maybe that child was wet, hungry or very tired. The mother needs parenting classes to be able to see what is wrong with the child and fix it. Nobody wants to shop and have to listen to children crying. If it is near nap time, ask a neighbor to look after the child for a little while.

a child is a child, regardless what.
The way treat a child reveal the real face of an adult.
This man shold lock him up and throw away the key.

Clearly a lot of people here ready to commit a violent act themselves. What's the difference again between child abuse and elder abuse? Age; it's still abuse.
I've read despicable (and ridiculous) things people feel perfectly justified in doing to retaliate and bring great harm to this man and they don't even know his situation. Most are probably parents who subject others to their child's noise.
He lost control and slapped a child. That does not warrant a death penalty or being maimed, tortured, and murdered. Get a grip people.
Oh, and shut that screaming child up! Every day we have to put up with other people's laziness and lack of control.