These are comments from readers who posted their reaction on our Facebook page or e-mailed in response to our story yesterday on the Parental Responsibility Bill 2010.

Margaret J Smith said: "If your animal causes any damage then you are told by the courts to reimburse the victim or owner for them, the same should be applied to parents with out of control children."

Gerri Crockwell-Sequeros said: "Good parenting cannot be legislated. Not much point in bolting the barn door after the horse has escaped.

"Some people are just not equipped to be parents, and introducing a law is not going to suddenly make them become good responsible parents. One of my sons always used to say 'you need a licence to own a dog, but anybody can have a child'."

Scott Leitch said: "I'm assuming, hoping that this isn't just a literal 'parenting law'. I think it is meant to be more like gross negligence. If your 14-year-old old son is out past 12, and you haven't at least tried to stop the situation, then you were negligent as a parent. I can't imagine it is there to punish parents who try but can't get a grip on their kids."

Gina Gibbons said: "Make sure you put an appropriate and real age to this bill, as we all have visions of a lovely, obey always, society, but it has never been that way, in life's history.

"The numbers are just increasing and each person's situation is unique, most times in a sad way. So no, don't punish the parents, you're just creating another angry person who will most likely protect their children until the day they die, even if they know deep down inside it is wrong.

"You never know one's situation, so punish the child."

Ceola Wilson said: "Daddy don't pay for formula, daddy don't have a job, could it be mom's stretched to the limit and the children therefore go astray?

"What kind of monsters do you think we'll be facing when this new crop comes through? Where's the vision for change PLP voters voted for? All this non-action from a non-elected official [Sen. Wilson] who's legislative drafting crew's skills leave much to be desired.

"Middle School system a failure, still playing with the lives of our children. Put the money and reform at the front end, you see where the other end is, now what?

"More punitive legislation, what a joke, but soon no one will be laughing we'll be too busy ducking bullets."