And this is what I expect was a big difference in the past. Parents would punish their children, but would rarely actually hurt them. It was a process of action and consequence. Now, parents don't do this, either through belief systems of let their children do what they want rather than deal with the discomfort of having to actually deal with their kids. Some just have better things to do themselves, like nothing.

It shouldn't be up to citizens to protect themselves from children, should it?