Man hits 2 year old because she won't "shut up."

In Georgia, a man takes it upon himself to discipline a 2 year old child. While shopping at an area Wal-Mart the mother stated that Roger Stephens approached her as her child was crying and told her "If you don't shut the baby up, I will shut her up for you." The mother and the child went on to another aisle and Stephens approached her again and allegedly grabbed the child and smacked her about four times in the face. Authorities were called and the man was arrested. The mother stated that all Stephens could say was "See, I told you I would shut her up."

My first reaction as I read this story was I would completely freak out. There is no way anybody is going to hit my children. I do not care if they are throwing a temper tamper in the middle of the floor, although that would be highly embarrassing, disciplining them is my responsibility.
I have been to restaurants, parks, and even the grocery stores where there have been disruptive children and I will ignore it and go on about my business or I will leave. There would be no way I would ever hit my children let alone anyone else’s children. Not to mention this child was only two years old. Children that age are just learning discipline. Maybe she was tired or hungry. No matter what the reason that child should not have been smacked, especially by a total stranger. I am sure that little girl was not sure what was going on. I am sure she did not shut up as he hoped or as he said he would do. I have been around my fair share of kids and even had a job taking care of children, and in my experience, if a child is hurt in any way, rather the child is hit, falls down, or even emotionally hurt, they are going to cry. So, honestly, what really did he accomplish by hitting this child, other than time in jail. I would like to know what was going through his head. Did he think that the mother was not going to call the police? He had to know that he would go to jail.

I do not agree with a child abused for any reason at all. I also do not agree with cruel and unusual punishment on children. Children do not ask to be brought into this world, and then they get abused. There is too many none physical, none violent, punishments that can be used instead. Plus it teaches children that it is O.K. to hit when angry and that is not the message I want my children to receive. My children write sentences, do extra chores, or take a time out when they get in trouble. They are older than 2, but there is other options than hitting, even for a toddler.