Parenting Licenses: Should Society Require People to Pass a Test and Obtain a License Before Having Children?

Child abuse, neglect, and incompetent parenting cause lifelong trauma to countless children. Some argue that society should require prospective parents to pass basic psychological, financial, and parenting tests—similar to obtaining a driver's license—to safeguard children's welfare. However, opponents maintain that reproduction is an inalienable human right, and any restriction would lead to severe discrimination, eugenics, and excessive government intrusion.