Leashing Your kids

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Have you seen the parents who are holding onto a strap that is attached to their kids so they cannot run away? They can either be strapped around their wrist or connected to a backpack. When I was a kid, my mother used one of these contraptions on me whenever we went to the mall. Mind you, this was during a time where kids were being snatched up left and right in public areas. Now I probably minded a little bit when I was a kid but it wasn't that much of a problem for me. However, now my cousin called to my mom complaining about how hard it is to take care of three kids while being pregnant. Then she went on to say how her youngest loves to run away and refuses to come back when you call his name. Which I can attest to. The last time I saw the little boy, he would run out into the street with his mother calling his name. His father would have to run after him, but the boy would turn around only to hit his father and run off again. Of course my cousin and her husband don't believe it spankings so they just tell their little boy to stop and shake their heads (which all of their children ignore). My mom told my cousin since she cannot control her son and she cannot carry him everywhere, she might need to look into getting him a "leash." My cousin was appalled by this idea, but my mom argued that its an alternative to having her child stolen or running into the street in front of a car. Personally, I think the leash should be a last resort- for a kid who does not listen or if you're going to be a overly populated place where its easy to lose your child. I see them on kids a lot at parks and outlet malls. I hope I never have to use them, but I'm not going to think badly on the parents who do decide to use it. What's your opinion? Are "leashing" your kids acceptable or not? What would you suggest for my cousin?