Bill calls for reporting of sexually active teens

[Kelvin Mace]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/8E795ECED61E7FF786256FC5001BF45B?OpenDocument
St. Louis Post

A bill that seeks to overhaul Missouri's child abuse reporting laws could require teachers, doctors, nurses and others to report sexually active teenagers and children to the state's abuse hot line.

Perhaps the most controversial provision of the bill is one that many say would require educators, medical personnel and other professionals to report "substantial evidence of sexual intercourse by an unmarried minor under the age of consent."

Define "substantial evidence". Is the purchase of condom evidence? Is taking birth control pills evidence? What about other forms of contraception? Will teenage girls accused of "abuse" be thrown into the stirrups and have their vaginas examined? Will boy's have their penises swabbed for vaginal secertions? Since the bill involves "sexual intercourse" only, would this mean that all other sexual activities (oral sex, anal sex, mutual masturbation, etc) would be legal? In the instance "sexual intercourse" is proven, who abused whom?

Byrd said his bill has been misinterpreted to include sexual activity by older teens. He said that the "age of consent" referred to in the bill is 15. He said sexual activity by children under that age is something that should be reported to the child abuse hot line, regardless of the age of the sexual partner.

OK, so we catch two 14 year-olds "en flagrante". Who goes to jail? The boy? The girl? Both?

The bill also could cost the state money by requiring more staff to screen calls to the child abuse hot line. Deb Hendricks, a spokeswoman for the Department of Social Services, said the department has estimated that the bill could cost an extra $269,000 for the current fiscal year.

So, any adult can, in essence, send any child they don't like to prison simply by dropping a dime and accusing them of "sexual intercourse"? Will teens be assumed liars if they protest their innocence.

David Allen
www.blackboxvoting.com
www.thoughtcrimes.org

[sarcasmo]

1. So much for Doctor patient confidentiality.

[amazona]

2. oh my Lord!

When are we going to grow up and admit that teens have sex, always have, always will?

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Warpy]

15. When we get rid of that stupid "Not my child!" mentality

which has existed just about as long as early teenage sexual experimentation has.

Sorry folks, but once those hormones start to pump, the best you can do is give your children enough information to keep them SAFE. You're not going to be able to put them into a box and artificially extend their asexual childhoods.

Sadly, most parents try to do just that.

[Delphinus]

38. Did just that, Warpy.

I told my son the facts of life. I told his friends the facts of life. I made sure they had condoms. I made sure they knew about AIDS. I tried to get it through their thick skulls to wait, to appreciate what sex is, etc., but I wasn't going to be stupid enough to live life thinking they would wait.

[TrogL]

110. I moved her boyfriend in

OK, that might be a bit extreme, but he got kicked out of his house...

...it's a long story.

[Liberal Veteran]

3. How much longer before we have burqas and chastity belts in the US?

Who keeps electing these crackpots?

[Mrs. Overall]

37. My thoughts, exactly. Here's a place to order your burka--

EvolveFish.com has burkas for sale:

http://www.evolvefish.com/fish/product1996.html


Burka, Handmade Replica
$45.00


"Be the first on your block to get a Genuine Replica of an Afghani Burka. It’s great for Protest events or Halloween costumes, and to get in lock-step with the Religious Right's plans for America.

This is the full-blown "bee keeper version" with a tight face mesh to prevent the prying eyes of the Infidels (Democrats, liberals, etc) from seeing the face of the wearer.

We have "Americanized” this item slightly by opening the back of the head-piece for ventilation ( you wouldn't believe how HOT the original gets), and added a velcro closure for one-size-fits-all convenience. Also, instead of a floor length backdrop, our burka is shoulder length, allowing you to wear your own long sleeve black dress, or a racy mini-skirt beneath.

Each burka is handmade by a laid-off Union seamstress from the New York City garment district."

[Anakin Skywalker]

65. Heh Heh. Funny Stuff. Think I'll Buy Some

for the many wives I have. :)

[Anakin Skywalker]

64. The Moruls Peeples.

[KansDem]

4. Make the law a federal one and start with the White House...

I'd be especially interested to hear reports about "sexually active teens" in the Reagan/Bush White House...

[Trillo]

5. How many times have children's lives been affected

by adults who have always supported this concept, but when there wasn't any such law proposed? (Guilt trips and stab-in-the-back type actions?)

[NashVegas]

6. Why Not Just Drag Every 16 and Under Girl in For a Hymen Exam?

Come on - let's get it over with. Show yourselves, assholes.

[rocktivity]

26. Sex isn't the only way to break a hymen.

I vividly remember broke mine in junior high school during a volleyball game.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Kelvin Mace]

31. Facts?

You dare bring up facts? <g>

David Allen
www.blackboxvoting.com
www.thoughtcrimes.org

[Ian David]

50. You're supposed to volley the ball with your HANDS!

[rocktivity]

86. I jumped up, hit the ball with my hands

and fell.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Ian David]

88. Ouch! I've also heard of it on water slides and horseback riding

[MountainLaurel]

43. Don't give them any ideas

Because you know that's EXACTLY where these Talibornagains are heading.

:scared:

[LiberalFighter]

72. And have their thumb marked with ink so we know they are virgins

[leesa]

85. And then clitorectomies so they never, ever defile the baby making process

with pleasure.

[uppityperson]

7. Prove you didn't have sex.

Right. What a stupid piece of unenforceble legistlation this is. There is already a law that says these people have to report suspected child abuse, adding voluntary sex to this is ridiculous.

So a kid gets contraception or a STD check due to voluntary sex and winds up reported to the child abuse hotline? Maybe they'll stone them for punishment.

[Guckert]

8. Why not a Bill for reporting teens that WANT TO BE SEXUALLY ACTIVE??

That would be too easy. 100%.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

9. And these teachers and school staff are going to find out the teens

are sexually active how? By asking them? Hmmmm. How many teens do you think will lie about this?

This reminds me of the drug surveys the used to have us fill out in high school. NO ONE in my class would tell the truth - we would all BS our way through it...

[undergroundpanther]

12. Parents

and bullies with control issues fucking up the world,by controlling sex between consenting people in the name of stoppoing abuse How Ironic..Parents being nannies or dictators to ensure moral purity while secretly Washingtom has pedo parties.
Humanity is screwed unless these bullying parents are forced to grow up get thier heads outta thier ass and become saner less hypocrite adults.

[regnaD kciN]

97. Well, from reading the news recently...

...I've seen how certain teachers have been finding out whether or not their students are sexually active...

:evilgrin:

[nickinSTL]

10. OMFG! I am sick f****ing sick of this state!

One more of these insane bills and I'm about ready to pick up and move across the river.

At least Illinois has Chicago to keep state-wide laws sane.

First the We-Hate-Gays amendment to the state constitution, now this insanity.

[MO_Dem]

63. I'm gettin' ashamed to be from MO!

I sure like where I live, but the fundies are ruining the neighborhood! People here used to have some common sense, but common sense seems to be a foreign concept nowadays. If it gets any worse, we need to find a state that only needs a few more Democrats to make it blue and all move there. We could be the Democratic Movement and our motto could be "We're coming to turn your state blue". Then if we're successful, and gain enough momentum, we could come back and make MO blue again!

[PassingFair]

69. Honest question here, MO...

Do you feel surrounded by delusional fundies, or are most in your state thinking persons like yourself? Are the loonies in charge of the nut-house? Is it a matter of perception, with the majority just being silent and/or unwilling to speak out?
What the hell is going on in the South?!

[MO_Dem]

74. Yes, sadly, the loonies are in charge

It's only my opinion, but I think the republicans have somehow awakened a "sleeping giant" by going into the churches. I think a lot of these people never gave politics a second thought before. They were absorbed in their churches and not much else mattered to them, but something has convinced them that religion and politics are the same thing--sort of like the mantra I hear some preachers on TV spouting "we're taking America back". Most of them never voted before, unless a neighbor or family member was running for local office. Being a "God fearing American" has become the fashionable thing to be, and politicians are cashing in big time. Seems like politicians are each trying to outdo the next in their "right-wingedness". Especially the really ambitious ones that have a great desire to move on up to federal office. And with our stupid term-limits, the ones that work the hardest are the ones that are planning to run for higher office as soon as establish their "bona fides". And now that the fundie church members are payint attention and voting, they are winning.

I think it started here in the '02 election, when voter turnout went way up, and of course, the republicans pretty much won everything. During off year elections, we never had to stand in line to wait to vote, but that year there was a huge turnout. Standing in line, I overheard several older ladies talking back and forth about how many phone calls they'd got from "George" and "Laura" and "Barbara", etc. I think they knew deep down that they were recorded calls, but still somehow felt so flattered that they got the calls.

My guess is that none of these people want social security "messed with", weren't for the war, would vote for "tax the rich" in a NY minute, etc., but their "morals" have overtaken there better sense and probably have convinced themselves that God won't let anything happen that they are against.

Most of them never knew, and never will know, anyone that is gay, so it is very easy for them to get outraged about those "activist judges that are out to corrupt our morals" by allowing gay marriage. That's probably true with a lot of other issues, too. If something doesn't affect them or their families, they are perfectly willing to be strongly against it.

The saddest part is that they are so busy congratulating themselves for "saving America", they don't notice the economic realities of the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer and all the misery that will bring to most all of us.

Well, sorry for the rant! Seems like you opened up my "floodgate" of frustrations. It really has gotten a little scary wondering just how far this can go. Sometimes I think I know how scary it must have been during the height of McCarthyism.

[PassingFair]

75. Thank you, sincerely, MO!

I am in a blue state, and it's bad enough here, with the selfish wingnuts whipping around in their SUVs. No one talks Bush up in public, because they are afraid that there may be someone around who knows what they're talking about.
Most folks around here just have their heads up their butts. They are worried about keeping their jobs.
On one hand, it's good to know that the loonies are whipping up the sheeple. It may indicate that the sheeple can be herded another direction!
Once again, thanks for your observations. And HANG IN THERE!

[MO_Dem]

76. Yes, I do believe the sheeples can be herded

in another direction. I just hope we can figure out how to do it and that I can live long enough to see it happen. I'm 55 yrs. old, and I do not believe GWB for one minute when he says "our" social security won't be affected by taking a big chunk out for private accounts.

Or, on the brighter side, the results of all this Boosh stupidity just might bring about a republican downfall. Backlash is a mighty force that I'd hoped would appear last November, but I guess I was a little too optimistic.

I am keeping hope alive that we are not "On the Eve of Destruction".

[PassingFair]

79. Thanks again, MO

Looks like DeadParrot agrees with you.
First real ray of sunshine I've had today!
Now where did we leave those shepard's crooks?

[deadparrot]

77. The cities (KC and St. Louis) are a vibrant blue.

Unfortunately, the more into the middle of the state you go, the redder it gets.

Of course, our new governor (Republican) is pissing off people of every stripe (cutting major health and child care programs). If he continues at the rate he's going, we may be able to use this to our advantage in 2006 and beyond.

[ikojo]

102. I hope you are right deadparrot....but from what I've seen of the

Dems, they will do all they can to vere to the right in 2006. Matt Blunt seems to be doing all the controversial stuff now so that when it comes to campaign time he can moderate and people will have forgotten how mean spirited he was in 2005.

A winning campaign would be one that focused on the human cost of Matt Blunt's proposed cuts. Show the families who are suffering because of his selfishness.

I've lived in St Louis for 17 years and have never said I live in Missouri. I live in St Louis. There is a difference.

[deadparrot]

109. That's what I worry about.

He's such a creep.

[xmas74]

105. I am becoming more and more afraid for my child.

She is so young and Skippy and the crew are taking away all of her rights. What am I supposed to tell her when she is older? "MO fundies say you have to stay at home, be a good girl and get married when you're twelve?"
And I live so close to Truman country that it's not even funny. He and Mel must be rolling over in their graves right now.

[xmas74]

104. You too?

I am so tired of being here!

[maxrandb]

11. What's Next?

Will sexually active girls be sent to gang-rape rooms to punish them for their crime?

We are becoming frighteningly more and more like those countries we are delivering "freedom" to.

Isn't it the book of Numbers or Leviticus or something like that says you can take a woman out and stone her if she's not a virgin when you marry her?

Oh Dear Lord Jesus! Save Me From Your Followers!

[seasat]

13. Does masturbation count?

They'd better allocate millions if they use that criteria to consider a teen sexually active.:evilgrin: They won't be able to keep up.

[DinahMoeHum]

33. LMAO !! As Frank Zappa once said, there isn't enough prison space

to hold all the kids who do THAT.

:evilgrin:

[Undercover Owl]

81. OP's comments, taken out of context.....

"...masturbation, etc) would be legal? In the instance .........is proven, who abused whom?"

Well, I guess they also want to make it illegal to abuse yourself.

:silly:
(This is the lounge, isn't it?)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

14. We're getting closer and closer to the world seen in "The Handmaid's....

...Tale", a movie based on the 1990 sci-fi novel by Margaret Atwood:

<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099731/>

[xmas74]

106. I make that comment all the time around here.

No one really wants to believe me. They seem to have the "Not in my backyard" mentality. Guess what? I live in MO and it is now in our backyard but the people are too self-absorbed and into giving each other pats on the back to pay attention.

[Zerex71]

16. Just like "1984", they will outlaw the orgasm.

I mean, it's okay to wantonly kill tens of thousands of Little Brown People(TM) for specious and wholly criminal reasons, but God forbid if two people get it on. Once again, another example of how Repukes and conswervatives alike fear love and intimacy.

[louis-t]

44. "fear love and intimacy"

and are disgusted by their own bodies.
Lou

[Anakin Skywalker]

66. I Thought These CONservatives Say They Want Less

government? Heh. So much for that lie. One of several reasons I hate them.

[0007]

17. A waste of time & money - end product will produce ill feelings and

pure hatred toward the government

[wtmusic]

18. We have to do something about rampant promiscuity

j/k, j/k...awwwww, lighten up!!! :silly:

[MnFats]

19. so then do i report my daughter? even tho...

...she did the very responsible thing and came and talked to me and her mother. she'd been seeing a very nice boy for several months and they were at the point that they wanted to have sex. she was 17.
we talked things over and she was certainly being more responsible than I was when I became sexually active.
Her mother made the doctor's appointment and I bought them some condoms, explained their use and made her promise to use them whenever she had sex.
i guess that would make us parents co-conspirators under this law. they could send all of us to the Big House.

[Kelvin Mace]

21. Well, to be clear

the bill talks about "15 year-olds", though the age of consent in Missouri is 17. This is yet another reason the bill's sponsor is a complete idiot.

David Allen
www.blackboxvoting.com
www.thoughtcrimes.org

[AnneD]

40. The age of consent in New Mexico........................

is 13 :wtf: I was so shocked when I found out that tidbit (something to do with the old Hispanic tradition of marrying off young women to more 'settled' men. I am a school nurse and let me tell you, most parents I have met couldn't handle the truth about their children's sexuality. Recently there was some numb nut legislator (can't remember the state) that wanted all miscarriages reported to the police (complete with penalties for those not reporting within I believe 24 hrs). Many of the creative solutions on the Nursing bulletin board involved mailing used 'appliances' for the guy to inspect. We (and many other women) bombarded the guy's office and had him crying uncle. I recommend the same thing with this character. If you provide a link, I'll write. Good forbid someone in Bush's America is enjoying sex. My first thought was the Handmaiden's Tale too. It is too deja vue.

[LiberalFighter]

73. Move all 13 year olds to New Mexico

[Kber]

51. Actually, I don't think the bill defines a specific age

just the law maker trying to defend the bill says that the age of concent "refers to 15". But does it actually state it as fact?

And, seriously, would a parent who helped her 16 or 17 year old kid acquire birth control or who taught their son to use a condom be complicit in child abuse? Who gets punished?

[fushuugi]

39. while we're on the subject....

lets examine sex and some of it's cultural and psychological subtext for a moment by asking ourselves the question, "why do religions demonetize sex?" sex gives, on a primal level, the individual a voice, an identity separating themselves from their parents. sex is an act of psychological rebellion.

from the perspective that religion is a method of control, we can then infer that the repression of sex is basically a 'mental castration', a way of enslaving persons to the norms and ideals set down by said religion. Once a 'fear' of sex is created, an ingrained 'fear' to assert one's self follows.

from this we can reach the conclusion that the demonetization of sex is simply another method of control most religions use to exert control over their sheep.

[Dogmudgeon]

46. Demonetize?

I think the word you want is "demonize".

"Demonetize" means to uncouple the value of a product or financial instrument from money. (Yes, it's quite an abstract idea.)

By the way ... welcome to DU!

--p!

[fushuugi]

62. heh, spellcheck and i have never been good friends n/t

[Dogmudgeon]

45. If her boyfriend was under 18, you're a felon

Ambitious, careerist prosecutors love these kinds of cases. Please use "due discretion" when you relate this story to others!

Yes, it's madness, but there are even people here at DU who fly into a frenzy when a 17-year-old girl is reported to have had sex.

--p!

[HockeyMom]

56. Hell

these Fundie people don't even want single 40 YEAR OLDS having sex. ABSTINENCE ONLY UNTIL MARRIAGE?

[ninkasi]

53. Yeah, I'm guilty, too

My daughter was the same age, 17, and I got a promise from the boy that he would use condoms; I also got birth control pills for my daughter. When my son started dating, I had a talk with him about responsibility, it's better to wait, etc, but that protection shouldn't be left up to the girl.

Condoms were the only way to go, both to protect them from sexually transmitted diseases, and to prevent pregnancies. I became a teenager in the 50's, when sex wasn't discussed, except to say don't do it. Lots of us did, anyway. So much for the 50's being a golden age of perfect people, right?

[HeeBGBz]

20. Shit,, Missouri again.

I've grown to dispise the state I live in, grew up in, the one my family homesteaded in. It's a foreign fundie hell now.

[rocktivity]

22. Teens will simply look elsewhere for birth control and counseling

...or not.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Kelvin Mace]

23. Teens will ABSOLUTELY STOP

talking to adults.

David Allen
www.blackboxvoting.com
www.thoughtcrimes.org

[bobthedrummer]

24. Good lord I lost my virginity when I was 15, but I masturbated well before

that-this is mind control bullshit for being human.

[Kelvin Mace]

25. Does anyone else see the major

possibility for abuse with this law? If dad/mom doesn't like your boy/girl friend, he can send him/her to prison with a phone call. Even if he/she doesn't do time, the criminmal investigation will be enough to destroy the teens life UTTERLY.

David Allen
www.blackboxvoting.com
www.thoughtcrimes.org

[YellowRubberDuckie]

27. Taking Birth Control Pills can't be evidence of sexual activity.

I was on them when I was 12 because I once had a period for three weeks, and I'm not exaggerating. These idiots are going WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY out of control. What are they thinking!? Byrd is well known to be an idiot, isn't he?
Duckie

[Mist]

28. What the HELL is going on in Missouri?

I'd think this ridiculous and offensive bill would fail on two counts: violates patient/doctor confidentiality and not really part of the job description of teachers and school administrators.

[Kelvin Mace]

29. They are takling lessons from our friends in VA

and their bill on miscarriages having to reported within 12 hours?

[AnneD]

42. Thanks

I posted before I read the full thread. I couldn't remember the state that tried to pass that ridiculous law. Guess some of that bad air from D.C has affected critical thinking skills.

[Spinzonner]

34. They're jealous of Kansas

[Anakin Skywalker]

68. It's The Show Me State, That's What!

The fundies there want to see.

[xmas74]

103. Check out the MO forum

It just keeps getting worse.
If I could leave, I would but am kept tied up all the time in court for child custody.
My state has gone down the shitter.

[lala_rawraw]

30. Sex Police?

Where have I seen that in the past? Hmmmm

[Kelvin Mace]

32. Sexcrime

Can I take this for granted
With your eyes over me?
In this place
This wintery home
I know there’s always someone in

Sexcrime
Sexcrime
Nineteen eighty four

And so I face the wall
Turn my back against it all
How I wish I’d been unborn
Wish I was unliving here

Sexcrime
Sexcrime
Nineteen eighty four

I’ll pull the bricks down
One by one
Leave a big hole in the wall
Just where you are looking in

Eurythmics
1984 Soundtrack

[jbnow]

35. It says kids under 15

and generally a child 14 or under having sex would be considered abuse already. Doctors and teachers already have to report evidence of abuse.

If the bill says the age of consent is 15 (and not the state's legal age of 17) I am not sure what this really changes...except the part about a couple 14 year olds. That's already against the law but I think more appropriately handled by parents.

[Kelvin Mace]

36. Agreed

Yet another bit of hypocrisy from the Right. When it involves PHYSICALLY abusing children, the Right want the state to butt out of how parents "discipline" their children.

But when it comes to sex, the Right wants their nose right in the parent's business.

[bobbieinok]

41. how soon will 'we' require that all females undergo a clitorectomy?

somewhere I read this was recommended by some US drs in the 19th century for women who were 'difficult'

[Ian David]

48. We need more laws like this. They'll be the next generation of activists

Liberal activists, in fact.

The more they're oppressed by the right, the more they'll run to join us on the left.

[FourStarDemocrat]

90. Those women were diagnosed "hysterical" and given hystorectomies..

which is where the term hysterectomie originates.

[Tweed]

47. Missouri legislators hates their teens for their freedom

[Arkansas Granny]

49. This is unbelievable!

Teenagers will, by and large, have sex whether it's reported or not. Nature tells them they are ready, society says they have to wait. I would much rather see a teenager feel free to ask a teacher, or other responsible person, for information on protection than to have them worry that the same questions may get them reported for abuse.

What insanity!

[donheld]

52. I'd say they really already have this list

Just make a list of every kid in the state. I'm sure they all have some form of sex. These morans would even include masterbation.

[cka118]

54. Bird sounds like a pedophile who wants to know who the 'easy' kids are!

[AllegroRondo]

55. Would violators have to register as sex offenders?

what a way to ruin some kids life.

[Blue_In_AK]

57. I'm sorry, but this is bullshit...

Teenagers have sex. That's what they do. Not to give too much away here, but I strongly suspect that I'm not the ONLY person who had sex before this mythical "age of consent." Should I have been put in jail??? These people really need to get a grip.

[applegrove]

58. How stupid is that. You report sexually precocious kids. Not the ones

who can legally 'be themselves'.

[Chicago Democrat]

59. This "Bill" person needs to mind his own business!

Bill seems to be obsessed

[TroglodyteScholar]

61. LOL

That was the same thought I had (see my other post on this thread that must've gone up around the same time as yours.......)

[TroglodyteScholar]

60. I don't know who the hell "Bill" is, but...

Re: "Bill calls for reporting of sexually active teens"

I don't know who the hell "Bill" is, but Republicans can always make him call for something stupid.

:eyes:

[regnaD kciN]

98. There they go...

...blaming Clinton again! ;-)

[against all enemies]

67. The government should not be involved; this should be a faith based

initiative. Please bring all sexually active teenagers to the nearest church for some counseling. Please use the back door.

[LiberalFighter]

70. Let's support this bill!!!!

Find out if this guy has any kids and report them.... EVERY CHANCE YOU GET


I like it!!!!

Report his grandparents as teens

[Nikia]

71. In a way I agree

I think that most children who have sex at age 14 or under are or were taken advantage of sexually by someone older before they were able to have consent that was a real choice. Many children are sexually abused as they are first going through puberty. Some would say this is evolutionary, having sex with the virgin just as she is becoming fertile to assure that any pregnancy is yours. Regardless, it is wrong, even if force isn't involved. It hurts the child, sometimes for life, and often changes ones perception of sex and love. In most schools, sex education hasn't even been taught to children these ages (which one could argue is the fault of the school system).
I don't think that the children should be punished, but perhaps they should be questioned to determine whether abuse is involved or had taken place. I think children are hestitent to share such information.
Personally, I was sexually abused at age 11 by an adult. Although it wasn't actually done by force, it wasn't much of a choice either. In talking to friends, I am amazed how many children ages 10-14 were sexually abused by someone 16 or older (both boys and girls) and most of them didn't feel that it was much of a choice either even when force wasn't involved. At 15 and a half, I did have sex with my boyfriend, 2 years older than me and did feel that it was completely my choice. I know that children mature at different rates, but antedotally, it seems to be around 15 or 16 that children have stronger sexual urges and would make the choice to pursue sex. I am not saying that 2 14 year olds might not both be at that stage, without being initiated into sex by someone who was significantly older, but I think that the other situation is more common.

[leesa]

84. What BS. So kids should be made into criminals for natural urges?

Maybe they need counseling for their sense that engaging in a normal human function is abnormal.

[Nikia]

92. Did you even read my post?

I am not saying that the kids should be made into criminals. I am saying as it is, many statutory rapists are getting away with their activities to the detriment of preteens and young teens. The child feels embarassed or doesn't want to get anyone in trouble or feels that he or she will be punished or thought badly of. I am not talking about statutory rape in states where the age of consesnt is 18 and there are 18 year olds involved with 16 year olds. I am talking about 12 and 13 year olds being involved with adults. Children do start to get naturual urges and sometimes adults take advantage of those urges, the child's inexperience, impulsiveness, admiration of adults, and fairy tale notions of love. The child is left feeling confused, hurt, and maybe guilty. The adult doesn't care. I do think that the adult should be punished and the child should get counseling when these things happen. If nothing else, to deal with the abstinence only education that they'd be going through in a couple of years.
Sorry I don't support the freedom of adults and older teens to take advantage of middle schoolers and elementary students. These adults need to find people closer to their own age until the children have physically and emotionally matured a bit. They (the older people) need to be taught that this isn't cool or acceptable behavior.

[Kelvin Mace]

96. I read it

I am not saying that the kids should be made into criminals. I am saying as it is, many statutory rapists are getting away with their activities to the detriment of preteens and young teens.

"Many"? How many is "many". Upon what do you base the claim? Anecdotal evidence is highly unreliable. This bill WILL make them into criminals.

I am talking about 12 and 13 year olds being involved with adults.

We already have laws on the books to deal with this kind of abuse. Passing laws designed to make criminals of children does not help.

<i>Sorry I don't support the freedom of adults and older teens to take advantage of middle schoolers and elementary students. These adults need to find people closer to their own age until the children have physically and emotionally matured a bit. They (the older people) need to be taught that this isn't cool or acceptable behavior.</i>

No one here supports pedophilia. This is not what this law is trying to stop. The purpose of the law is to LEGALLY compel adults to rat out any child/teen they believe/suspect is having sexual intercourse. A hickey on your neck will now mean a possible criminal investigation.

This law is typical RW pervesion.

[xmas74]

107. It's already a felony to be involved w/ any one 14 and under in

the state of Missouri. It is statuatory rape for under 17 still.
This bill is just an invasion of privacy.

[HockeyMom]

108. If they are BOTH 16

which one gets charged with rape?

[xmas74]

113. Neither.

It is referred to juvenile. (I work for a police department-this is usually the way that it is handled.)

[Kelvin Mace]

95. A lot a problems with these claims

Many children are sexually abused as they are first going through puberty.

"Many"? How many is "many"?

I don't think that the children should be punished, but perhaps they should be questioned to determine whether abuse is involved or had taken place.

This bill will punish children. It presumes "sexual intercourse" below 15 is "abuse".

I think children are hestitent to share such information.

And this law will make them spill their guts?

[regnaD kciN]

100. I hate to tell you this, but...

At 15 and a half, I did have sex with my boyfriend, 2 years older than me and did feel that it was completely my choice.

...if this law were enacted nationwide, since the age of consent is 16 or over almost everywhere in the country, odds are that you would have been subject to criminal investigation and prosecution for this, whether it was "completely my choice" or not.

[BiggJawn]

78. Same shit's going on in Indiana.

AG Steve "MISTER No-Call List" Carter is hassling PP clinics in the state to turn over the medical records of 15-year-olds.

He says he has the RIGHT under Indiana Child Abuse Laws.

Well, isn't that SPECIAL? destroy Planned Parenthood, alles fur den Kinder...

[Samantha]

80. talk about going too far ...

[agincourt]

82. The sentence,

"Mind your own fucking business, you repig anus-sucking old bats",needs to re-enter the American political scene. This country is going blue-law insane.

[Anakin Skywalker]

87. Change the Term?

Maybe we should change the term "blue laws" into "red laws" since it is the red staters behind them all. Anyone else think so?

[Kool Kitty]

99. Truer words were never spoken.

And thank you for the only out-loud laugh I've had today. Jesus, I hate these people.

[leesa]

83. How about big scarlet 'P's for promiscuous or 'N's for normal??

What does being sexually active have to do with child abuse?? Man, these Fundies are SICK, SICK and mighty dangerous.

[FourStarDemocrat]

89. And then what's the next step after they gather up all the names?

State social worker investigations calling up the the adolecent's school and acqaintances for additional information? An electronic ankle bracelet? Forced abstinence counseling? This intrusive legislation violates doctor/patient confidentiality and only takes away the motivation of young people to seek medical attention.

[superconnected]

93. If they ever have to go to court it gets used against them

because they were sexually promiscuis.

Oh and their health insurance goes up.

Oh, and lets not forget car insurance. People who have sex at a younger age are going to be shown as more prone to tickets and accidents in hidden studies they can't show us...

[Vladimir]

91. That is moronic

all this is doing is encouraging kids to lie, and what is more, it will harm those kids who have sex and really do need to talk about it for some reason (STDs, pregnancy, etc.). In fact, this is so idiotic, I am fucking amazed. There is a reason doctor-patient confidentiality exists you kow...

[RaRa]

94. Sadly represents so many things today

when you have a complicated problem and address it with a simpleton's answer. Kids are having sex (all kinds) really early and often. So this is the answer? Well it's easier than addressing why kids are doing this. The same with Muslim radicals. Arrest them! Let's not try to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

[cynatnite]

101. Offensive and demeaning is what this is!

When I was 17 I went to my mother and asked for birth control. I knew I was going to have sex with my bf at the time. Hell, I wanted to have sex. She said no. It was giving permission.

Sure, mom. I told my bf to go get some condoms. Problem solved.

Now, I've got my own kids. They've known since the age of 12 about the birds and the bees and you can take it to the bank they know I'll get them birth control if they ask. The lines of communication are open and if my kids are going to have sex, they'll know how to protect themselves.

Oldest daughter now has two beautiful children I adore. She knows the score.

But for the government to even think they can come in...god, I'm fucking pissed about this!!!

If we don't stop it at it's source you can bet this thing will spread to other states. I'm in TN. I'm ready to move on this thing to stop it.

[katty]

111. Rome is burning while they Waste time/$$

Police State America caught up in dictating to the citizenry 24/7

[Megahurtz]

112. What the fuck???

:wtf: This is bullshit!

They're only trying to do this because just in case of child abuse perpetrated by an adult, the defense attorney can whip out the old "But the minor is sexually active" (ie: promiscuous) plea to discredit the minor's testimony.

Sure looks like some more closet pervs:freak::freak::freak::freak:working in the system and looking to get off, in one way or another.

(pun intended)