Teenage Consensual Sex Laws
State Sen. Don Betzold, D-Minn., deserves recognition for his understanding of the “unintended consequences” of laws regulating teen sex (“States ease laws that punish teens for sex with minors,” News, Wednesday).
When contrasted with the legal moralist view of state Rep. Arthur O’Neill, R-Conn., Betzold came out looking like an intellectual giant. The list of unintended consequences coming from the laws against underage consensual sex is long. Such laws unjustly incriminate people like Genarlow Wilson, 21, the Georgia man who is serving 10 years behind bars because he received oral sex from a 15-year-old girl when he was 17.
It only takes two parties to consent to sex, not three. My Christian beliefs help me empathize with those who try to stop sexual immorality with legislation, but it simply does not work.
Those of us who want to battle immorality need to stop knocking on our legislatures’ doors and start knocking on our neighbors’.
Letter to the Editor: Teenage Consensual Sex Laws « Jeff Proctor said
[...] 25th, 2007 This letter to the editor was sent to USA Today in response to one of today’s front page [...]
odgie said
Well said Jeff.
USA Today Letter Published « Jeff Proctor said
[...] Comments Jadxia on NewsWatch: Mojave Air and Space Port Explosionodgie on Teenage Consensual Sex LawsLetter to the Editor: Teenage Consensual Sex Laws « Jeff Proctor on Teenage Consensual [...]
More on Genarlow « Jeff Proctor said
[...] 26, 2007 A few months ago, my letter to the editor about teen sex laws was published by USA Today. Much of the inspiration for that letter came from Genarlow Wilson and [...]