Renee Unterman and the fight over child prostitution
Consider the case of Renee Unterman of Buford, a Republican state senator.
For 12 years, she has carried the water for social conservatives in the Legislature. That “choose life” license plate? Her work. The state’s requirement that doctors offer women a sonogram before abortions? Her work.
For the last several years, Unterman has focused on child prostitution. Atlanta, you may already know, is a national capital in the trading of young flesh.
For the only female Republican in a male-dominated Senate, it has been a delicate topic.
“When I first brought it up in a caucus meeting, it was like they wanted to get underneath the table,” she said. “I’ve gently moved them along in the past three years. They can talk about the 50-year-old man who has sex with a 12-year-old, and say it’s not okay.”
Even so, Unterman was surprised on Monday when she was all but declared a lobbyist for the Georgia Association of Pimps and Sex Brokers — which, so far as we know, is a fictional organization. But you can never tell.
The accusations came via the senator’s friends in the Christian conservative movement.
At issue is SB 304, Unterman’s bill to declare that boys and girls under age 16 shouldn’t be charged with prostitution, but diverted to treatment or therapy. (Another less likely bill, HB 582, would set the age of prosecution at 18.)
Unterman’s measure is an attempt to bring a certain legal and moral consistency to Georgia law.
Sixteen is the age of sexual consent in Georgia. If a child can’t consent to sex, how can he/she consent to prostitution? State law also declares that children under age 18, if caught up in anti-prostitution sweeps, are to be tallied as victims of both human trafficking and child abuse. Not criminals.
There is also the practical consideration. “You put handcuffs on a 12-year-old kid, put them in the back of a police car, they shut up just like that,” Unterman said. “But if you get them into therapy, they never have those handcuffs put on them — they’re more apt to talk about the gang and what the gang is doing to them.”
Opponents are having none of it. They praise Unterman and say they share the same goal. But they want the senator to walk away from what they say is a wrong-headed bill.
Passage, they said at that Monday news conference, would amount to the decriminalization — nay, the legalization — of prostitution. Predators will swarm to the state.
“Who will benefit from the passage of [the legislation]? I’ll tell you who — the very profitable and growing pedophile industry,” said Nancy Schaefer, Unterman’s former colleague in the Senate.
Spare-the-rod arguments were plentiful. “The threat of arrest, public humiliation and a police record has scared straight many minors and adults,” said Sue Ella Deadwyler, who writes a Christian conservative newsletter. “Arrest is a valuable life-saving tool that must continue.”
Those lined up against Unterman’s legislation include the Georgia Christian Alliance, the Georgia Christian Coalition, Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, and the Georgia Baptist Convention.
Other religious groups are staying out of the fight, and many have taken Unterman’s side. Presbyterians, for instance. But they are not organizations that sway votes in Republican primaries.
Unterman’s once-skittish GOP colleagues in the Senate are skittish again. House Speaker David Ralston thinks the language has gotten out of hand. “I don’t agree it’s decriminalization,” the speaker said. But neither would he commit to the legislation.
One of many ways to survive at the state Capitol is to view the place as a theater that combines tragedy, comedy and farce in equal measure.
Speeding toward House passage is HB 897, sponsored by Rep. Doug Collins (R-Gainesville), a bill to close the loophole that has permitted high school teachers to avoid criminal prosecution for their affairs with students — if the student is above the age of consent.
So by this spring, the Legislature could declare that a girl over the age of 16 legally lacks the judgment to enter into a romance with the aging Lothario who heads the math department. Many might call that a sound decision.
But lawmakers, through their silence, could also declare that a girl under the age of 16 should be held to criminal account when shoved into a bed by her pimp.
The author of that teacher-student bill sees the gap in logic. “I’m a pastor and I have no problem with the [Unterman] bill,” Collins said.
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108 comments Add your comment
BCatl
February 4th, 2010
10:31 am
Where is the teaching of Jesus in this? Of course Unterman’s proposed bill is right the way to go.
Look at these groups and make up your own mind: Georgia Christian Alliance, the Georgia Christian Coalition, Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, and the Georgia Baptist Convention.
These people do not follow the Bible. Instead, they have become a refuge for the ignorant.
Sage
February 4th, 2010
10:33 am
I think her heart is in the right place, but she’s going about it the wrong way. Her bill will only result in more child prostitution. Without a criminal charge to hold over the child’s head, there is no way to force them into therapy or counseling. Many of these child prostitutes have had their will broken and their minds scrambled by bad influences. With their messed up view of reality and no threat of legal action, many will continue to keep doing it. What needs to be done is have the charge available to use against the kids who won’t cooperate with therapy or counseling. If they won’t get deprogrammed, keep them in jail. Maybe some time in jail will change their minds.
BCatl
February 4th, 2010
10:33 am
Jesus sat down to eat with protitutes. Can’t we at least sit down and talk to kids?
morris
February 4th, 2010
10:34 am
FOR ALL YOU CHRISTIANS THAT OPPOSE THIS BILL YOU NEED MORE PRAYER THAN THOSE KIDS BECAUSE IN THE END GOD WILL PROTECT THEM.BUT YOU, GET READY FOR JUDGEMENT DAY.
Mary D
February 4th, 2010
10:36 am
Why! Oh! is it so hard to protect children. Men would rather put children in jail then the help them not to continue the life.
Men make laws and when they do they are never in favor of children. Men are the pimps the pedofilers so what do they care about if the children are taken care of, unless they are they ones taking care of them in any way they want too. Senator Unterman I am on your side and I am a Democrat
BCatl
February 4th, 2010
10:38 am
I’m not sure that they are Christians to begin with Morris, even though they use the word “Christian” in their names.
As I mentioned above, Jesus sat down to eat with prostitutes. He talked to people. He showed mercy and understanding. Certainly, we can show such mercy and understanding to children.
I’ll say it again, these fundamentalist churches have become refuges for the ignorant.
Yurtle_the_turtle
February 4th, 2010
10:40 am
I have to laugh at the arguments brought forth by the anti-religion alliance in this country. Folks who never would enter into a place of worship paint with a broad brush those of us who live by faith. No, let me educate you morons. We’re not out to bring a theocracy to our democracy. Just because we bring our morality into the political arena doesn’t mean we’re all out to change the way you live. (By the way, you also bring your morals into the politcal arena when you vote the way you do and say the things you do). Anyway, we are trying to save children from being expoited. Do you have a problem with that? Oh, that is morality too, which you seem to object. You liberals who preach you are “open-minded” are so closed minded and hateful, you make me laugh. The Ultra Left is who we really need to be afraid of.
Ga Girl
February 4th, 2010
10:42 am
Basically the GA State Government and these so called “christian” groups supports child abuse.
I recommend that they all be forced to live in the conditions that these children do…no protection, starved, raped, molested, drugged, etc. The reason the children end up in these situations is because Georgia does not protect and nuture children at all on any level. If the state ever made children a priority then maybe the state would begin to flourish. Kids have no protection in Georgia unless they have parents who dare to buck the system and have the financial means to do so.
Thank you Ms. Unterman for standing up for kids – this time.
Woodie
February 4th, 2010
10:44 am
I count myself a far left liberal and this Senator is absolutely correct in her assessment. Children under 16 mislead into prostitution should not be criminalized. Ever. Anywhere. And the people responsible for putting them in this situation should be buried in the basement of the jail.
Truthpaste
February 4th, 2010
10:51 am
It never fails. Common sense makes a rare appearance and gets beaten back by religious zeal. The worse part is you can’t vote out a mouthpiece.
Ken Brown
February 4th, 2010
10:52 am
I’ve lived here all my life and I can honestly say the only thing the Christian Coalition has done is try and bring their BIBLE THUMPING, 19th Century, bass ackward thinking to local and state government. What the HELL happened to the separation of Church and State…Is the BIBLE saving these kids? Do you see one of these stuff shirt, God toting preening pigeons doing anything to help these kids, nope…All they do is drone on and on about the need to give a child an arrest record. How about we do the RIGHT thing and go after the pimps and others that empower this trade! I vote for a quick trial..Then a bullet to the brain pan in front of the news cameras for the trafficking of children.
Cutty
February 4th, 2010
10:53 am
Yurtle, so what is opposition to Sunday liquor sales? I’m over 21, pay property taxes, and if I want to drink a vodka and sprite in my house in Sunday, whats it to you and your ilk? Thats very “open-minded” of you and yours.
BCatl
February 4th, 2010
10:54 am
Yurtle: I thought you folks were Bible based? Right? Bull. You have your own personal ingnorant and backwards agenda, and you try to prostitute and use the Bible to force the rest of us to be as ignorant as you are.
What is so ironic about it all is the most of these “conservative” “Bible” based Christians simply do not get the message of Jesus.
Jesus was about mercy, understanding, forgiveness. Surly we can show mercy and understanding to children.
Jesus sat down with prostitutes. Let’s sit down with the children and talk to them, and provide them therapy and hope.
Art Vandalay
February 4th, 2010
10:56 am
The only way to fix anything in this state is WE have to vote differently this November. The Georgia Republican party has shown complete indifference to ANYTHING that protects its citizens or improves their quality of life if it costs an extra penny. There is still a large portion of this state that acts as though they would rather sit in traffic for 4 hours and have children pimped out than to pay an extra penny in taxes. You get what you pay for people and if we have to pay a little more to catch up with the modern world thats just how it is. The Georgia Republican party’s power HAS to be diminished this November if we are going to move forward in any way at all.
And just FYI the southern democratic party represented here in Georgia is closer to the Republican party that used to be than the actual Republicans in power now who have lost their way. The Republican party at its prime under Ronald Regan was a party that conservatively and responsibly moved this Country FORWARD not the party today that says everything seems to be fine, why pay more the status quo is ok by me. The old Republican party like that of George H.W. Bush new to move forward at times you had to pay more, and the christian ultra conservative right lashed out at him for that, and ever since our party has been lost with no clear vision as evidenced by the dumb statements made about this bill.
Boots
February 4th, 2010
10:57 am
Ignorance knows no bounds!
Ashley
February 4th, 2010
10:57 am
Well done Senator! Keep pushing on!
To those who think that the threat of arrest and/or jail is the answer and will thwart potential pedophiles and abusers, that will just drive them into secrecy. This will look like the answer for a time, but it will fester under the surface and come back a much scarier monster. When problems are brought out into the open and delt with, they loose their power. It is in the hiding and the burying of issues that they grow into something greater than they originally were.
Diane
February 4th, 2010
10:57 am
It’s appalling to treat the victims as criminals. The adults 18 and over should be tried, those 17 and under need treatment & therapy. Think of Elizabeth Smart who was in the open with her captors & still didn’t try to flee because she was afraid and brainwashed to a point, had been told if she tried to escape they’d hurt her family. How many of these kids are brainwashed & afraid too, so they do what they’re told. That’s not consent!
Maybe arresting them out in the open to get them off the streets & then hiding them for their safety and counseling them so they can go on to be productive adults might work, but arrest for the sake of adding insult to already injured children is not of God.
Diane
February 4th, 2010
10:59 am
Ashley, I agree…darkness is how the devil succeeds, the light of the truth which is God’s way needs to be on these kids. I don’t get how arrest of the victims is supposed to deter the predators unless they’re caught with them. Fine, then arrest them both, but send the predators to prison & the victims to treatment. If they don’t get help to overcome the abuse they will never be able to function normally.
MyNicka
February 4th, 2010
11:11 am
People who have resorted to prostitution, regardless of their age, will not be stopped by “the threat of arrest, public humiliation and a police record.” Locking up these children will only begin (or continue) a cycle of crime and incarceration. Prostitution is a crime and should remain such. But in the case of minors, therapy provides a slim chance for rehabilitation.
Thoughtful
February 4th, 2010
11:17 am
I am having a difficult time understanding the thought processes of a group of legislators that feel like they can punish the victims of exploitation, and consider it “justice.”
I am a staunch Democrat and do not agree with Unterman’s broader political agenda, however I do support her 100% on this bill. This is not about party politics, it is about doing what it right, about what a society is morally obligated to offer their children: PROTECTION. Anything less is barbaric.
TP4U
February 4th, 2010
11:18 am
The Pro-lifers are at it again. What they are saying, “we want your babies born–but we don’t want to see them have a productive life.” Pro-lifers want to deny children healthcare benefits, a good public education, their safety and to put the nail in the coffin-pro-lifers think we should throw children in jail for having the audacity to get sexually abused and exploited. Sounds to me like the pro-life folks are actually just pro-birth!
rdh
February 4th, 2010
11:25 am
It’s hard to tell what, exactly, the affect on child prostitution this bill would have. What is certain is that it stigmatizes the child for life if convicted of prostitution so young. Frankly, I can’t see how this would promote prostitution… it is still illegal to pimp, and still illegal to have sex with a child. So, arrest the john and put the child in therapy. What we are doing now is not working, why not at least TRY this approach?
As a Christian, I don’t understand the pressure on the legislature to make criminals of children rather than try to save them.
the Captain
February 4th, 2010
11:25 am
So lets see, A child under 18? (defiantly 16) can not legally consent to sex. So by definition a child involved in prostitution is actually being RAPED. Yet the “christians” here think she should also be punished for said rape. Well actually that’s a very biblical belief to punish the victims. Especially when that victim is a child. They are just following the bible.
Heck last week a bunch of religious (not sure if christian) people just stoned a girl in india fro getting pregnant during her rape. How far off are this coalition of “christians” from supporting that?
More proof we’ve had to drag this religion kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
Nope
February 4th, 2010
11:26 am
Why do so fanatical “Christian” activist like Nancy Shaefer hate children so much that they would heap punishment on them and blame them for their own abuse. These evil people need to be stopped in their tracks and a bright light shone on their hatred for abused children.
Caring about children
February 4th, 2010
11:27 am
Yes, arresting and charging with a crime is a great idea, because then their pimp just comes and bails them out and they are more indebted to him than ever (sorry for the sarcasm).
I just don’t see any way that a minor without legal ability to consent to sex can be a criminal when adult men have sex with them. Let me put it this way: John pays Bill to have sex with a child in Bill’s care, his child or ward or whatever. Take the word prostitute out of things and the child is clearly a victim of child abuse and sexual exploitation.
A 14 year old kid is not coordinating this themselves, y’all, and the money is going to one adult person (pimp) from another adult person (john) to have sex with a child in the care of the first person (pimp). It is so obvious. I mean, a 14 year old is not renting an apartment and organizing their own business venture for God’s sake! The pimp is exploiting children whom he is taking into his care.
Wake up people, these children are victims, not criminals! We need to make sure that children when arrested for prostitution are taken into care for their victimization including a safe house and extensive therapy (yes, they will be taken into custody first, what did you think would happen, the police would just leave them on the street? would the police just leave an abused baby out in the street?)
This is what any decent human being would support. Are those against it worried that the prostitute they used the other day was underage? I mean, what’s wrong with these people?!
JATL
February 4th, 2010
11:44 am
@Angelsma -do you seriously believe that arrest provides an immediate safe harbor? Is your head THAT far up your a$$? Visit a prison, jail or juvenile detention center and talk to some folks who work at these places. “Safe” certainly isn’t the term that springs to mind, particularly for the very young and vulnerable.
Conservative Christian (who thinks)
February 4th, 2010
11:54 am
Nancy Schaefer and Sue Ella Deadwyler are too closed-minded to hear truth. In fact, when I heard them speak Monday, they spouted untruths!!
Not only is this bill good for the children, but if you want to go after pimps and Johns, you won’t get ANY information out of a locked-up 14 year old who is now afraid of authority because of the way they have been treated. The way you get evidence is by treating them like human beings and helping them. This bill is a win-win!!
Hey Nancy and Sue Ella, to quote Jesus “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Please, not the Christian right again?
February 4th, 2010
11:59 am
The so-called Christian Right is anything but Christian. They are strict adherents to the Old Testament and nothing else. They want to talk about family values all the time and many times they are the best examples of family values gone wrong. Christ would be all about helping children in any way possible, but the idea that they can be “scared straight” would be a foreign concept to the “Prince of Peace”.
Yurtle_the_turtle
February 4th, 2010
12:00 pm
BCatl..in case you were reading correctly, I didn’t side with the bill, just pointing out that there is this mass hesteria against religion in general in this country. Most of the hesteria comes from “open-minded” liberal morons who have never stepped into a house of worship or read anything close to something intelligent. They just can’t make the call about religion, not educating themselves about it. I just need to see the exact language of the bill to make a judgement call. I’m not suggestion that children (who are victims) need to be put in jail at all. As a matter of fact for all you religion haters, my church actually has groups that get children out of the slavery of prostitution. We are currently helping a number of children. Kind of hurts your idea that “organized religion” is evil, doesn’t it????
Nope
February 4th, 2010
12:24 pm
Yurtle: “just pointing out that there is this mass hesteria against religion in general in this country.”
You ever think punishing 12 year old girls for being raped might be part of the “image problem”? And please learn to spell “hysteria” if you are going to use the word to bash others.
Justaguy
February 4th, 2010
12:30 pm
“Organized religion” isn’t evil it’s just full of morons… Except for the ones at the top that are making millions off of thier “Flock”.
What does God need money for??? Just asking..
Cutty
February 4th, 2010
1:02 pm
Yurtle- As opposed to ‘open-minded’ conservatives who show they talk a good game, but believe no more in family values than the pimps at issue here.
Benjy
February 4th, 2010
1:19 pm
It should be noted that many of those pushing for passage of this bill are also Christian groups. See, for instance, Street Grace, a coalition of dozens of churches across the Metro Atlanta area that are fighting to end the trafficking of children as sex objects in this state. One of the founders of Street Grace, pastor Scott Weimer of North Avenue Presbyterian Church, said a prayer at Unterman’s press conference to announce this bill. The supporters of this bill also come from all ends of the political spectrum.
It breaks my heart that these conservative Christian groups believe arresting a 14-year old who is being raped for profit will somehow scare her straight. I think the rape will scare her plenty. And, for the umpteenth time, this bill does NOT exempt pimps and johns from punishment. All it does is divert the victims from the juvenile justice/criminal justice system into rehabilitation that actually may help them (i.e. Georgia Care Connection).
John K
February 4th, 2010
1:49 pm
Well Renee, these are the guys you went to bed with. They expect you to play ball.
And I am absolutely baffled there are people who still follow the snake oil salesman that is Ralph Reed! So in Georgia I can do whatever it is I want as long as I throw out the name “Jesus?”
BravesFan79
February 4th, 2010
1:52 pm
I believe in the forced castration of any violent offender. This would greatly cut down on the # of black babies without fathers!
I also believe that these pimps are worthless to society and should be put to death after conviction instead of serving some 5 year sentence.
To all the lawyers who defend scumbbags like these, i hope its your daughters that are raped next, or wife thats killed next by these scumbag black thugs in some home invasion.
I know the streets of Atlanta, and how worthless these scumbags are. Kill em all!
BravesFan79
February 4th, 2010
2:10 pm
If America really cared about these children they would force MTV to tell the TRUTH about how dangerous black males are in comparison to whites/asians. After all, the leading cause of death for young black women is AIDS, (over 70% catch it from a black man that was unaware he had the disease). The 2nd leading cause of death for young black women is Femicide (murder by partner). Screw all the liberals who hide the truth in order to be politically correct!
RIP the 2 Univ of Tenn students who were carjacked, both raped, tourtured and murdered by worthless black thugs… we will never forget. Liberals cant hide everything! Teach your kids white pride, they sure as heck wont learn it from watching MTV!
Christian Democrat
February 4th, 2010
2:40 pm
It is time for the Christian community to stand up and do what is Biblical and what is right. It is time to stop hiding behind politics and calling it Christianity. We need to be reminded of Jesus’s teachings on loving children, orphans, the oppressed, the poor and most importantly judging others. This issue isn’t about God – it isn’t about race (the victims and the perpetraitors are from all race, religion, color and socioeconomic backgrounds)It is about human beings – our children. I suggest if you truly believe that these girls are criminals that you get yourself educated on the issue. When you learn the smallest sliver about these girls the lives they have led, how they ended up on the streets and the men that have bought and sold them – you will very quickly understand that there is no such thing as a teenage protitute only children victimized by the sex trafficking industry. Scenario – Your daughter, 14yrs old has consentual sex with a friends older brother while at a sleepover. That man is considered a rapist! A year later your daughter runs away and is picked up by a pimp that takes her in gives her food and shelter then forces her to have sex with multiple men multiple times a night so that he can profit from it. Now that same girl is a criminal – It doesn’t add up. Way to go Sen Unterman – this issue is ugly dirty and not popular. Thank you for looking out for our children.
Paul
February 4th, 2010
3:34 pm
FACT CHECK: You may want to check with the Georgia Baptist Convention. My understanding was that once they found out what the bill said, they retracted their opposition.
Sage
February 4th, 2010
4:09 pm
I agree that these children are victims and cannot legally consent to do what they are doing. But no one is really thinking this all the way through. Yes, the kids SHOULD be sent to therapy and counseling to get them out of this lifestyle. But how do you propose you do it? Put yourself in the shoes of the police. They catch a child prostitute who has been brainwashed by her pimp so she thinks what she’s doing is fine. She won’t give up her pimp. So what happens? She isn’t committing a crime anymore, so she gets sent home or to foster care. How long do you think it will be before she runs away and runs back to her pimp that has brainwashed her? It seems that everyone thinks these kids are being chained up against their will and once the cops come swooping in, the kids will willingly go to therapy and get out of this stuff. That’s not the case!
You need to have a criminal charge to hold over the kids’ heads to force them into therapy to deprogram them! When they have been brainwashed into thinking this lifestyle is cool and glamorous, you can’t simply find them, offer them therapy, and expect them to take it.
Yes, they are victims, but you don’t really understand how this stuff works if you think decriminalizing it will lead to less of it!
General Sherman
February 4th, 2010
4:14 pm
You go girl,these kids need help,not jail!
the Captain
February 4th, 2010
4:30 pm
Sage, I don’t think your thinking this out. Not punishing the victim of a crime, is NOT “decriminalizing” something. Just like if you didn’t throw the victim of a robbery in jail would not be “decriminalizing” robbery. The “criminals” her are the pimps and johns. Unless though you think it’s these underage kids who are the perps and the 35 year old guys they sleep with are the victims?
Georgia vows to keep throwing child prostitution victims in jail « lou is wrong
February 4th, 2010
4:54 pm
[...] child prostitution victims in jail February 4, 2010 Lou Leave a comment Go to comments Depressing story that sort of sums up everything that is wrong with politics. A Georgia state senator has introduced [...]
Sage
February 4th, 2010
5:08 pm
Captain, you’re not understanding what I am saying and you’re not thinking about the consequences of decriminalizing child prostitution. I agree that these kids need help. But as someone who has actually arrested adult and child prostitutes, I can tell you that you and everyone else with your opinion are extremely naive.
I am not advocating throwing child prostitutes in jail. Yes, they are victims. But they have issues. Very few are being held against their will because their will has been broken! Some have been broken by pimps. Some just have no one who loves them and they see this as a way to just make quick easy money. The point is, they don’t see a problem with what they are doing. So how are you going to convince them otherwise? Let’s say the cops arrest a prostitute and discover she is underage. What then? You can’t force her to go to counseling or therapy. This is America. The cops either arrest her or take her home. And since they have been brainwashed or don’t know any better, they’ll probably be right back doing the same thing again tomorrow. Where is their incentive for changing? At least if you arrest them, you can give them two options: get help, or go to jail. Releasing them, finding them, re-releasing them isn’t going to get them the help they need.
This problem needs an approach like many court systems have taken with “drug court.” People who have problems with drugs get arrested, but they have the option of going through drug court, where they get rehab, counseling, etc…. they get HELP! If they are successful in the program, their record is clean! This is what needs to be done for these kids! They are victims, but many of them don’t think they are. You can’t help people who don’t want to be helped! It’s not their fault! But you’re not going to get someone into therapy who doesn’t think they have a problem.
the Captain
February 4th, 2010
5:24 pm
Sage: You seem to have a very limited understanding of what can, and can’t be done in “america” to underage teens. You certainly can force them into counseling, and therapy, both morally, and legally.
Once again, if a child under 16 can not legally give consent to have sex, then by definition they are a victim, and not throwing them in jail is NOT “decriminalization”. The ONLY way to view this as “decriminalization’ is if you think a 14 year old who has sex with a 35 year old guy, coerced by another 26 year old guy is a criminal. You continue to look at the see kids as full fledge adults. They are not neither emotionally, or legally.
Do you think that by not throwing in jail these kids then that the pimps and johns are off the hook? If not then how is this “decriminalization”?
Lawrence
February 4th, 2010
6:11 pm
Am I missing something here? You prosecute the johns and send the under-aged victims into treatment. What POSSIBLY could/would be a reason anyone would object to this?
and Tenille
February 4th, 2010
6:16 pm
If the Georgia Baptist Convention, Ralph Reed, et al, think it’s a good idea to arrest and imprison minors who have been forced into prostitution so they will squeal on their pimps, then they should also be in favor of doing the same thing to minors who have been raped. That will teach minors to not go around getting raped.
Knights that say Nee
February 4th, 2010
6:34 pm
oh my…here goes the lunatic left again. Quick question for all the lunatic leftists out there “why are attacking a group of people who don’t exactly see things your way”?. Where in this article do you see any Christian saying “I will not sit down with prostitutes?”…. You moralist leftists are attacking the folks who oppose this bill without asking them a question and somehow inferring that they aren’t acting as Jesus “who sat down with prostitutes”. Another question: “how do you know these are ‘right-to-lifers’? You are assuming that all these folks are pro-lifers. Again, there are many types of Christians out there but your vile and hatred is spewing forth. Too bad you leftists can’t live up to your ideals. You are the one who need to be prosecuted for “hate crimes”…
Sage
February 4th, 2010
9:23 pm
Captain, you obviously struggle with thinking things through.
How are you going to force your teenager into therapy when they have run away? That what most of these child prostitutes are. They runaway, get mixed up with the wrong people, and get convinced that prostituting is no big deal.
You really are naive to the way this stuff works. You’re under the impression these underage prostitues are being held by chains into this servitude. They’re not. They have been brainwashed, which is even worse because now they have become a willing participant. No, they can’t legallty be “willing” but they are, in fact, usually willing. That’s the problem. And that’s the problem with thinking you’re going to find them on the street corner and get them to just go to therapy because you and their parents think it is a good idea. It’s going to take some coercion to deprogram them. You do that by giving them two options: jail, or therapy.
What next, are we going to legalize 15 year old kids driving drunk?
Nabob
February 5th, 2010
8:35 am
You guys have it all wrong. The johns are the victims here – victims of a natural desire to fornicate with young women old enough to procreate. This is simply nature in action and you impose your “moral values” on these poor guys. It doesn’t matter if you are a Christian or an atheist – what gives you the right to force your moral viewpoint onto someone else by arbitrarily deciding what is the “right age” to have sex??
davids
February 5th, 2010
10:46 am
Do not blindly or ignorantly attack the “Christians.” Untermann’s main support has come from those Christians. Of the three organizations uniting to push this, two were Christian organizations, Street Grace and Wellspring Living. The problem is that political hacks like the “christian” “conservative” groups like Georgia Christian Alliance, Eagle Forum, etc., are more political than Christian. Much of their constituents actually are very supportive of this bill, especially once they know what is in it. It is crazy leadership that don’t like it. Much like Robertson. Many Christians who supposedly “follow” him do not support many of the crazier things he does, and often do not know.
Conservative Christians as individuals and in anti-human trafficking groups have been, globally, one of the most dominant private forces in trying to end sex trafficking and labor trafficking for over 100 years.