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
dogs & cats
February 3rd, 2010
8:15 pm
Thanks for your work Senator U
why are men at the capital so afraid?
those so called christians will just use this as a money-making fund-raising scheme.
unclefast
February 3rd, 2010
8:17 pm
The Georgia Baptist Convention opposes this? What absolute morons!!
bart
February 3rd, 2010
8:30 pm
These radical Christian conservatives are narrow minded, hateful, bigots who want to turn this state (and even our country) into a Christian Yaliban.
bart
February 3rd, 2010
8:30 pm
Taliban.
Aquagirl
February 3rd, 2010
9:15 pm
Senator Unterman is dim. Why does she think her male colleagues are so squeamish on this topic? She thinks they really care about children, other than as political footballs? I’d wager more than a couple of them have sampled the wares, so to speak, and the last thing they want is these kids squealing on them.
Sen. Unterman, as long as you further the work of Republicans, you enable these men allowing sexual abuse of children and slavery. You must be so proud. Bravo.
tankandtank
February 3rd, 2010
9:26 pm
I am a pastor who is a Southern Baptist and am not opposed to this. Georgia Baptist are autonomous and one person who wroks for the convention does not represent us all.
ERC
February 3rd, 2010
9:46 pm
Where would we be with out Sen. Unterman? Finally, someone brave enough to talk about real issues under the Gold Dome and not fearful of re-election. Georgia’s legislators need to start having difficult conversations such at SB304, and stop pretending these issues are not the responsibility of the state because of their philosophical beliefs. Whether or not you care about these victims, the state will eventually be taking care of them in the future. The life expectancy of victims who enter into prostitution is 7 years…7. No one can actually argue that jail works for them, that jail rehabilitates them back into society as a healthy contributor. Its doesn’t. Georgia finally has a system of care to take care of these victims: Georgia Care Connection. The child abuse laws are inconsistent, and its time Georgia’s legislators change this. Its pathetic that this bill is finding resistance. We would never lock up children who are 15years old who are being physically abused to investigate who is abusing them. That logically doesn’t make add up, but we lock up children who are being sexually abused in order to “find their pimp”….doesn’t work like that. Thank you Sen. Unterman!!!!
Your New Low-Flow Toilet Salesman
February 3rd, 2010
9:51 pm
I smell a hint of racism, just sayin’. Nothing else explains the hypocrisy. Not like you see that many white pimps on the b**b tube or in the movies. And we see on the news who’s gettin extra lessons from the driver’s ed teacher. OH, they don’t have that in school anymore.
I wish people would just be more open and honest about the topic of race. We’d all find more common ground because we have more in comomon than we think, but I digress.
I don’t agree with the choose life plate, but this woman is a republican I’d vote for. At least she’s consistent. Unlike John McCain.
Aquagirl
February 3rd, 2010
9:54 pm
Well, Pastor, then you need to hotfoot it down to the Gold Dome and stop the impostor presuming to speak for you. Don’t hide behind the blather of “we’re autonomous!” when there is an organized group with a representative lobbying the legislature.
If you decide to duck that, I’d suggest Matthew 27:24 as a topic for your next sermon. You bloody well need it.
Glass House Rocker
February 3rd, 2010
10:29 pm
Jesus taught the “Good News”. He taught tolerance, helping the least of these, love thy neighbor as thyself, help a wounded, hated stranger–see the “Good Samaritan”. He associated with alleged prostitutes and–even worse–tax collectors.
Was He just misguided or misleading us? Should we follow the laws of the Old Testament? It’s so much easier just to condemn anyone we see a less that “us”.
Heck, back then even adultery was frowned upon and the punishment quite severe for both parties–it is even mentioned briefly in the Ten Commandments. Today, it’s no so bad and those rules are so quaint–wink, wink.
Of course, He did get upset at the money changers who desecrated His Father’s House just by their presense and drove them out in dramatic fashion.
I guess His message of helping the least of these just might be too difficult for the folks who are opposed to caring for an abused child to understand. The streets are dangerous and a child can be too trusting. How many of these “prostitutes–girls and boys” are runaways whose parents are desperate to get news of them? Are they held against their will?
My suggestion is that the pimps and the men who prey on these children be tried as sexual predators and upon conviction be sentenced and exposed as registered sex offenders–with all the rights thereof.
If these children are being held against their will then the pimps should be tried as kidnappers.
lem1970
February 4th, 2010
12:22 am
There are a lot of great comments on this topic. I think Sen Unterman has the best of intentions and we can never do too much to protect and try to save our children.
This bill as written does not appear to do what is needed and can possibly be misused to the determent of those it intends to protect as some are point out.
Maybe, this should be an alternative program that the courts are REQUIRED to consider instead of incarceration. The handcuffs going on the prostitute will get her attention and make the alternative program look good. I agree with Glass House Rocker, the penalties for Pimps and Johns should be long term jail, forfeiture of assets, registering as sex offender and other penalties as appropriate. If the girls are killed while working, the laws should allow the Pimp to be charged with premeditated murder. The young girls lives are stolen and can never be fully restored, they are truly victims.
Bubba
February 4th, 2010
5:12 am
Am I the only one who suspects the hand of Ralph Reed in this? If he can help one casino operator by stirring up the religious right to block another casino that would provide competition, why not stir up the religious right against a bill that could deprive the sex industry of the steady flow of young flesh? Is Ralph working for the commercial sex industry now?
Bubba
February 4th, 2010
5:15 am
When I was growing up in rural Georgia, the preachers and bootleggers combined efforts to block the legal sale of alcohol in most counties. Now we have an alliance between the religious right and the commercial sex industry to block a law that reduce the supply of children for prostitution. Amazing.
Yankee in Gooberville
February 4th, 2010
5:25 am
How is Ralph Reed still posing as a christian? What a huckster. And all these mouth breathings in-bred hillbillies carrying bibles and flags are beyond the pale.
Oh, Renee…you did the devil’s work for these luddites and now they’re turning on you. Hilarious.
Ralph Reed
February 4th, 2010
6:15 am
There is big money in SEX.
Tina
February 4th, 2010
7:10 am
It never ceases to amaze, the glee with which some slurs are spewed by the self-righteous, Yankee. I also wish Galloway would find less amusement in this issue. Is Renee Unterman really “carrying water” for the Christian Right? Why is it so hard to believe that her own beliefs are expressed in legislation she sponsors? Or that her desire to protect these children arises from the same beliefs? Reed is a deceitful buffoon, fat with sleazy Indian gambling money. That makes him no different from some on both sides of the aisle. It also makes him very different from many of the Christian activists mocked by association here, by people who would whine “hate” if such things were uttered about other religions. That goes for both the commenters and Galloway, who seems to be reveling in the crisis. Instead of enjoying Unterman’s quandary, why don’t you people get off your asses and go support this important legislation? There’s nothing “hilarious” about this bill failing, unless you enjoy the spectacle of child prostitution, pal. And I suspect it’s less the Christian Right and more sheer disinterest, or the desire to spend less, that is driving some of these Repubs away. So they need to be lobbied, hard, starting with Ralston.
BC
February 4th, 2010
7:40 am
I fail to see any personal amusement reflected in Mr. Galloway’s report.
I support this legislation and will let my rep. know. For all the good that will do (read that as he will totally ignore voters opinions, stick a finger in the air and go whichever way the Republican wind is blowing at the time.)
kitty
February 4th, 2010
8:02 am
If Ralph Reed is involved against this bill, I definitely support it. It is the right thing to do. Bet Ralphie smells money in this. I wonder if he is quietly working as a lobbyist for the sex industry. Nothing that hypocrite does surprises me.
DCL
February 4th, 2010
8:08 am
Here’s more inconsistency for you: The GA Legislature voted almost unanimously (only one legislator voted against) just last year for a law that requires “mandatory reporters” to make a child abuse report when they suspect a child is being prostituted. The child is to be treated just like any other child abuse victim and linked to services.
If we don’t change the criminal law, we put mandatory reporters in an impossible situation. The teachers, doctors, nurses and other adults in these kids’ lives will not make a report if they believe their report will be the thing that sends the child into detention, mark her with a criminal record, and probably still not get her any of the services she needs.
And we really need these mandatory reporters! Child prostitution continues to move inside and off the streets. It will be harder and harder for the police to identify kids who are sold for sex on the internet and prostituted in anonymous motel rooms around the state. We can’t rely on the police alone to rescue these kids. We need the wider community of adults, who already have relationships with these kids, to identify them and get them to the help they need. We’ll help a lot more kids if we can get them early — before they’re on those streets and in those motel rooms.
pete12
February 4th, 2010
8:08 am
vote in all new rep next time
Name One
February 4th, 2010
8:41 am
Nancy Schaefer is going to go down in history as one of the most ignorant elected officials in Georgia.
Thank you, thank you Renee Unterman for being the only elected official under the Gold Dome who is aware of the horror of child prostitution in this state.
The Georgia Christian Alliance, the Georgia Christian Coalition, Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, and the Georgia Baptist Convention are aware that child prostitution is ruining countless lives in Georgia, and they don’t care. They ignore it, and enable it by doing so.
null
February 4th, 2010
8:47 am
Why does nobody state the obvious? Legalize adult prostitution and the sleazy stuff tapers off drastically. I find it repulsive that the government feels the need to legislate what people can do in their own home, car, or hotel room. Properly licensed and taxed adult sex workers would clean up a LOT of issues and provide some additional revenue, to boot.
LJ
February 4th, 2010
8:50 am
Please explain to me how a child pushed into prostitution can be “scared straight” by being put in handcuffs and thrown into the Georgai Penal System? How can any reasonable human being think that? We are truly lost if we continue to punish children for the degradation pushed on them by the adults in their lives.
UrbanNAPC
February 4th, 2010
8:57 am
The statement published by Sue Ella in Ernie Scruggs piece that most of the girls volunteer for this is absurd and that should be the signal to all of us that the opposing side to this bill is badly misinformed. If there really are unintended consequences on the horizon from this let’s hear them, but let’s hear them from someone who has some expertise.
pj
February 4th, 2010
9:11 am
With this law the men who “have sex” with children can be tried as child rapists, which is what they are. I appreciate this article because I didn’t know about this Ga. legislator, and I support her work even though I am a democrat. Valuable politics that affect our entire society cross partisan lines.
JATL
February 4th, 2010
9:24 am
I’ve never been able to stomach Unterman before, but I wholeheartedly agree with her on this! I also sometimes think I can’t be any more flabbergasted or incensed by the “religious right”, however they always manage to take it a step further! I’m sure in many of their minds they would like to see us act like Saudi Arabia and perhaps flog these girls to death. And anyone so mean and ignorant to think that 12, 13 and 14 year olds “volunteer” for the sex trade should turn on the gas, open the oven door and quit taking up space on this planet.
Liberallily
February 4th, 2010
9:25 am
Anyone with half a brain knows that Renee Unterman is right on this issue. Don’t let these people deter you.
Jesus
February 4th, 2010
9:28 am
To the religious right: PLEASE STOP SPEAKING FOR ME. JC
Justaguy
February 4th, 2010
9:32 am
Anybody stupid enough to believe in God or any of the crap in the bible should not have any power to influnce our government. When Jesus and the churches start paying taxes they can have a say.
Angelsma
February 4th, 2010
9:32 am
Trust me….the Senator may see it as helping by sending these children to therapy, but pedophiles and pimps see it as a loop hole. Humans/children are indispensible to these slugs who will know exactly how early/late to work these kids. Then when they’re finished with them they will either kill them or worst throw them away to die a slow and desperate life of drug addiction/alcoholism. You can’t put a band aid on the festering wound of moral collapse. Arrest (which is immediate) and counseling is a better option.
Angelsma
February 4th, 2010
9:36 am
Arrest (which is immediate safe harbor) and counseling is a better option.
trex
February 4th, 2010
9:37 am
Isn’t the argument here that if they’re not considered “prostitutes” by law then the pimps can’t be charged with a crime thus creating a bigger problem?
Concerned Christian
February 4th, 2010
9:41 am
Bravo Senator Unterman. How can a child unable to consent to sex consent to be a prostitute. How can her colleagues not see this. These children need to be swept up and moved off the streets to safety.
Our family and our church firmly supports this legislation.
Joel Dockery
February 4th, 2010
9:43 am
Oh yeah, the threat of having a criminal record is going to get a child prostitute off the streets. Because everybody knows that you can’t work as a prostitute if you can’t pass a background check…
sullivan
February 4th, 2010
9:45 am
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.”
Um- I’m sorry. Has Ms. Deadwyler seen the statistics on recidivism? Has she done any homework on the rates of re-offending? That woman is offensive. Senator Unterman and I actually do NOT agree on much but she is on the money here. If the legal age of consent is 16, how can a 14-year-old consent to selling her body?
SmellsLikeTeenSpirit
February 4th, 2010
9:45 am
“Anybody stupid enough to believe in God or any of the crap in the bible should not have any power to influnce our government.”
Oh, my, heaven forbid someone should have a moral backbone (unlike yourself), the willingness to actually do what they believe is right, and to actually give a damn about making a change.
Yes, heaven forbid someone should be so “stupid” and believe that we didn’t magically grow from enzymes, fish, or monkeys.
Perhaps you need to rethink your aggression and insecurity.
CJJScout
February 4th, 2010
9:45 am
Called my rep this morning and sent the good senator an e-mail of encouragement. I’m ashamed of the Georgia Baptist and Ralph Reed for coming out against this.
Really!!!!
February 4th, 2010
9:50 am
Free speech is awesome but you do have to put up with the brainless as times. Renee I’m not a kool aid drinker of the far right persuasion but I think you are correct on this issue.
MEB
February 4th, 2010
9:56 am
So let me get this straight. The major “Christian” organizations are against getting to the root cause of why these children are in this lifestyle via therapy, correct? If their only argument is that it will bring more of these types of people into the state, then they are truly hypocritical. Ga. is already a major source of child prostitution. That lame comment that jail has turned many children straight is just a cop out. Provide the data that show how many children have been arrested for child prostitution and the number that have left that lifestyle due to being incarcerated. This is just another example of how the GOP are the modern day Pharisees and Saducees. They are full of moral rhetoric but lack compassion. I’m sure that is not what Jesus would have done.
Maroon Tiger '05
February 4th, 2010
9:58 am
As a Christian, I’m baffled as to why other “Christian” groups are opposing Sen. Unterman’s legislation. It’s idiotic to think that a 12, 13 or 14 yr old girl “willingly” enters into a life of prostitution. While I do not doubt that incarceration is effective at “scaring straight” some individuals, recitivism rates prove that it’s not 100% effective.
MEB
February 4th, 2010
10:02 am
trex
February 4th, 2010
9:37 am
Isn’t the argument here that if they’re not considered “prostitutes” by law then the pimps can’t be charged with a crime thus creating a bigger problem?
—————————————————————————
That’s the smoke screen they are using. However, this bill does not exclude the pimp. There are child sex laws and child endagerment laws that they would still be in violation of without actually having to engage in “prostitution”.
Tom
February 4th, 2010
10:02 am
Refresher: The Law of Unintended Consequences governs every deliberate action that is taken; you do something to address one issue or problem and a negative by-product of your action results as well.
Like welfare, which was intended to address the crushing poverty that some lived in but had the side-effect of destroying self-reliance for some individuals receiving it, the concern is this bill will solve one problem but create another indirectly. There’s a certain amount of simple-mindedness to assume this won’t be the case.
With that said I still think the bill is the right idea and what needs to be done is tweaking around the edges as opposed to throwing it out altogether.
Justaguy
February 4th, 2010
10:03 am
You are right SmellslikeTeenSpirit, the story in the Bible is much more believable. The all powerful but never seen or heard “GOD” created the earth 4 or 6 thousand years ago, made man in his likness then ripped out one of his ribs made a woman and the two populated the earth… Then when “GOD” didn’t like what was going on he killed everybody except the two on the big boat… Then they repopulated the earth again. A few years later his “Son” shows up starts a cult gets killed and Bam!! “GOD” is never head of or seen again…
Moral Backbone my @ss! Do you have to believe in “GOD” to make the distinction between right and wrong?!?! I think not… Oh, and have a blessed day…
Scott
February 4th, 2010
10:04 am
Exactly why I am a Libertarian. The country is tired of the Jimmy Swaggart’s of the world trying to effect legislation.
Tony
February 4th, 2010
10:06 am
This is unbelievable! These so-called “Christians” are anything but. Stand your ground, Ms. Unterman. You are 100% correct on this issue.
Boots
February 4th, 2010
10:06 am
Some Christians just don’t get it!
Throw the book at the pimps; but treat with compassion the children who are victims of a growing sex trade fuel by pedophiles and depraved adults.
Sanctified
February 4th, 2010
10:18 am
Hellooooooooo!!! What is so complicated about this for most of you? Prostitution is a crime and a sin. There are no age limits on crime or sin. These prostitutes are criminals and sinners, no matter what they age. See the light or burn in hell.
Jethro
February 4th, 2010
10:19 am
Most in the Christian right won’t be satisfied until “democracy” is replaced by “theocracy” when describing the U.s.
If the purpose of arrest is to protect the child, make it such that the arrest is removed from the record. Unless, of course, the 12 or 14 year old really wants to be next Heidi Fleiss and is savvy enough to manage their own business affairs.
If, as I suspect, the arrest is a symbolic scarlet letter by which a person is permanently classified for their sin (forgiveness can be given, after all, so long as the sinner is reminded constantly of their transgression), then it fits well within the theocratic views of those who have absolutely no interest in helping people, but every interest in building the platform of sinners by which the “moral” right can stand up and say, “see how much better we are than they are?”
The problem with Deadwyler et al is that they offer no alternative, nor was this issue even a blip on the radar. They offer nothing new, they don’t care to try. They would rather bad mouth someone’s idea than come up with their own. They don’t want to stop sin. Pride cometh before the fall.
Aquagirl
February 4th, 2010
10:20 am
My Bible must be missing a few pages—I don’t recall where Jesus arrests people to help them. Did I miss the Miracle Of The Handcuffs?
Whoever
February 4th, 2010
10:22 am
For those of you not knowledgeable about former Sen. Nancy Schaefer, she is such a fringe crackpot that even her ultra-conservative North GA district threw her out last election. Stay far away from any bill she supports.
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.
Georgia Tanner
February 5th, 2010
11:54 am
Conservative Christian, and parent of teens, I am heartsick that we are arresting young girls, (and boys!) who have become victims of the sex/money machine of prostitution. Most of these kids were emotionally manipulated or physically raped, and then put into the flesh pool for other’s financial gain. They are simply an expendable product; our government needs to get serious about arresting the pimps and internet pornographers, with mandatory financial fines that would go directly to healing the lives they have destroyed. A 16 year old is still a child, emotionally and mentally.A 17 year old is still a child, emotionally and mentally. If they are ‘adults’, then why don’t we allow them to have the rights of an adult; like voting or buying alcohol? All adults, Christian or not, should be screaming from the rooftops to protect these kids from their adult predators! Don’t arrest kids that are 21st century slaves.
Jeannie
February 7th, 2010
8:29 am
Hi, thank you for covering this bill and the politics surrounding it. Southside Atlanta Memories has hit on the child exploitation topic a few times, and has covered this PI blog post as well. I have been trying to confirm a commenter’s assertion that the Georgia Baptist Convention has rescinded it’s support for Unterman’s opposition. I did receive a gracious and prompt reply from GBC’s Ethics Specialist (job title) but I did not understand the reply to confirm or deny GBC’s support or lack of support. The Wellspring organization was brought to my attention, and I’m proud to say it was some women from ATL’s Southside who had the vision for its inception. There is a little more detail, and links are provided at http://southsideatlantamemories.typepad.com Thanks!
Louie
February 8th, 2010
8:18 am
With an unfortunately small amount of space to make a point in this blog, I fear that everything which needs to be said really cannot be. But I will give it a shot.
As someone who sometimes works 24/7 on the crime of child prostitution, interrupted only by the other violent crime I am responsible for investigating, I always find it interesting to read what society has to say about an issue. Especially one in which the public only hears about through the media, whether it be TV or the newspaper or the internet. I do have a clear understanding of the issue, however, because I see this crime daily and work as hard as every other person involved in the recovery of CHILDREN. I am not sure why we take this issue to the religious level.
Surely we all agree, in some small point, who cares what the Baptists or Catholics or Presbyterians or “Johns” or terrorists really think? Really. Take a small excerpt from a letter written by a 14 year old girl to her pimp (procurer if that word fits better) after she had been in jail for two days for the first time (misspellings added):
“I need 2 see you so bad rite now! I truly do mean it when I say ‘I ONLY LIVE 4 YOU, my Daddy ___!” I would give my life 4 you, I would take Many, Many sacrifices 4 you, I would give my last breath of life 2 you + 4 you, I would take risks, even if that meant risking my life; just 4 you, I would donate my organs 4 you, + my lungs 2…”
And this from a girl who had been with this pimp for two years – yes, since she was 12 years old. She had been beaten more time than remembered by this pimp, stabbed in the shoulder and was hooked on marijuana.
This isn’t an isolated story about a single kid making a bad decision. It’s about the subculture that most of you don’t ever see. A one hour documentary on CBS doesn’t give you even a glimpse of the life these kids endure.
Locking a kid up in prison is not the answer. For all you “Scared Straight” folks out there – yeah, ok, believe what you want about the prison system rehabilitating them. They sit in jail and write letters to the same person who put them there and these kids can’t wait to see their pimps again so they can be abused over and over again. If you think it doesn’t happen, you are sadly mistaken and uninformed.
Find a counseling program for them early. Get to them early. Let a counselor help get them back into a setting where they can be kids again.
I wish I could take each and every one of you on stroll down child prostitution lane.
You would geta very different perspective.
JJ
February 9th, 2010
5:10 pm
Georgia Statewide Juvenile Arrests for Prostitution-
2008-35
2007-25
2006-44
Source- GBI Uniform Crime Reports 2009
These numbers do not justify the uproar on either side….
Sharp words over a child prostitution bill | Political Insider
February 12th, 2010
1:02 pm
[...] On the other hand, it’s hard to charge a 15-year-old with prostitution when 16 is the legal age of sexual consent in Georgia. We dealt with the topic a week or so ago. Read it here. [...]
wizardofx
February 12th, 2010
3:27 pm
I propose a license plate “Women’s Right To CHOOSE” If that dumbass Unterman can impose her views on GA tags, why shouldn’t there be an equal opportunity for the CHOICE population? Stay the heck out of my womb people, and pay attention to nurturing your OWN children.
For the children
February 13th, 2010
12:44 pm
Children who are being sexually exploited is not a new concept for those of us who work in a juvenile court system. However, to charge a pimp will be a concerted effort. It is going to take law enforcement toprovide the necessary detectives to investigate and it also requires having a safe haven for the “victims” Currently there is one place in the metor Atlanta area that is appropriate for chidlren who have been sexually exploited and that is Angela”s house. However that house maximum capacity is 8. What do you do with the rest, and what about the boys, If this issue is going to be tackled correctly than money/funding has to be allocated to help these children.
Most of these children are runaways, and by law you can only detain them for 24 hrs, after that then what?? Plus, you have children that are leave there home and are never reported missing by their legal guardian. So if someone was to find them what do you do with them, they aren’t missing per say but no one tries to find out who they belong to.
It is a start but Georgia stillhas a long way to go.
TiredofNameCalling
February 14th, 2010
4:03 pm
Thank you to “Sage” and a few other commenters who have taken the time to explain positives and negatives of this bill without the sophomoric name calling. I’m still considering both sides… Perhaps a debate would be in order. After reading about both sides of this issue, I am concerned that the pimps and traffickers could benefit if “underage” prostitution is decriminalized.
I must add that I hate reading through comments on sites like this because I have to wade through the mean-spirited, sarcastic, slanderous ones, and most of the comments I have read fit into these categories. As I told my middle school students many times, just because a thought comes into your mind, it doesn’t have to come out of your mouth (or published as a comment, in this case). It’s time to GROW UP, people!