SB 145 author Scott Weiner
Senate Bill 145 just passed in the California General assembly, it now goes to Gavin Newsome for his signature.
The bills proponents claim the previous laws discriminated against LBGTQ individuals by mandating those convicted be placed in the sex offenders registry.
Currently, while consensual sex between 15- to 17-year-olds and a partner within 10 years of age is illegal, vaginal intercourse between the two does not require an offender to register as a sex offender. Other forms of intercourse such as oral and anal intercourse require sex offender registration.
The new law would eliminate those distinctions and lower the threshold to 14.
The bill’s author, Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, says “This bill is about treating everyone equally under the law. Discrimination against LGBT people is simply not the California way. These laws were put in place during a more conservative and anti-LGBT time in California’s history. They have ruined people’s lives and made it harder for them to get jobs, secure housing, and live productive lives. It is time we update these laws and treat everyone equally,”
See also: TX Supremes to Harris County: Hold Up
I say that anyone 10 years or more older than a minor has no business having any kind of sex with them. At that state of development, they aren’t capable of consent. That’s why there are statutory rape laws.
And to be clear, sex offender registries exist for a reason. The recidivism rate for all sex offenders is as high as 39.2% according to the 9 of Justice Statistics latest report. That’s 4 out of 10 who will repeat offend.
For those convicted of sex crimes against minors, the recidivism rate is around 35%, again according to the BJS.
Why then is california changing the laws the way they are? Why are they taking it easy on those who prey on the vulnerable?
No adult should ever take advantage of a child in that fashion. There’s a special place in hell for those who do so.
Addendum: The law was just recently signed by the idiot, ahem, Governor Newsome. (RU, 13 Sep 2020)