eating the young
2006-03-07 23:19:54.997667+01 by Dan Lyke 0 comments
Requiring a criminal defendant to register as a sex offender for life for having consensual oral sex with a 16-year-old is unconstitutional because it treats the crime more harshly than unlawful intercourse with a minor, the state [California] Supreme Court ruled Monday.
However, this article quotes the dissenting justice:
"As any teenager or adult knows, intercourse is distinct from oral copulation, involving a wholly different sexual act that, unlike oral copulation, may result in pregnancy and the birth of a child," he wrote.
"Given this significant difference in the potential real-life consequences of the two acts, the Legislature reasonably could decide that different registration schemes for the two groups of offenders are appropriate as a matter of public policy."
So while I agree with the results of the decision, it's pretty clear that really what's needed is a good smacking around for some legislators.