GOP: THE PUBLIC WINS!

BILL TO PROTECT 14-16 YEAR-OLDS TO BE HEARD

A bill (HB 236) to protect 14 to 16 year-olds from sexual assault is scheduled to be heard this week. Ironically, this is the same bill that we Republicans, pulled from committee two weeks ago. At that time, the Democrats summarily sent it back to the Judiciary Committee without allowing any discussion on its merits. We couldn't even get Committee Chairman, Rep. Eric Hamakawa to even say whether this or any other related bill would be heard this session.

Both statewide daily newspapers have editorialized in favor of addressing this issue because Hawaii has the lowest age of consent, 14, in the nation. Many other community voices have been raised calling for action on this or similar measures.

We originally pulled the bill out of committee because we wanted the merits of such a bill discussed. No one wishes to punish teen-age experimentation but we believe strongly that sexual predators, five years older than their young prey, should be punished. This bill makes it sexual assault if the perpetrator is five years or more older than his14-16 year old victim. This bill does not directly address the raising of the age of consent.

We would like to urge the public to call or write their legislators about how they feel about such legislation. Better yet, we would urge them to take the opportunity to present testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. The hearing on HB 236 will be held Thursday, March 1, at 1:15 p.m. in Room 325 of the State Capitol.

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