A Ban on Sex in Kansas

The NY Times reports that a trial has begun to determine whether a law banning all sexual activity by people under age 16 is constitutional. The Kansas attorney general Phill Kline says that "Illegal sexual activity by minors can lead to S.T.D.'s, unwanted pregnancies, abortion, depression, mental illness...To pretend otherwise is foolish." This is ludicrous. Banning all sexual behavior under the age of 16 will increase STDs, unwanted pregnancy and abortion and will stifle efforts to encourage safe sex, which is best taught at an early age around the time of puberty. As Dr. Robert Blum, a professor at Johns Hopkins University said it is "problematic" if children 12 and under are having sex, but "That's distinctly different than a 14-, 15-, or 16-year old in a romantic relationship". One question that arose in my mind is whether the law would ban masturbation, which, if the case, would create a huge class of sexually retarded children and wouldn't do a damn thing about reducing STDs and unwanted pregnancies (and abortions) because, last I checked, masturbation cannot spread STDs and cannot impregnate women. Although, since the Kansas AG is probably a fundamentalist Christian with a literal interpretation of the Bible, he might dispute my claim with the evidence being Mary (who although remained a virgin, did not become impregnated through masturbation, at least not according to what I learned).