Will SA law steal teens' kisses?

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

South Africa's new Sexual Offences Act includes a clause which could allow youngsters to be criminally charged for kissing or fondling.

Twelve to 15-year-olds fall under the new legislation, which covers acts that it describes as "consensual sexual violation".
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Among the acts defined as "sexual violation" in the bill include "direct or indirect contact... between the mouth of one person... and the mouth of another person".
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I think it's stupid because we should be responsible enough to hold girls' hands without raping them or abusing them sexually," said Luke Singleton, 13.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7168597.stm

[sakabatou]

1. THE STUPID! IT BURNS!!

[China_cat]

2. Taking stupid lessons from the US, are they?

[JackRiddler]

6. To be fair, they do have their own history of it...

I wonder if there is a sort of displacement going on here, reviving an aspect of the apartheid culture (and presumably laws banning public displays of interracial affection) but applying it to children. I can imagine such a law will be applied almost exclusively to the poor and darker skinned (as it would be without a doubt here).

[liberal N proud]

3. Do they really think that is going to stop them?

Just like the fundies here thinking that teaching abstinence will prevent pregnancy.

[EvilAL]

4. That gives me an idea.

Mouth Condoms. Covers the lips and allows the tongues to poke out too.

[dipsydoodle]

5. But will that work on

sheep and goats both of which have sharper teeth.

[JackRiddler]

7. Um, you really don't think this hasn't been invented yet?

They're called dental dams.

[O.M.B.inOhio]

8. Why not try gender-based apartheid?

Or, "Have you ever heard of fluoridation, Mandrake?"

[Occulus]

9. Luke Singleton is more rational on this issue than many of our own members of Congress n/t