What's wrong with this picture?

As we write this there is an ongoing debate in the Arkansas Legislature over the definition of marriage in our school text books. Makes us wonder where parents and our faith community lack the wisdom and ability to foist their beliefs on our young. Arkansas needs a law. Where 'oh where do they get all this energy for these types of debates. But, that is not what this issue is about.

It is about something that truly disturbs us as advocates for children and families that is not having so much as the light of one candle shed upon it.

Arkansas Law classifies "Incest" by the usual definitions and then proscribes the penalty if you get convicted. All is Ok so far. The penalty is a Class "C" Felony. For you who don't frequent the halls of justice that carries a sentence of from three to 10 years in the pen.

Now let's look at Rape. Again the usual definitions including when you have guardianship and/or control over a person under 18 years old. OK so far. Now to the penalty. It is a Class "Y" Felony. That carries a sentence of not less than 10 to 40 years, now get this, or LIFE.

Let's look this one over. If your live-in boyfriend has sexual intercourse with your 9 year old daughter he could get life. We're for that. However, if your husband has sexual intercourse with your 9 year old daughter he could get as little as three years.

What Mr. and MS. Arkansas, 85th General Assembly Legislator are you telling the people of the state? A child raped by her father is damaged less than a child raped by a stranger???

You can spend days debating the definition of marriage as written in our children's text books and then saying it is a far less crime for a father to have intercourse with his child than it is for a stranger or live-in boyfriend.

As child and family advocates we must say... SHAME on you. How about doing something important and seriously think about the messages your sending to our citizens.