Ohio State Rep. Greta Johnson has re-introduced a bill to outlaw marital rape. Currently, rape by a spouse is legal if they don’t use force, so a spouse can legally drug and rape their spouse if they really want to.
Johnson said this about it:
“As a former prosecutor, I would argue that you could still try to prosecute under the forced rape statute, but unfortunately drugging and raping your spouse in Ohio is not illegal.”
She first introduced the bill in 2015, but it died in committee. Now, she has filed it again this week without the provision removing the statute of limitations.
Currently, there is a 20-year statute of limitations on rape in Ohio. Johnson believes that there should not be any statute of limitations on these disgusting crimes.
So far, there are not any Republicans supporting the bill, Johnson said:
“We must modernise Ohio’s laws and eradicate unacceptable policy that allows someone to commit violence against their spouse.”
“… Women and men experiencing sexual violence at the hands of their spouses should not be denied the right to seek justice just because they happen to be married to the offender.”
Marital rape is illegal in this country, but many states still treat it differently than rape outside of marriage. This just reinforces centuries-old ideas about consent and marriage.
In the 17th Century, a woman’s unconditional consent for sex was part of the marriage contract. Basically, a woman had to have sex with her husband whenever he wanted to. She would not be allowed to say no.
Some Christians will cite the Bible verse:
“A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does. Do not deprive one another sexually—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” – I Corinthians 7:4-5(HCSB)
Not only is it wrong to treat women like property, but women shouldn’t be forced into sex either. Let’s get with the times, people!
Featured image by Kumon via Flickr, available under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.