Mandating Rape in Virginia

The new definition of rape, just approved by the FBI for the Uniform Crime Report is: “Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”  A bill passed by the Republican controlled Virginia House requires that women seeking abortions undergo examinations which include the insertion of a probe in the vagina without the consent of the patient. If there is any difference between the legal definition of rape and the procedure mandated by this bill I fail to see it. Yet, on a vote of 63-36, Virginia’s Republican controlled House of Delegates voted to require the rape of women in Virginia.

The bill, which is expected to be passed by the Republican controlled state Senate and signed by the Republican Governor, doesn’t legalize rape; it orders medical professionals to commit this despicable crime. If this bill becomes Virginia law, I hope that medical professionals will choose to violate the law, not women, and that the people of Virginia will take legal action against the legislators who mandate rape.