Proposed California Law Would Relax Definition of Rape

Published August 25, 2016 7:15pm ET



A piece of California legislation, unanimously approved by the state assembly and just waiting for the governor’s pen, would relax the definition of rape to include any non-consensual sexual contact.

The bill‘s sponsors call it an effort to “redefine rape” and “overturn rape culture.” But by the letter of the proposed law, the best definition for the crime would be no definition at all: “all forms of non-consensual sexual assault may be considered rape for purposes of the gravity of the offense and the support of survivors.” And according to the Los Angeles Times, “The law would allow a judge to consider the definition of rape in the sentencing phase of a case.”

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