Maine has moved to criminalize staring. (title, required, charges)

[elston]

There was a time when oogling and leering, could get a man's face slapped....but then again, it wasn't a crime. The old song "standing on the corner" made a comment about "you cant go to jail for what your thinking".

However I think there are looks and stares that infringe on personal space and are intimidating....I just don't know how you legislate against lewd and licivious staring.

There was a case in California of a pedophile who was arrested for taking pictures of children at play. There was no sexual content or context...but it was alarming. He was released as taking pictures isnt "a crime". I think this case falls in the same catagory as this discussion about sexual staring. It isnt frivilous but it impossible to define.

[Valkyr47]

While i on no way support pedophiles or any other group of sexual predators, there is no such thing as staring that negatively affects someone.

so some creepy looking dude is staring at you from across the subway? just dont look at him seriously. Its his friggin eyeballs and as a human being they are allowed to be pointed in any which direction they please, regardless of reasoning for doing so.

As a matter of fact if the risk of being stared at is a problem for you or your children, never go in public i guess. Once you are in public and in free view, what would you expect otherwise?

[Maine Writer]

Don't lose sight of the fact that this isn't about staring at adults. Hopefully they're capable of dealing with staring jerks on their own. It's about children being stared at in specific ways. God help the idiot who stared sexually at my child. It wouldn't be the law that person had to fear.

[flycessna]

The law isn't really about "looking". The law is visual aggression.....showing your genitals…or causing a minor to show his/her genitals. Or using visual electronic equipment to see certain private parts of a juveniles body….IE (a hidden camera in a bathroom stall).

[elston]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

Don't lose sight of the fact that this isn't about staring at adults. Hopefully they're capable of dealing with staring jerks on their own. It's about children being stared at in specific ways. God help the idiot who stared sexually at my child. It wouldn't be the law that person had to fear.

Thanks for the clarification about the intent of the law! I hadn't read it and didnt realize what is was trying to target. That makes it much clearer.

I am not surprised at the legislative desire to address "in pattern" behavior of potential child abusers--just like Jessica's laws, it is impossible to vote against protecting children--even when the laws are ineffective and may in fact compound the problem.

[Huckleberry3911948]

standin on the corner watchin all the girls go by - frank loesser
whats up with that?

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

and woman wonder why some men dont approach them first, ...christ, we cant even look at them!!

does this apply to lesbians , also?

this is beyond ridiculous,,,

This law thing was in the paper(BDN) last week. It's to be able to protect children from perverts. It's just a tad overboard.

[mainebrokerman]

if its a law targeted for children,,,i can be a bit less cynical

[Submariner]

So if I go to Hannafords and I see girls out in shorts and bikini tops and showing some skin [like they were today], and I 'look' and any of them are under 21, then I could be charged with a felony?

Good thing I was only there for a short trip today.

[dmyankee]

In my neighborhood, the 12 year olds on up wear thongs with Abercrombie, or whatever, printed on the rear. They walk the main drag from dawn to dusk all summer.

Where are the parents in all this?