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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Maggie Gallagher :: Townhall.com Columnist
Should NY Discriminate Against Sex Abuse Victims?
by Maggie Gallagher
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Why are public schools being protected? It's not because sex abuse by public school teachers is rare. In just the last few weeks, for example:

Robert Becker Jr., 36, a substitute teacher at Franklin Central School in Delaware County, N.Y., pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Becker has been employed by the government on several occasions, not only as a teacher but as a corrections officer.

In Orange County, Calif., El Modena High School band teacher Carlie Attebury faced eight felony counts stemming from charges of having sex with her students.

Then there is Daniel Acker, 61, the swim coach at Frank Lloyd Wright Middle School in West Allis, Wis., who was arrested on felony sexual assault charges stemming from a 2005 incident with a 15-year-old boy.

But significantly, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "A man in his 40s had told police that day that Acker sexually assaulted him from 1971 to 1976, when he was from 11 to 15 years old. Since then, at least three other men in their 40s -- including one who lives in Tennessee -- and a 19-year-old man have told police they had been sexually assaulted by Acker when they were minors."

Under laws like those being pushed in the New York Legislature, victims like these will be discriminated against. Why?

Are we talking justice for victims, or is this political payback time for religious institutions alone?
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About The Author

Maggie Gallagher is a nationally syndicated columnist, a leading voice in the new marriage movement and co-author of The Case for Marriage: Why Married People Are Happier, Healthier, and Better Off Financially.

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Reply # 1
Date: Apr 3, 2009 - 10:06 AM EST
Where's
Maggie, that last line is somewhat disturbing. How is it "political payback" for allowing victims more opportunities to go after these criminals? It appears as though you want to protect certain people merely because of their religious affiliation.

It is OBVIOUS that NY is trying to protect its failed public schools, but two wrongs don't make a right. I cheer the decision, even in its limited form, while questioning the protection of public school employees.

Your last line makes it appear as though you believe that a victim who comes forward only does so for political reasons. May I be frank? I think that is horrendous and I believe you owe an apology to those victims. NY's motives aside... where is the satisfaction that at least some victims may now have their day in court?

You have the obligatory lines in there about crucifying the perps, etc., but you then drop in lines in reagrd to these wicked people such as "likely dead or poor" as though that matters.

You say you don't care about religious affiliation, but it seems obvious that you do. To argue in one sentence that it is almost unthinkable to bring forward 30-year-old charges against institutions that had no control over the events and then turn around and argue that if you're going to do that you have to do it to everyone is quite silly. It reveals an agenda on your part.

You should either be arguing that ALL these lawsuits are ridiculous or that ALL are legitimate, public or private. To essentially argue that "NONE is worthy of the court's time, but if we're going to waste time, we should waste everyone's time" exposes your true concern.
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Reply # 2
Date: Apr 3, 2009 - 1:33 AM EST
Maggie Gallagher's Article on Abuse
The New York Law that discriminates against the victims of sexual abuse by public school teachers is clearly unconstitutional as it violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Furthermore, sexual abuse by public school teachers is more prevelant than sex abuse by Priests, according to Government Statistics.
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