California recently passed a law to aid rape victims. But many question if this law helps the victims or destroys the person in question.

    The law states that if two people are engaging in sexual activity and one decides to stop (no matter how far along within the action), but the other person continues, the action is considered rape.

    A local radio station held an hour discussion on the new law with many callers, both male and female, stating their opinions. People were concerned about the law since it may soon be passed in Texas.

    Some believed that each person should take responsibility in deciding to engage in sex before doing the action. They thought this law protects those who couldn't make up their mind from the beginning.

    Each person should be absolutely sure before engaging in sex, but if one person wants to stop, it is just as much the responsibility of the other member to stop and respect the wishes of his or her partner.

    It takes two to agree; it should take two to stop. If one decides to stop, no matter how far along they are in the act, the other has the responsibility to stop.

How does the person who disagrees with this law define rape?

    If those dissenters wanted to stop during sex, but were forced to finish, I'm sure they would feel violated and raped. The desire is no longer mutual; the agreement is null.

    But then the question of honesty comes to mind.

    Some callers thought many women and men would use this law for their own personal gain. For example, if a couple breaks up and the other wants revenge, one could claim that the other forced the sexual activity.

    How do we evaluate the truth in this case? Proving sex took place is different than proving one ignored the other's wishes to stop.

    Some may use the new law for their own benefit, but this law helps the real victims who left the courtroom after a verdict of "not guilty" for the attacker who simply couldn't stop.

    Bottom line ... if one person wants to discontinue having sex, that person should have that freedom. No one should force himself or herself on anyone, even if there was originally a mutual agreement.

    Rape takes many different forms, whether intercourse took place or not. All it takes is one forcing oneself on another, no matter their relationship. This law, therefore, also helps cases of marital rape.

    It was in the 1970s that people began to realize that marital rape was an issue. Nearly 30 years later, we still struggle with that issue with marital rape accounting for approximately 25 percent of all rapes.

    California's law helps the silent victims: wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends. No matter the relationship, if sexual behaviors are forced upon someone, that person becomes a victim.