And for people in Aroostook county who might be concerned about this topic, you don;t matter.

I hope Smith's bill gets dropped. It will just make it harder for teens to gain access to contraceptives.

Having the Christian Civic League involved will only turn their cause into a logjam of propaganda, lies and half truths. In a perfect world, all parents would have a loving, open relationship with their teenagers but since that is not the case, teenagers should have other options open to them. I believe taking away options will only make things worse.

Smith is another busybody who should leave Maine along with Heath and all his cohorts.Republicans should be paying for all these babies they keep dropping on us taxpayers.

If the young people feel the need for birthcontrol than they should be able to get it.... many Many do not talk with parents until it is to late... BUT I also feel the need for this info to be put onto an medical record that can be obtained by the ER or MD so that if the child is prescribed medicine it will not interfer with the birth control .. and most important is to let the MD know they are on birth control... as many wouldn't tell the MD if parents are present.. Lets prevent unwanted babies having babies... I am not saying lets have Sex just because one is on birth control... but come on Adults you all know how easy it is to "DO IT" if you LOVE ME.... Parents have the SEX talk early and LISTEN to your PRETEENS very close....

I am glad to see that people understand the need for the availability of education, information and contraceptives for teenagers. Not to say that if these things are available it makes it ok for teens to have sex, but think of the consequences if they are not. Hormones in maturing bodies can be a very powerful thing, as we all should know. In countries where these things are easily accessable there is a much lower teen pregnacy rate and lower rate of sexual crimes. The abstinence only policy does not work!

If parents would do their job and get involved with their kids then this wouldn`t be needed. But even with this being needed the state be giving the kids a free rein on having sex. ya she might not get pregnant but what about all the sexually transmitted diseases that can be transmitted. But that`s when you need the parent to give permission to treat them. Try teaching no sex til you get married. But that is to old fashion for some, but it is the right way. If he comes across and say "but honey,you know I love you" she should say " well where is my ring and the preacher"

It's a bad idea to put any barriers between kids and contraceptives.

Kylie...this is not "Little House on the Prairie" anymore. Just because the parents tell kids not to do it....the kids will still do it. That's what teenagers do...they rebel and then eventually there is a wake up call or a point in their life where they grow up and realize. This is life. We all do it. We have all done it. The kids should be able to have access to the pills; however, like someone else stated above they should have it in their medical records. And, I do not think that the Plan B pill should be available to anyone...I think that is asking for trouble. Condoms and birth control are one thing...killing a life is another. Plan B is not a birtch control. As far as STDs and all that great stuff...that just really NEEDS to be stressed and discussed with the teenager. They have to realize what could potentially happen if they do get one. What will happen if they do end up pregnant or being a dad. Of course it has to be talked about between parent and child. There has to be a sense of openness and honesty there, but we cannot take other preventetive measures away either.

I believe that Smithes bill should pass. Kids under 18 are not leagally able to sign contracts because the courts say they are not mature enough. And with that note said they should have to go through thier parents and get consent for any and all contraceptives. Unless it is condoms. The kids in this state already feel that once the turn 13 years old thier parents have to do what they say. Parents and thier children should have an open line of talking so that they child wether male or female can go to thier parents and talk about anything esp contraceptives.

Teens do not always have an open and honest relationship with their parents. Most parents do not even have the sex talk with their kids until it is too late. The child is probably already having sex and has been filled with the information that they have gathered from friends and other sources, some good and some bad. People need to educate their children at a much earlier age than they do, like they do in many other countries. The Netherlands starts sexual education in health class at the age of nine and they have the lowest rate of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy. My child may have been a little grossed out by her book describing how babies were conceived and other sexual health related issues, but she is now aware and is much more open about discussing not only the changes that she has started to go through as she approaches puberty, but about other questions that she has that may arise from some thing that she has over heard from older kids or seen on TV. I hope that we can keep that line of communication open as she grows up. I think that it first takes educating your child and not responding in a negative way when they have questions later on. Unfortunately many parents do not do that for their children and their children will not feel comfortable bringing up the topic of sex with their parents. Just telling them not to do it does not help. Tell them the reasons that they should wait but educate them in case they do not.

I think that if this law passes, it will be very detrimental to the young people in our state. I don't want to see kids getting pregnant or contracting STD's just because they couldn't talk to their parents openly and the law states they can't have access to take care of their own sexual health.

Don't get me started on the Mainne Christian Civic League or what ever they call themselves now. They are a joke.

The people that oppose birth control also oppose abortion and are the first one's to complain about single parents having to rely on State aid (welfare) to take care of their kids. Simply telling kids to say no - we need to flexible and tolerant, not preachy and judgemental. pcme2000 is in the clouds - the world is not as simple and organized as you pretend it to be. Not all kids have loving, supportive families who will teach them values about sexuality and love, those are the kids that society needs to help by allowing them to access services.

Anything backed by both Michael Heath AND Marc Mutty smacks of religio-fascism. Let's keep government out of people's pocketbooks and out of their bedrooms. If religionists wish to practice an alternative lifestyle, they should be constitutionally protected to do so provided those of a different point of view are protected as well. Why must people of religion impose their belief system upon others? What ever happened to voluntary practice? Next thing you know, Heath and Mutty will be putting us in stocks on the public square for the rest of the Puritans to mock.

Just another representative we DONT NEED....150 ish representatives, try 16, one for each county....waste of money and pointless ideas like this joker is presenting..

mainah_mom: I mean no offense by this, I would just like to clarify that the Plan B pill is not killing/taking a life. It prevents an egg from being fertilized, which equals no pregnancy. It does NOT kill an already fertilized embryo, it keeps the sperm from the egg. A lot of people are confused by that, and think that the Plan B pill is an early form of abortion, however it isn't. I agree that the Plan B pill should NOT be used as a form of birth control. It is also only 75 percent effective, and I think a lot of women/girls using it aren't aware of that, as well.

I take no offense from that comment and I do understand where you are coming from, but, the way I see it it is like an abortion. If that person did not want to be pregnant then they should not have had sex to even put themself in that position. Please no one say "what if she was raped"..okay...completely different. I am just saying that to me, I feel it is a way of an abortion. They would rather stop it now then take the consequences. Point taken though.

I'm with Megs23..we need to teach our kids what happens when we do this and that...I'm all for sex health education in the schools...kids of today think sex is a game...and it means nothing more...a few more family living classes would help...I know it was good for my step-sons carring around that compurtized baby....the oldest ones baby started crying in the middle of he brothers 8 grade graduation... and he had to get up and leave...boy was he sheepish...but it he found out the it not all fun and games with babies....and all three of them waited until they where ready to have babies..we shouldn't be afraid to teach sex ed not know is far more dangous then knowing...I've always told my step kids be sure you love some enough to have a baby with them before you do the deed...

I totally understand your point of view. I agree that responsibility should be taken BEFORE there is a need for the Plan B pill. But I also know that condoms are not 100% effective, and do break sometimes. I have no issues with people who use the Plan B pill as a "back up" method.. When something goes wrong with their "Plan A" it is good for them to have "Plan B". But I think people who habitually use the Plan B pill are irresponsible, lazy, and are likely to get pregnant at some point, regardless if they use the Plan B pill or not. People are going to have sex if they want to, no matter what anyone says to them. I think that they should have the right to birth control, and safe sex education. But I think that people who use the Plan B pill as a birth control are NOT educated.

100% agreed with. Things can happen even wtih preventitive measures taken. Those situations are different. I just don't like that people can go to a drug store and buy it. Irritates me. Some people would give to have babies but they can't and then there are people that just want to have sex wtih none of the consequences it can bring. I agree with you though.

People your forgetting it, we dont live in a perfect world, and things are not going to be the way we want them to be... I'm not much over 18 - so all of you who are in your 40's just dont get it anymore. I would tell my parents what i knew they wanted to hear, and do what i watned to anyway.. think about it how can any parent (and i dont care how far your nose is stuck up your kids ass) actually say they know everything their child is doing.. THEY CANT. It is stupid to think that forcing kids to get parental consent will stop them from having sex.. lol they are going to anyway.. I do agree however, that if a child is on brith control, it should be made available on the medical record, thus, given another prescription it wont effect the brith control.. it would be kinda stupid to have a RESPONSIBLE TEENAGER get the brith control they NEED, then the unknowing parent allow them to be on a prescription that would cancel out the BC.. right?? If we put a barrier between teens and safe sex, were going to have a HUGE problem, when kids have kids, they have no way to provide for them, thus leaving the burden on the tax payer. This is a GREAT ALTERNATIVE to allowing poverty breed poverty. Teens who cant afford BC, probably cant afford to take care of a child either right?? how many 15 year olds who get pregnant go to college? how many sit home and collect off the "big government" <--(you and me)

this has gotten away from the subject of parents knowing their kids are on some form of birth control. And who has the right to give consent for this.

here are 2 quotes

"there are people that just want to have sex wtih none of the consequences it can bring"

and

"If that person did not want to be pregnant then they should not have had sex to even put themself in that position"

The best form of birth control is a parent getting involved with their children and knowing where and who they are with.

It`s not up to the State of Maine to raise your kids it`s up to the parents

Kylie do you have a point there? Who said it was up to the state of maine to raise a child and where did I (because you seemed to like to take my quotes) say that I do not think that parental involvment is not a factor?

first quote fearless and i were talking about Plan B.

second quote...again, talking about Plan B with fearless.

Read

...this is not "Little House on the Prairie" anymore. Just because the parents tell kids not to do it....the kids will still do it.

Well our family has respect for their elders and going against their wishes was not even considered

This world needs to get back to as you put it " Little house on the Praire" days.

It is just the way kids are raised, and there hurdles to cross but they should be done together.

Maybe the parents of pregnant kids should be force by the state to help raise their grandkids if it happens, but then again

they couldn`t raise one with morals why would they raise another

wow. you are very arrogant aren't you?

"well, my family has respect too"....lol.

my children have morals and are being raised in a way that i see fit. i turned out fine and my parents raised me with respect as well.

we cannot go back to them days because umm...well, some people have to work now due to the economy. we cannot be in the 60's where the woman is just known as the mother and housewife. i am raising two children on my own and i have to work so i cannot always be around. my kids know how to get a hold of me at all times. they know they can talk to me about anything and i know where they are at all times. that does not mean my kids are angels. that does not mean they are not going to be curious and try things. thank god i understand that. birth control is not a bad thing. do not bring respect into this and act like you were raised so wonderfully and that you are the only person wtih morals and values. please get over yourself.

Family values have just gone to hell in a hand basket and people seem to think a pill will fix it all.

Has this world come to giving our kids a pill with breakfast and another when they finally get home.

Just to make our lives as parents easy.

and what is the differnce between sex on plan A or plan B it still is having sex as a minor

Plan A gives them permission and Plan B stops the fertilization after

Actually, Kylie, the best form of birth control is abstinence. Even the best parent doesn't know where their child is at EVERY second.. Teenagers are more than capable of telling mom they'll be at one place, and going to another. Also, Puddleduck, I think that even if birth control is on medical records (which i'm definitely not disagreeing with) it isn't JUST the doctor's responsibility to make sure the teenager isn't prescribed something that will interfere with the birth control. When these girls are getting the pill they should be educated what you can do while you're on it, what you can't do, what you can take, and of all the possible side effects. If they are responsible enough to be on the birth control, request it in the first place, we should be responsible enough to educate them on what their birth control is capable of. With 2 minds at work (the girl and her doctor) to prevent anything from interfering with her birth control, I would hope that we would have more success.

I will not fight with you over this subject. Go through and read what fearless and i were talking about. We were talking about how I don't like Plan B and I think it is wrong. We agreed that some instances (when people are married or older than sometimes things can happen, such as i.e. the condom broke and they really were using preventative measures) it can be a good thing.

I am done discussing this with you because obviously you are one that likes to jump to conclusions and just get people going. You don't like to take the time to go read and understand what was said and how it was said. You are also very arrogant and I don't like it. So, I choose to ignore you. Have a good holiday.

If keeping my family safe and being involved in my kids life and working 2-3 jobs so when my kids got home there was a loving mother waiting is arrogant,

Then I have cornered the market on being ARROGANT. and so has my daughter`s husbands.

And I was raised by TWO wonderful parents that were acted like actually parents and not just in name

kylie i am involved in my kids life, my children are safe and I TOO was raised by two parents who were around and not just in name as well. please, once more, keep your comments (better than thou) to yourself.

I was raised by one parent. Single mom. Well, my dad was involved in my life, but lived far away. I was not a teenage mother. I did not get pregnant as a teenager. My mom knew where I was, and what I was doing. She trusted me, and she should have. I was raised with morals, and to make good decisions. Care to put down one parent households anymore?

I bet you 50% of teenagers over 15 are having sex. Most of you will deny it or won't accept it. I would imagine some of you remember your high school days?

agreed, steveydee. this is why sex education and availability of birth control is so important.

go fearless! any comments kylie?

I agree with STeveyDee, the fact that most people are not willing to accept it doesn't chagne that it its happening!!! open your eyes.. without teens being able to prevent themselves from getting pregnant were going to have a much larger issue, and then the "topic of discussion" will be how we support all the single moms. It takes alot of currage for a single mom at 13 or 15 years old to 1)graduate high school, 2) graduate college or 3) even get a job and support her family after being taken care of by the state for years and years... FACT IS, it is almost impossible to get people off welfare once they are one it, and there is no better way for a person to "fall" into the wellfare system then to get pregnant as a teenager!!

And if parent want to raise their kids with a security blanket go for it. The hell with family values and morals.

Lets make parenting easy.

i'm sorry, kylie, i'm confused as to what you mean by security blanket?

They are going to drink no matter what you tell them..... shouldn't they get a 12pk with that?

Family values and morals??

Okay. Well, I would rather my child be able to come to me and talk to me about something and me be open enough to understand what it is like to be a teenager and how hard it can be verses my child feeling scared to talk to me about anything. Which is what would happen if you think that beating it into your child to say no is appropriate.

I would rather my children know that they can have the option to have birth control if they feel that they should and I would like my child to be able to know that they can tell me that is how they are feeling. To me that is a sign of maturity. Would rather have that than my child be scared to tell me and not be able to have access to it and then end up pregnant.

I would rather have love and respect in my house then to have my kids think that it is my way or no way. Respect is a two way street. People just need to understand their children's point of view and respect it as well as the child respect the parent. Some day, even if not know, that child will understand as they will too be a parent or maybe in the same situation.

Don't tell me about morals and values thankyou maam

Every one is confused with kylie fearless...don't worry too much about it? She's not even sure what she is talking about.

Kylie, you are clearly missing the point. I agree with you that itwould be great if we could all have our kids skip rope on their walk home from school and sit at the dinner table and talk about their great day at school, and how much homework they had to do.. But those days are over. Parenting is the only thing the state can not control, if you dont beat your kids, you keep them fed, and clothed, there is nothing the state can do to force you to be a better parent, fact is, most parents (unfortunatly) are not the kind of "little house on the prarie" parents you would like to think they are. Kids know far more about what is going on around them then youwould like to admit.. lol Kids can text message over 250 times an hour.. lol how fast do you think these kids are growing up? the world moves at a much faster pace than your willing to admit, and most kids will say anything their parents want to hear. then do what they want anyway.. Family values and morals are not what is at stake here, keeping familys for adults, and not 13 and 15 year olds who didnt understand how much it would suck to get prenant is what were talking about.. Most kids are having sex by 15, FACT. so either we can do something about it, or we can deal with a much great problem later.

I was a 17 year old mother because I was too embarrassed to ask my own mother for birth control. She probably would have done it but I didn't ask. If it had been available thru a school clinic I probably would have had children later in life when I was ready. I was a lucky one though. I managed to get to college a little late and my child is also a college graduate. When my own daughter was ready for birth control she came to me, but many of her friends were too afraid to ask their parents and were lucky enough not to need permission to get birth control. I know a lot of women my age who had abortions when they were young and have to live with it everyday. If birth control had been as accessible then, they wouldn't have to live with all that pain.

Thank you sassy, you could not be more correct.

Props to you Sassy! For being a young mother and going to school still AND...need I say this...having morals and values!

thank you, sassy

I think Kylie has anything left to say...

kylie00...I was raised with morals...but my mom and dad let us know if we wanted to have sex.... we would be able to go on the pill...and you know not one of us did before we left hi school...we talked and it was open talk we knew what would happen if we got pregnant...you know it worked and it has work with my nieces and nephews only 3 left to get threw hi shcool.....and you know something else my mom and dad trusted us to do what was right...and we did..not every one is as lucky as your kids and have loving parents....and those kid need help too

Well I just finished reading all of your comments and see that this subject brings up quite a bit of controversy. I am 27 and have been working with Youth at risk for six years. Three years of my career I worked only with pregnant and parenting youth. The last three years I have worked with Youth who are not pregnant or parenting in a Residential Home. Last week I attended a training in HIV Prevention and am now certified to teach a 13 week curriculum in HIV Prevention which also touches on STI's and Pregnancy. One main thing that our Youth in Maine needs is Education. Our Youth do not understand the consequences that come with sex. There is also a piece that educates them on abstinence. But lets be real our Youth whether the parents think they have an open and honest relationship or not are at some point in time going to be in a situation where they have to decided am I going to have sex or am I going to wait. So when it comes time for them to answer this question...let's make sure they have the education about HIV, STI's and Pregnancy. I pray that this bill does not pass because they are still kids and if they are going to have sex let's at least make sure they are doing it safe by whatever methods of birth control or contraceptive that they choose. Kids need to know birth control pills do not protect against STI's or HIV...always use a condom. 75% of HIV infected people in Maine know they have HIV.....25% do not know. Also you have to be 18 or have a prescription from your doctor to buy the "morning after pill" from a pharmacy and if you do not have insurance it will cost you 50 dollars. Let's be real how many of our youth have that kind of money to spend. Come on Maine let's step up to the plate and make sure of kids are being safe.

everyone here has made my point for me. It all comes down to the family, whether a single parent or 2 parent, to instill the values of right and wrong into

their children. And the state should not have to legislate a bith control law. Parents need to know what is going on in their kids life and be responsible for their kids. And if the parents aren`t paying for the pills who is? The taxpayers.

But it is like the old saying goes pay me now or pay for 18 yrs

kylie. seriously. you just need to stop.

i wish i'd known ya back then searoses, id a tried ta nail ya!

Let's face the fact a lot of parents don't care about there kids and what is going on.

Kylie, you are proving all of OUR points for us. You are stereotyping, and quite frankly, talking out of your ass.

Puddleduck1720 I think you are the one that doesn't get it. I'm 44 and I get it because I was a teenager. And I did the very things that you talk about. I told my parents one thing and did what I wanted. As the saying goes "nothing new under the sun." That's exactly why parents tell you and do the things that they do. THEY HAVE BEEN THERE. I thought the same thing when I was a teen back in the late 70's and 80's, that my parents didn't have a clue. Then when I became an adult, I realized that my parents knew exactly what they were talking about. The biggest problem is that kids don't think that their parents know anything so then they do what they want.

The one fact about this whole topic is this: If you don't have sex you won't get pregnant or catch an std. Maybe instead of sex ed. classes they should have parenting classes in school. Then kids could see the consequencs of what having sex will be.

I find it amazing that if your kids are getting bad grades they inform the parents but they don't think they should have to inform parents that their kids are getting birth control.

Maybe some one can tell me why its OK to turn control of your 13 year old child over to the government?

Mainah-mom, who are you to call people arrogant. The only thing that kylie has done is to disagree with you. That doesn't mean she is arrogant. If anything you come acrooss that way for trying to silence her opinions again and again. You can't just say well they are going to do it so why not encourage it. Also these things can give a false security.

lol...okay duckwa.

oh and i never said to encourage it. maybe you should go back and read everything through okay. i am not the only one who said things to her.

Fearless and I were talking, she jumped in without reading (as you are now). Fearless and I tried telling her but she kept going on and on and made herself seem arrogant. She wants to talk about morals and values like she was raised so well and no one else was just because we believe one thing that she doesn't disagree wtih. Please people actually read through the comments and understand them before you go shooting off at the mouth.

type *agree with*

You just made my point for me. Why dont you re read what i wrote. I could not agree with RenMike more, someone who knows.

puddleduck who are you talking to? I never disagreed with anything that you said.

who disagreed with what you were saying?

and you agree with RenMike?? that parents don't care about their kids or what is going on?

Again, it can easily be taken as arogant when you assume that only you can read and understand the posts. Maybe you should read the terms of this site, cuz you see it is a public board and if you want a private conversation with fearless use the phone. By allowing the kids to by pass parental authority and give them birthcontrol you are by actions condoning their actions. It does also give false security. Condoms fail, even more often in this age group. And the pill only protects from one thing.

okay then duckwa...why don't you pick up a phone.

i am allowed to post my opinion and as you can see i am not the only one.

you are annoying me and i am done with you.

okay. now try to bother someone else and get them going because that is what you do.

i do not play your little game sweetie.

you shouldn't go assuming either. haven't you heard the saying that when you assume you make an ass out of you and me. okay thanks.

The ends justify the means!!

When teens start asking for permission to have sex, then they should have to ask for permission to use birth control. Until then, we need to educate,because so many parents won't, ( and abstinance "education" isn't ), keep birth control affordable and easily accessed by all, teens and adults alike.

How about chastity belts for the little darlins?

David889327 you dog I bet you wouldn't have I was never easy!!

duckwa, i believe that i have already stated that condoms tend to fail, and thats when a back up method is necessary. By giving teenagers access to birth control you are not "giving them permission" to have sex, you are arming them with the necessary tools to protect themselves if they CHOOSE to have sex. Teenagers can make choices, without telling their parents. This is a fact. Teenagers should have the necessary means to protect THEMSELVES. If they aren't going to involve their parents in their decisions they need to be able to do it on their own.

well written fearless.

thank you

"The ends justify the means".<---Duckwa

He knows exactly what he is doing when he chooses to say stuff to people. That is what he likes to do and then he will even openly admit; hence this little comment above.

As usual, Piscataquis County got what it asked for when this bloke got re-elected, along with his good 'ol boy buddies Davis & Johnson, the three conservative blowhard "musketeers" of the north woods. With the highest unemployment rate in the state, the largest loss of jobs, the highest number of uninsured, the highest population of elderly, the worst roads, the biggest county deficits and the least number of people with access to broadband, this is what this joker thinks he should do first. Man-oh-man, do I love seeing this stuff. After the BDN story last week about your county being the only one that McCain carried all of the 65 counties in the entire New England States, it's no wonder these finger-pointing pinheads got elected - AGAIN! And after another two years they'll be back, claiming they couldn't do anything to help you because the other party controlled the whole show so please send us back again so we can do some more complaining and get nothing done. All I can say is you get what you pay for and these are the guys you elected Piscataquis County, I hope you choke on the outcome up there!

it's too bad Sue Andrews didn't do better....but she'll run again...you can count on it...as I have it from Ms Andrews....she's a wonderful lady and would do good things for the Dover area...you're right about blow hard musketeers....but he's well know because he was a state cop...and also male...the men up here do much like strong women...they rather have the yes dear type....

But fearless, the false security that I am refering to is that if that condom breaks then pill or no pill the STD will travel. I don't know for sure if it is giving them the protection that I am opposed to as much as the fact that it can be done without informing the parents. I also stand by my point on drinking. What you say about some kids will have sex either way is true, some kids will drink and drive either way. Would you carry that over to giving them a safe place to drink if they are going to do it anyway?

Thank you Duckwa

If protecting my children from this cruel world and being involved in ever aspect of their life while they are growing up is arrogant, then I have cornered the market on it

The goverment does not belong in every household if the parents are responsible and raiseing their children right. ( And I could careless if you chose to raise a child alone). The only time the goverment should come into s household is when the child is in danger.

The State of Maine have brought parents to court for suppling a place for kids to drink after graduating from high school. But it`s ok to give a 12 year old child the pill. What a screwed up world

They aren't the same thing. Are you saying that if you tell your child not to swim, but you know that they will do it anyway, you wouldn't give them a life vest?? With birth control education NEEDS to come STD/STI prevention education. It would be nice if all teenagers could tell their parents when they are sexually active. There are a lot of children out there who don't feel comfortable talking to their parents about sex. Does that mean that they don't deserve proper protection? Or proper education? No, it doesn't. They should have just as much right as any other teenager to protect themselves. Humiliating a child by making them tell their parents that they are sexually active will NOT help. It will make teenagers afraid to ask for birth control. It will make them LESS likely to get the help/protection that they need.

And kylie i would LOVE to know what your children are doing behind your back. You are delusional if you really think you know EVERYTHING that they are doing.

fearless you are just my type of chick! gotta love it. once again, well written.

mainah_mom I didn't say that all parents don't care about there kids or what they are doing....I said a lot of parents don't care. So what happens to the kids whose paren't dont Care????

Kylie, what fearess misses is it isn't about knowing what they do every secound .... it is building the trust and communication so that it is there when you need it. Fearless just because you say the drinking example isn't the same thing, doesn't mean its not. They are both dangerous behaviour that teens engauge in. Also to answer your question, I have a pool.... my son knows not to go swimming when I am not around, and no, I wouldn'd say here is a life jacket just incase you disobey me. That is called mixed messages. I can only speak for my kids, but they really like clear boundries.

They didn`t get pregnant and both waited til they were married to have a family. One was 24 and the other 25 when they got married

And not delusional but loving and caring parenthood. Family values have everthing to do with it.

neither me or my wife were sexually active before marrage. And we instilled this into our children when the subject arose.

having open communication with children is not humiliating them

If you want your kids on drugs then pay for it. but with the state giving them the pill and something happens to your child and the doctor wants a history and you say, no she isn`t on the pill, who is miss informed

Matter a fact just called both daughters and asked them if they were having sex before getting married. One said " dad that was the dumbest question I ever asked and I already knew the answer".

And they also came home from school did their homework then could go outside til supper

Supper was always at 5:30 and we ate as a family, and if the phone rang, it rang off the hook. this was family time

All the way thru high school this would happen unless they were involved in something at school and I would always pick them up, yes over protective but I loved them.

So does that answer your question about my children

We have a 4 yr old in my extended family. I wonder what his expression would be If he was told to not touch something that was dangerous, and then had his dad put that thing down on his level so that he wouldn't get hurt if he tried to disobey and climb up and get it

I am not missing the point. You think that its up to the parents to teach the children how to protect themself, and that its ok for the child to go to the parent, that they can trust the parent, that the parent is there for them. I agree. The parent should do that. The parent should do everything in their ability to make their child feel safe, comfortable, loved, and like that parent can be trusted to understand, and not judge. But what about the teenagers who DON'T have those types of parents? This isn't about the parents. Its about the teenagers who would suffer. Its about the teenagers who don't have loving parents they can talk to. These teenagers have just as much right to birth control, and sex education as the children who can trust their parents. And those are the children who would suffer if they didn't have a confidential place they could go for the help that they need. They won't stop having sex. They'll stop being protected.

duckwa My God!! we agree about something (:0) you're right about kids need boundries...and a little fear about what will happen if they cross them don't hurt either..I know a good talking to was good for my soul when i was a kid...so was a hand to the butt once in awhile...when my dad spoke we listened...and he never had to spank up much...and when the talking to didn't work rights were taken away..not TV and things like that....kid have to much stuff now a days...cell phone in school would be the 1st to go if I had my way...but the a subject for another day...

I give in

Let`s give the kids what they want ( it`s an easy way out). Give they birth control pills, condoms, morning after pills.

Then tell the to go out and be the best sluts and whoremasters they can be.

Then you can it back and say you did the best you could

Matter o fact let`s make it a law, girls have to take both pills every day and boys have to get up in the morning and put on a condom (he may need it)

kylie YOU are completely missing the point that fearless and I are saying. We are not saying to condone it. We are not saying that children should be out there having sex and neither one of us or anyone else for that matter has said to have them be sluts and whoremasters...lol. All I am saying that is better to have the child have some kind of protection than none at all.

I, as stated before, believe that there needs to be parent/child interaction. I have not denied that. The parent needs to talk to the child about all aspects of sex; not just pregnancy. But, the parent also needs to talk to the child on all aspects of everything in life. The parent needs to trust the child to make the best decision. If you think you are raising your child right and you think you have instilled morals, values, rights and whatever else you want into them as best as you could than you also need to be able to trust that your child will make the best decision. And, if your child messes up, well he/she messes up...we all do it. The important thing is that they learn from their mistake. That is what is key.

I do not condone my daughter to have sex nor my son; however, I know that if I say "no, don't do it or you will get ____(you fill it in)" then they will more than likely rebel against me because that is what teenagers do. So, instead, I sit and talk with them and tell them that if they feel the need to please come to me first, we will discuss it, lay out the options and come to an informed decision together.

Wow. This has gotten way out of hand.

If you give a kid a 12 pack and a pack of cigarettes , what are theygoing to do

ya look for a frosted mug and find a match

If a girl is on birth control all a boy is going to have to say " buy you know I love you and what can happen your on the pill"

peer pressure will over come

And mom and dad gave me the option when they gave me the pill

So it must be ok

mainah_mom is right. Restricting teenagers isn't going to do a damn thing. Some will listen, most will not. And we have BOTH stated several times that we both fully agree that there needs to be a strong parent/child relationship. But what about those unfortunate children who DO NOT have that relationship with there parents?? You want them to suffer, be uneducated and unprepared because their parents never sat down and talked to them? Thats not right. This isn't about the parents. This is about the teenagers, and EVERY SINGLE teenager should have access to the right information, and resources to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy and unwanted diseases.

Nobody has the right to come into someone elses home dictate how to raise someone elses kids

Not anybody including the goverment unless that child is abused has that right

you wouldn`t like it if it was happening to you (maybe not on this subject but another one).

If you want to educate kids get a teaching degree and teach in the local school

That way a parent still has control and allow them to attend that class.

kylie do you know what my child would do if someone handed either one of them cigarettes and a 12 pack? they would come to me. why? because they know that it is wrong and they know that I would want to know who offered it to them and....listen to this...this is the big reason...because they will not get into trouble for someone else's stupidity. If my children ever come to me to talk to me about anything important I will NEVER and they know this judge them. They need to make their own mistakes and they will learn by them. That is how you mature and become adults. That is how some of the most important life decisions are learned..by experience. You cannot shelter your child from the world. They have to experience it and you have to let them.

And as far as your comment about a girl being on birth control and a boy saying "but you know I love you"...then...HELLO...we need to raise our daughters with more respect for themselves. They need to be stronger woman and stand up for themselves and not just be used for one thing only. This is obvious. No boy ever made me have sex with him for any reason. If I want to have sex, I will chose that I want to have sex and whom with. If I said no oh well. These young girls need to be taught empowerment. Birth control can also be used for many other "womanly/personal" things as well you know. Does not always mean the girl will use it to prevent pregnancy.

I am not misinformed nor am i retarded. The School Dept. has NO Business in the 'personal welfare' of distributing any drug to my children or anybody elses for that matter. School Boards need to stick to Teaching not medical practicing. Start teaching biology classes young, begin with a simple understanding of the brain, it's parts and the rest of body parts. What is the big deal, you are suppose to be above average in your thinking processes and you display total ignorance of the now and the future your stupid decisions create. You have NO foresight into the future. No wonder people are home schooling their children, they come home still reading dick and jane, puff and spot! Where is the intelligience you claim to advocate? Your decisions are based on ignorance of life and morals themselves. Smith seems to be mentally challenged as does the entire FPA organization.

You by pass me and you will have hell to pay. Children do not belong to their government or I would move to Cuba. Minors get abortions??? Unless it is incest or rape, their is NO other excuse but non parenting. All 'minors' should be made to understand that they are just that MINORS and they have No say in child development. They know nothing as a minor. This is a preposterous piece of communistic trash being shoved down our throats by the unstable law profession who needs to clean up their own acts. Like winning at any cost to the entire nation it doesn't matter what they destroy in the process. You need to get rid of half of these so called diverse organizations working against one another. Are you telling me that these 'officials' have nothing more to do with their time? Look at the economy then? Do they sell their souls to get their names on a piece of legislation? You disgust me!

I already did what you are saying without birth control

My girls were empowered with respect for themselves and sex didn`t mean love

They knew when it was right for them

Birth control has a place in this world but just not with minors making that decision, the parents need to be involved before it is given out

mainah_mom and fearless -- you both sound like your involved with your own kids life but wouldn`t you be pissed off , if other`s values were being instilled in your kids. there is only one perfect birth control -- no sex-

Well it looks like the 'kids' came out for this one. Their concerns seems to be just with their bodily functions.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AND SAFE SEX TO ALL (with parental permission)

kylie00....................very well said.

No one said that you are retarded or misinformed. Yes, tell your children not to have sex. Tell them that there will be hell to pay. Tell them that they can talk to you no matter what. Tell them whatever you need to. You can do your job ONE HUNDRED percent and these MINORS are still capable of making decisions on their own whether they are right or wrong. These MINORS should also not be raised to think that they know nothing, because they are minors. Knowledge is power, the better educucated our children are about issues like this the more able they are to deal with it. I imagine that you are involved in your childs life, and I commend you for that. I think that being a good parent is the hard way, and being a lousy parent is the easy way out. And you obviously care about your children, or else you wouldn't bother to comment, or read this article at all. But my concern is for the children who DON'T have parents to turn to. Who CAN'T talk to their parents about this stuff. It will not stop them from having sex. It will stop them from taking the necessary precautions. If you are raising your chidlren the way you see is right, then you have done your job. And your children won't need the protection offered, or will talk to you about it first. But not every teenager has a mother or father like you to turn to, and these teenagers deserve the right protection, birth control and education just as much as every other teenager, if not MORE. You have to look at the big picture. Its not condoning sex. Its not telling children to go out and be whores. Its giving them the necessary knowledge and tools to protect themselves, and others. Because teenagers ARE teenagers. They will do what they want. They should be properly armed to deal with these very real situations that are presented to them all the time. If you take away the condoms, and the pills, and the confidentiality, the sex will STILL be there. What won't be there anymore is the PROTECTION.

You continue to ignore the coparision to drinking because it doesn't fit your arguement. Drinking is a dangerous behaviour, that just as many or even more teens try. The fact that they will drink anyway doesn't mean you would make it easier for them while sending the mixed message not to do it. The fact is that a lot of people feel that is what you are doing with birth control. I guess my last request on this one would be let the people decide through voting and their elected officials, don't make it another law handed down by judges as that was neve rhteir job.

Drinking is illegal. It is against the law. Sex isn't. They will do it anyway, yes, but you don't offer them safe places to drink and BREAK THE LAW. When sex becomes illegal I will change my argument.

You don't teach "safe drinking" in health class. You do teach "safe sex". From the beginning of education you are told that drinking is wrong. There is no mixed message there. WIth sex would you prefer it if it was "sex is bad, don't do it, but if you're going to, use a condom. Which we won't give you, by the way." That is a MIXED message.

sex is against the law

The male can ruin the rest of his life because the girl or parents can claim satutory rape of a minor

And the parents or police can push it.

It doesn`t matter age of the boy he can be a minor also

there no sence talking to many of these pig heads....fearless is right...many kids don't have good parents...these are the kids that need the help...and there not your kids so no need for you to worry....you guys are the first one to complain about welfare mothers....well these pill will stop welfare mothers...and so won't health and sex education....if more parents did a good job we wouldn't need this ...but here's where the bear shits in the woods...they don't do better....so someone has to care about these kids...thank good for the school nurse who does they just might be the only ones...it not just about you, you know it about everyone wake up and look around you...9 times out of 10 the child that goes in for the pill is already having sex...and most of them parents could care less...

searoses, you go wash your mouth right now

maybe the state would be happy giving out an IUD at birth then remove it when of legal age.

But that has to be changed every couple years, but we can force it on them.

Anything as long as the kids can have sex

and the parents don`t have to be parents, just fed them and send them on their way

Kylie, I'm glad that you and your children live in Perfect Pleasantville. I'm glad that there is no temptation, or confusion, or self esteem problems in your house. I'm glad that you are a perfect parent, and that you raised perfect children. I'm glad that the sun shines out of your ass in the morning. But here in the real world there are real teenagers who have real problems. Some of these real problems involve sex, and pretending that its not true will not make it go away. There are girls out there with such low self esteem problems that they DO sleep around. I'm not condoning this. I'm not saying its right, because I don't think that it is. But I am saying that its a real issue that some people are dealing with. And if that girl's mother won't talk to her about sex because it embarrasses the MOTHER, or if her father puts her down and calls her a slut, and breaks her self esteem even more, it does NOT mean that that girl should not have access to protect herself. No one is trying to make it easier for the children to have sex. No one is forcing a pill down their throats, or a condom on them. What people are doing is saying that these things are available, if you need it. Which is something that every teenager SHOULD know. It helps protects the children. From STDs. From unwanted pregnancy. From becoming young, single parents. Ok, lets take it away. Lets offer sex education, but no birth control. No condoms, no pills. No nothing. What is everyone going to say when the teen pregnancy rate skyrockets again? When more babies are being born in bathrooms, and abandoned?? Everyone is gonna know WHY those kids didn't use a condom. It says right in the article: Maine used to have one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. We are now fifth from the bottom. Why do we want to go BACK on what people have worked so hard on??

Fearless I applaud your comment...you are right on. Just because you talk to your kids about sex and tell them not to have sex does not mean they are going to listen. It is better for them to be protected then to have sex unprotected. Obviously some of you have the wool pulled over your eyes by thinking that you talked to your kid and your kid will not have sex....because in most cases these are the kids who don't dare go to their parents and ask for protection and these are the ones who get pregnant, get an STI, or contract HIV. Because these are the ones who fear their parents authoritarian views rather then authoratative. Why not educate our children to be safe instead of just teaching them abstinence. You are correct Abstinence is the safest sex....but let's face the facts not all kids are going to abstain from sex just because mommy and daddy said no. Sex is part of normal adolescent development. So once again EDUCATE!!!!!! This will be the best protection for all of our kids. And how many of us know teenagers who are going to go their parents ask their permission to have sex...not very many...partly because it is an embarassing subject for them to talk about. So Maine let's all open our eyes and realize that if this law passes we are going to see a lot more pregnant teens and a lot more teens contracting HIV and STI's and living off the system.

Very well said, RenMike. I'm not condoning teen sex. But I think that all teens need to be prepared. Teen sex is a VERY real issue these days, and its not fair to send our children out into the world unarmed, or uneducated.

HOW ABOUT THIS. AND I'VE STATED THIS MANY TIMES IN MY CAMPAIGN FOR THE DISTRICT 27 SENATE RACE HERE IN PISCATAQUIS COUNTY...ABORTIONS FOR SOME, MINIATURE AMERICAN FLAGS FOR OTHERS! YES.

BUT SERIOUSLY, I WAS IN THE 5TH GRADE WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT SEX REALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. I FOUND IT HILARIOUS. WHEN THE CARTOON OF THE PHALLUS SHAPED ... OK PENIS ERECTED. WE ALL CALLED IT A SWORD FIGHT. GOOD OLE' MONSON ELEMENTARY. ALL THEY DID WAS GIVE US A BAG FULL OF DEODERANT AND SHAMPOO.

AT THIS POINT I HAD ALREADY RECIEVED MY FIRST MUSTACHE AND WAS PRETTY HEAVILY FORRESTED. SO I GUESS WE CAN SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING.

THE POINT IS, PEOPLE NOTICE THE DIFFERENES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN PRETTY EARLY. WHEN THEY 'DON'T HAVE ONE OF THOSE' AND THEY DON'T HAVE ONE OF THESE' GOES AROUND, THE QUESTIONS START CIRCULATING. IT NEVER ENDS FROM THAT... USUALLY

people should just teach there kids right from wrong and to keep there legs closed and there cock out of someone if there not ready for a family....

Just because you tell them that Richard does not mean that they won't have sex.

Richard, in a perfect world kids would know right from wrong. but this is FAR from a perfect world. This is 2008 people! Sex is EVERYWHERE! Its a school, its on TV, its in the newspaper, magazines, billboards... Our society has made SEX so readily available, yet they want to take away the means for SAFE sex. It just doesn't make any sense to me at all.

yes I raised 2 Barbie girls in a perfct Barbie world

And didn`t need the state or a social worker to do it

It is hard work but you have to be involved in every aspect of their life

Not when it is convienent for you.

The only safe sex is " NO SEX"

Try teaching that

thekingofmaine----- I hope to God you keep your nasty self in Monson where you belong. Your comments are disgusting and sick!

Maybe In reading the comments I missed something..But...I didn't see anywhere that anyone has discussed the safety aspects of birth control. I have witnessed first hand the dangers of birth control. I worked for many years in TBI Rehabilitation and as young as 17 the results were a major stroke caused from a blood clot caused by the birth control pill, another with a pulmonary embolism also caused from a blood clot. To see a young girl struggle to learn to walk, speak, feed herself, and learn basic skills all over again is very sad indeed. So watch someone wuffer through agony of a collapsed lung is horrific.

Birth control is not always used for pregnancy prevention, there are children as young as 13 or 14 having to use birth control as a means to correct the menstrual cycle, relieve the pain of endometriosis, polycystic ovary and so on..But the risks are very real...

So I guess what I am asking is what mother on here wants to find her teenage daughter dead in her room from a stroke and to then find out that a Dr. Prescribed the medication without notifying or consulting the parent? I personally would prefer to keep open communication with my children, and hope that I did my best in teaching them to confide and feel comfortable doing so. I have boys so the pill isn't really an issue for me but I have 2 nieces and I hope that I have always showed them they can communicate anything to me without judgment or fear.

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Bangorian wrote: "It's a bad idea to put any barriers between kids and contraceptives"

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OK, fine. You can give your daughters all the contraceptives they want and then some.

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But I'll make that decision for any daughters of mine--you and the government stick to your own affairs.

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There are other forms then the birth control pill....which is why our kids need to be educated in all birth control contraceptives.

Hrdwkngmom, i have 2 girls that have polycystic ovaries, to control the estrogen in their brains, with my oldest daughter, it was detected way to late and she has alot of medical problems due to that fact, the youngest is being treated with birth control...to control the estrogen in her brain, not a fun process, took us a year to find out what was going on.

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fearless wrote: ". . . .this is FAR from a perfect world. This is 2008 people! Sex is EVERYWHERE! Its a school, its on TV, its in the newspaper, magazines, billboards... Our society has made SEX so readily available, yet they want to take away the means for SAFE sex."

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No one is taking away the means for safe sex (if there is such a thing); if the child wants contraceptives, all she has to do is ask her parents.

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Case closed.

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As a parent, I am appalled that the government would usurp my authority over my own children's sexual behavior.

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It's a disgrace for the government to come between parents and their children in such matters.

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And it shows what fools parents have become if the majority of them would vote for those who foist such a law upon families.

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How bamboozled such parents must be, to be politically-corrected out of all common sense!

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The very fact that the government comes between parents and their children in secret, is so obviously wrong I am amazed the public isn't in an uproar over this.

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What a nation of bleating sheep we have become!

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gmse66....I hope your daughters are doing well now..I don't mean to put fear out there of female contraceptives, I just don't see anyone discussing the adverse effects and young girls need to be aware that there are high risks to 90% of the pills/patches/shots and so forth. My sister also suffered with PCOD and at 10 yrs old placed on the pill. She was obviously not sexually active...She had agonizing pain and would scream for 5 days straight every month...But again...That parent has knowledge of the usage, side effects, and possible consequences and can make an informed decision based on facts...I feel a child is what it is..A child..Not legally responsible for their actions...But now can be responsible to make an adult decision? Hmmm..Scary thought...Society just keeps throwing crap out in the world...and fearless....It is no doubt Society's acceptance of normal behavior....The more society allows the worse it wil get for our children's children....Scary!

hrdwkngmom..You just brought up PCOD, which my oldest has and no matter how many times she explains it to me i still can't quite understand it. She is 25 now and was diagnosed about 3 yrs ago. Could you elaborate some more on that subject for me? My youngest which is 19 now, still has to take birth control to control the estrogen in her body, she seems fine doing this but i'm concerned with the long term affects, but her doctor says there is no other option at this point.

PCOD has many different signs and symptoms all wich can add other medical problems. Androgens are produced in high levels and they are actualy male hormones. My niece has it as well but my sister feels the risk of birth control at such a young age is higher than the symptoms..Mabel Wadsworth Womens Health Center in Bangor is very knowledgable. You can also go to I believe it is....www.4women.gov to finad a lot of information.

http://www.4woman.gov/faq/polycystic-ovary-syndrome.cfm#a

This should give you the information...Happy Thanksgiving!

Searoses, gotta say I am disappointed in you. I , or anyone else can't disagree with you with out being pig headed? I am not stupid, I fully understand the point some of you are trying to make. I can follow your thought process, and understand why you think it is a good idea. I just disagree. You guys keep saying yes involved parents are the best case, but not everyone has that. But what you are talking about cuts the parents 100 % out of the process. I also feel that it sends mixed messages to teach them that waitng is the best and hands down the safest thing, but then make having sex easier for them. Also a question I would ask is how do you explain that condoms, birth control, abortions, the morning after pill all of it is far more available then it was 30 years ago, and yet at the same time more kids then ever are having sex and at younger ages then ever. 30 yrs ago how often did you hear of a girl 13, 14 years old fornicating with a entire sports team. Now you hear 2 or 3 a year. How do you not see it as a downward spiral?

thanks hrdwkngmom, hopefully this can shed some light for me.

You are welcome gmse66 I hope it helps...

duckwa I was in High school in the 70's and these things happened then to...I know of 1 14 year old that had a baby and she'd been have sex since she was 8...8 girl in my class either had kids or pregant...Yes is do see a downward spiral....but it's not the falt of the pill it's the lack of good parenting and education...They had a problem in Portland..they tried to get parents to do something....and it didn't work so they went a step farther...these kids have the whole world at there finger tips in an instant..I think a lot of the problem of these kids... is that mom has to work out side the home as well as dad...and these kids are on their own away to much...kid are being allowed to stay out all night at a young age....I had to be home by 9 on school nights and 11 on the weekends,,,,and if I wasn't Mama came looking for me...and that WAS NOT ! a good thing...and when the parent is not respondsible...some has to be..and these parent wouldn't be respondsible even if those things were not available....and being pig head as you know means...an unwillingness to listen...not that one is stupid....I have never even implied that you were stupid...I'm glad your kids can count on you...to help them become good adults...but not all of kids have that and we as good stewards of the world need to help them...and their parents...

I do not agree with this at all. If anything, one would be thankful that their teen is seeking advice about birth control. There are not many teens out there that are going to discuss this matter with their parents. Yes, I would like to know if my teens were having sex but the reality of it is they are not going to discuss this with me or their dad. I think that it is wrong for the goverment to step in on this matter. I

There should be stricker rules. Schools should not be allowed to hand out any forms of birth control. Families need to step up and take action. Be involved in what your kids are doing, where they are, who their friends are, WHAT THIER INTERESTS ARE. Parents need to be responsible, not schools for this serious issue. Some parents are incapable of discussing this difficult topic. Well parents- get over it!!! Talk to your teens. Let them know you are there to talk about any issues/ questions they have. I do beleive that parents need to promote abstinence especially when your kids are teens! If you child is sexually active you need to know this.

Sex is and should remain a seriously taken commitment between two married adults. Because, if there is the chance that a child is conceived those people must be prepared to take care of the child. Kids truly don't understand this!

I do understand that everywhere we look, there is the media. Well parents... turn off the tv. Shut off the radio. Remove the MP3's just for a couple hours in the day and LISTEN & TALK to your kids. Media, unfortunetly has manipulated the minds of most of the people that have written on this comment board. We all need to step back and see that we don't think for ourselves anymore, rather secular media has formed our opinions, especially about premarital sex - that it's ok to have sex as a teen and with multiple partners...and to use all forms of birth control (especially abortions/ morning after pills and "the pill"- which all abort/ potentially could abort the baby) to have sex freely like there's no consequences. It also enrages me that the state of Maine describes an "unintended pregnacy" as enough of a reason to hand out birthcontrol without parental consent....does that mean that abortions are being performed without a parent even realizing this? Does anyone care about the moral and essentially the soul of our teenagers?

Searoses, thank you for your last post. I shouldn't have gotten so touchy. As I said I can see what you and some of the other people are trying to say. I obviously can see that you want the best for the kids in question and that your heart is in the right place. I just get tired of people like mainah-mom who think they have the market cornered on good ideas and good intentions. Some of those people have no tolorence for disagreement. I have told you before that I can always sense your passion on issues and hom much thought you put into them. You are right that just relying on parents would let some slip through the cracks. And there needs to be a solution for those kids. I just still disagree on letting the government step in a cut out parents altogether. I just dont want to open that door for them. I think there are kids such as kylie's that have it under control and have great parent involvement. Then there are also kids that you mention with no real support that do need a solution. My fear is that a lot of the kids are somewhere in the middle. And cutting the parents out of the decisions of these kids just seems like a bad idea. You are right that we shouldn't let any slip through the cracks. I would just like to find a way that doesn't cut parents out of important decisions. Some of these kids are 12 or 13. So what if they have a condom or the pill and don't get pregnant..... think of what bein used by a boy at that age would do to them inside. And then they still have no help because their parents don't even know they are active. Anyway, it may just have to be another agree to dis agree for us to day. but have a good turkey day.

Kylie, thank you for your comments on this. You have a great perspective. Don't let some of the people on here that talk about openness, but can't stand to hear what others think discourage you.

Well we all just seem to be going around and around on this subject. I was raised in a christian family....my father was a Pastor and they taught abstinence and I listened to them and I abstained from sex until I was 18 and then I rebeled and did what I wanted. On the other hand my sister was raised by the same loving and caring parents that I was and at the age of 18, senior in high school she got pregnant. Just because a child has loving and caring parents does not mean that they are going to abstain from sex just because there parents said so or because they felt like it was morally wrong. Why not have our kids protected in case they decide to have sex. I would rather my kids take the necessary precaution then to come to me later down the road and say hey mom I am pregnant, or hey mom I have an STI, or how about mom I have contracted HIV and now my life has been changed forever all because I wasn't allowed to get protection. I pray to God that this law does not pass and that our kids are still allowed to receive protection. If this law does pass you are going to see a whole new Maine.....more teens will be pregnant, more teens will contract and STI or HIV. Better for them to be protected then to have their lives changed forever.

birth control isn`t going to stop sexually tranmitted diseases ( STD ) a condom isn`t foul proof, and the pills doesn`t stop them.

The only way to prevent them is to teach --- NO SEX ----

If you find that hard to teach, take them to a person with HIV or full blown AIDS and have the crap scared out of them

You just have to do what is neccessary.

Maybe having a person with AIDS come into the classroom and talking about AIDS would help show what will happen

Fear can be as good as a pill maybe even better

How about a modernized chastity belt with a built-in cell phone and mp3 player?

Teaching abstinence is part of what we teach....but just because you teach it does not mean they will abstain from it. Think back to when you were a teenager and what you and your friends were thinking and feeling. Teenagers are Teenagers and if they want to have sex they will.....make sure they are Protected. We do have people with Aids come and talk to them but that still doesn't stop all of them from having sex. Condoms are 99% effective better then not using one at all. You need to come out of the closet you live in and realize that kids will be kids and kids will continue to have sex whether we hand out protection or not.

the state would probably want a copy of the key. And who holds the key, daddy or mommy

hopefully mommy

So basically what people are saying

Family values and morals have gone to hell with a hand basket

Well I refuse to accept that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kids still need love from their parents and guidance, and to be shown right from wrong.The goverment`s involvement has to go thru the family unit, which starts with the parents. We can not empower this responsibility to the state. And children have not matured enough to know any better.

We have to stop relying on others just because you don`t feel comfortable talking to your kids about this subject.

Make the time and stop shunnung away from your responsibility

Be a parent

If I live in a closet then I guess there is plenty of room for more families

The key to this closet is good parenting and open communication with your kids

All you can teach them is good morals and family values and trust, they will respect themselves

this was a proven recipe for my daughters, and they will hand this down to theirs

David889327. OMG too funny. Hell it might just work.. LOL

All's I know is I work with teens on a daily basis.....and just telling them not to have sex does not work!!

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RenMike00 wrote: All's I know is I work with teens on a daily basis.....and just telling them not to have sex does not work!!

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Worked with me when I was a kid.

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RESPECT THY PARENTS AND THY SELF

this has always been the way

Today we should be thankful for the family we have and being able to live in the greatest country on earth

And especially the day our daughters get married

to all a good night

kudos to you parkavenuejoe.......doesn't work with everyone.