Several years ago the USA enacted the USA Protect Law prohibiting US citizens from sex with under-18 years old in foreign lands. Within a week the FBI arrested a 19 year-old student in Bangkok for having consensual sex with his 17 year-old girlfriend. There was no follow-up to this story, although a placard at the end of 3rd Road warned US citizens that American authorities were hunting down pedophiles.
Now a California congressman is seeking to criminalize any sexual commerce for US citizens abroad, as if they might be a potential Ted Bundy.
House Bill 3887 § 2423A.
TRAVEL WITH INTENT TO ENGAGE IN ILLICIT SEXUAL CONDUCT:
A person who travels in interstate commerce or travels into the United States, or a United States citizen or an alien admitted for permanent residence in the United States who travels in foreign commerce, for the purpose of engaging in any illicit sexual conduct with another person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
ENGAGING IN ILLICIT SEXUAL CONDUCT IN FOREIGN PLACES:
Any United States citizen or alien admitted for permanent residence who travels in foreign commerce, and engages in any illicit sexual conduct with another person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
Freedom lovers argued the law was unnecessarily punitive.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/LegalIssues/lm21.cfm
Sadly Rep. Tom Lantos (D) died this month before the law could be added onto appropriations bill.
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