This is in response to the vote by the Portland School Committee to make contraceptives available to students at King Middle School. I was stunned that the topic of giving birth control to 11-13 year-olds was even thought about!

The legal age for sex in Maine is 16. If children are having sex before that age, they are engaging in statutory rape, and giving them contraceptives is aiding and abetting an illegal activity. Why aren’t those illegal activities reported?

What those children really need are counselors.

What’s next? Giving 12-year-olds marijuana so they don’t have to associate with dangerous drug dealers?

There are people in this state who cannot afford a place to live, or even their medication, so why are tax dollars going to fund the activities of some promiscuous kids? And when I thought it couldn’t even get any more ridiculous, there’s doubt the parents will even be told?

What kind of message are we sending to children when we say “Wait until marriage,” but the school is saying “Free condoms and we won’t tell”?

Absolutely shameful!

That is like giving a Band-Aid to someone who was bitten by a venomous snake. It doesn’t solve the problem.

Jeff Charity, Paris