What were they thinking? Were the Democrats in the Maine Legislature politically motivated to reject a bill by State Rep. Amy Volk, R-Scarborough, that would allow Maine courts to vacate prostitution verdicts for women who could prove they were victimized by human trafficking? According to party sources, they were.

Jon Hinck, D-Portland, agreed with political observers that the move by Democrats was politically motivated to refuse credit for Volk going into next November’s election.

Ben Grant, Democratic Party chairman, said in an interview, “I just don’t know if it’s (human trafficking) an issue at all here in Maine.” That, despite the fact that calls from Maine to the national human trafficking hot line have doubled in the past three years. He has been forced to backpedal and admits the comment was “ill-conceived,” as he had not done his homework.

Who are these women? Where do they come from and how do they fall victim to human trafficking?

Some of the women are from Third World countries, lured in by the promise of an education and employment in a better environment. Others are addicts who have been forced into the sex trade to pay for their habit. Then there are those who, as teenagers, disappeared right of Main Street, USA.

Instead of further victimizing those women by sending them to jail, why not give them a second chance?

Maine House and Senate leadership should put politics aside and give them a second chance at a lifestyle most of us take for granted.

Dave Ricker, Wiscasset

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