Teen-sex case should be handled privately, not as criminal act

Editor:

I am writing in respect to Kimberly McKie's April 5 letter to the editor ("Teen sex problems deeper than legal definitions; power involved"). She certainly has the degrees to support her comments on cognitive development of hypothetical thinking,the ability to theorize and deductive reasoning.

She states that younger teens do not have the cognitive capacity to consent to sex, but in this case the consent was initiated by 13- and 14-year-old girls, who did make this decision, who did have the cognitive capacity, and who thought it out prior to the act.

I am interested in learning about the psychological damage caused by consensual oral sex. Who does all this "guilt" fall upon? Is it the girls who performed it openly and honestly, the boys who were there for the planned event, or maybe to the parents of all involved for easing of their parenting skills and responsibilities?

After a certain age -- and some "develop at their own rate," even girls -- with all the added influence and peer pressure around them, it is a stressful and difficult road for all children. Cable television is full of sex and violence, so where do you start?

I pray that these parents decide to handle this matter privately, seek therapy if needed and let the others students learn from this poor choice of behavior. The boys should not have been charged.

Lindsay Thetford

Martinez