Washington Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on January 24, 2005

Click here to view bill details.

absolutely.... parents have a right to know what is going on. personally, if parents are to be held accountable for children less than 18...then they should have the right to make those decisions for the child.

Do you know the odds of a teen parent (usually just teen mother) succeeding in life (i.e. graduating high school, attending any college, having any career)? They are the most likely to end up impoverished and are the most likely to raise children who will end up impoverished by the same means. And if the teen wants to avoid this fate, why should the parents be allowed to doom their children to it by overriding the child's better judgement?

The "child's better judgement"? Where was the child's better judgement when she got pregnant in the first place.

...is that the parent who did such a great job in raising a child who ended up pregnant has the good sense to force his or her daughter to keep the baby when it's going to almost guarantee a life of underachieving and reliance on public assistance? You're right. If the pregnant teen has the good sense to realize her life is going to be affected fundamentally and, in general, negatively by having a child, her decision to avoid that fate should be overridden by the will of her parent(s) who obviously are aware of what the teen is up to and how to raise children who don't get pregnant before they've even graduated high school. Good call.

Does Washington consider a pregnant 16 y.o. to be an emancipated adult. How does the doctor receive informed consent from a minor??

...shouldn't stores card people who look like teens if they're buying condoms? After all, you know what condoms are for! Don't allow kids to get condoms, so they'll get pregnant, then don't allow them to get abortions either, because they having a baby is punishment, or teaching them a lesson...oh, wait, I mean it's a miracle. Please.

I would like to strongly disagree with the previous comment saying that stores should card teens before buying condoms. Teen sex happens and is becoming more common. Teen sex isnt terrible so long as no one ends up pregnant or with an STD. Condoms are the most effective way to prevent these complications. also, if teens are carded before buying condoms, this isnt going to discourage them from having sex, it will discourage them from having safe sex. This will simply exasserbate the problem of teen pregnancy, not to mention HIV/AIDS and other STDs.