Deliberately infecting others with HIV will no longer be a felony in California

Biggest lickspittle on boardz · 08-10-2017 03:14PM #1

(CNN)Starting January 1, 2018, it will no longer be a major crime in California to knowingly expose a sexual partner to HIV without disclosing the infection. Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation on Friday that lowers the offense from a felony to a misdemeanor.

The California legislature passed SB 239 on September 11.
The law previously punished people who knowingly exposed or infected others with HIV by up to eight years in prison. This new legislation will lower jail time to a maximum of six months.
The new law also reduces the penalty for knowingly donating HIV-infected blood from a felony to a misdemeanor.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/07/health/california-hiv-bill-signed/index.html

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is another regressive idea that sounds workable in theory but will be horrendous in practice.

Do you think it should be a crime to deliberately infect someone with a potentially fatal disease?

2Mad2BeMad · 08-10-2017 03:17PM

Well Americans know best.

Donal55 · 08-10-2017 03:18PM

Biggest lickspittle on boardz wrote: »

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/07/health/california-hiv-bill-signed/index.html

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is another regressive idea that sounds workable in theory but will be horrendous in practice.

Do you think it should be a crime to deliberately infect someone with a potentially fatal disease?

Or ...maybe know who you're sleeping with.

justshane · 08-10-2017 03:20PM

Biggest lickspittle on boardz wrote: »

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/07/health/california-hiv-bill-signed/index.html

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is another regressive idea that sounds workable in theory but will be horrendous in practice.

Do you think it should be a crime to deliberately infect someone with a potentially fatal disease?

I don't even know how you think it sounds workable in theory. It's just so wrong on many levels.

Roger Hassenforder · 08-10-2017 03:23PM

It still is a crime

A Little Pony · 08-10-2017 03:30PM

It's California, a place with no morals on anything.

greencap · 08-10-2017 03:32PM

Gad damn latrine.

hoccck ...ping.

Tenigate · 08-10-2017 03:34PM

Liberals are sick people.

One eyed Jack · 08-10-2017 03:35PM

Biggest lickspittle on boardz wrote: »

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/07/health/california-hiv-bill-signed/index.html

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is another regressive idea that sounds workable in theory but will be horrendous in practice.

Do you think it should be a crime to deliberately infect someone with a potentially fatal disease?

Absolutely, and I'd go further and say it should be a crime to deliberately and intentionally infect people with any STI.

retro:electro · 08-10-2017 03:37PM

Why are they lowering the offence for this? This is honestly one of the sickest things I've ever heard

Obvious Otter · 08-10-2017 03:39PM

California is a major example of political correctness gone absolutely insanse. This has been brought in on the back of discrimination against people with HIV and to show that living with HIV is no longer a death sentence. Intentionally infecting someone with HIV should carry a life sentence. Absolutely crazy politics.

PeterParker957 · 08-10-2017 03:40PM

anna080 wrote: »

Why are they lowering the offence for this? This is honestly one of the sickest things I've ever heard

Just as health care is becoming less available and affordable they open the doors to more illnesses.

A Little Pony · 08-10-2017 04:16PM

Obvious Otter wrote: »

California is a major example of political correctness gone absolutely insanse. This has been brought in on the back of discrimination against people with HIV and to show that living with HIV is no longer a death sentence. Intentionally infecting someone with HIV should carry a life sentence. Absolutely crazy politics.

And they cry and moan on how it is possible Trump could possibly get elected. Because of those same asshole asking the question.

tonycascarino · 08-10-2017 04:40PM

Obvious Otter wrote: »

California is a major example of political correctness gone absolutely insane. This has been brought in on the back of discrimination against people with HIV and to show that living with HIV is no longer a death sentence. Intentionally infecting someone with HIV should carry a life sentence. Absolutely crazy politics.

Those liberal freaks are a sick shower of individuals. Disgusting.

retro:electro · 08-10-2017 04:46PM

Surely you shouldn't let a personal crusade or agenda dictate your law making? By decrimilasing and destigmatizing, they've essentially made the intentional infection of another person a victimless crime. Repercussions act as deterrents for immoral and illicit behaviour, and they're lowering it in order to socially destigmatize- that shouldn't be the sole motivation behind reducing a penalty.

One eyed Jack · 08-10-2017 04:57PM

anna080 wrote: »

Surely you shouldn't let a personal crusade or agenda dictate your law making? By decrimilasing and destigmatizing, they've essentially made the intentional infection of another person a victimless crime. Repercussions act as deterrents for immoral and illicit behaviour, and they're lowering it in order to socially destigmatize- that shouldn't be the sole motivation behind reducing a penalty.

Unfortunately that's exactly what dictates law making -

Criminal transmission of HIV

Biggest lickspittle on boardz · 08-10-2017 08:28PM

justshane wrote: »

I don't even know how you think it sounds workable in theory. It's just so wrong on many levels.

You know, the more I think about it, you are right.

I had misinterpreted the decision to change the law and assumed that there was a law whereby maybe someone could be prosecuted for inadvertently infecting someone else with HIV.

But this isn't true.

So yes, the decision is utterly bizarre and astonishing.

I'm starting to believe that you can get liberals to literally believe ANYTHING as long as you frame it as a diversity/discrimination issue. They'll swallow any new age political junk science that has that magic label attached. And I do mean anything.
I thought the US religious right had the monopoly on that sort of thinking, how wrong I was.

This is an ideology, society, and culture that is in full meltdown.

uck51js9zml2yt · 09-10-2017 05:53AM

Read the thread and we must understand one very important thing...this is America and they do very stupid things in America as we have all seen.

Winner of the Darwin award

09-10-2017 08:16AM

Donal55 wrote: »

Or ...maybe know who you're sleeping with.

I've seen and made a lot of stupid comments over the last 15 years on the internet but this tops them all.

Hector Savage · 09-10-2017 08:22AM

Jesus the regressive lunatic mentally ill left have hit a new low.

suicide_circus · 09-10-2017 08:47AM

Ah sure they can just self identify as HIV negative. Facts are no longer the deciding factor when determining truth in this brave new world.

Biggest lickspittle on boardz · 09-10-2017 08:57AM

Myra Gigantic Self-importance wrote: »

Read the thread and we must understand one very important thing...this is America and they do very stupid things in America as we have all seen.

Winner of the Darwin award

This wasn't a purely American decision though, it was a Californian decision only. A bastion of liberal regressive left fanaticism.

Funny how the usual leftie cheerleaders on boards.ie are conspicuous by their absence on this matter...

irishproduce · 09-10-2017 09:10AM

Donal55 wrote: »

Or ...maybe know who you're sleeping with.

That is fine Donal, but the offence for knowingly donating infected blood has also had the punishment reduced.
To reduce the punishment for something sends an important message to those who consider it.
Imagine you received a blood donation after an accident and woke up to find you had been treated.
Then you are told that you received transfusion of blood from some jackass who knowlingly donated their infected blood.
Your life is now forever affected by this, presumably for the worst.
Should the perpetrator not be punished accordingly for what they have done to you?

Richard Hillman · 09-10-2017 09:18AM

The sentence is dropping from 8 years to a maximum of 6months. 6 months maximum for ruining somebody's life.

It is also applicable for people who knowingly donate blood infected with HIV.

Maybe California really are better off just leaving the U.S and going it alone. It will be a wasteland in no time.

09-10-2017 10:20AM

The previous law didn't take account of those who were receiving therapy for HIV infection, even though they have a negligible chance of exposing a sexual partner to HIV.

If it were up to me, I'd have abolished any legal penalty for those undergoing HIV treatment, and would have simply lowered the maximum penalty for those not receiving therapy, instead of making it a misdemeanour. This would bring the laws of California better in-line with developments in modern medicine, and hopefully encourage engagement with healthcare services by those living with HIV.

Having said that, as far as I can see, nothing in this legislation impedes a person who has contracted HIV from taking a civil suit against a sexual partner.

Bottom line, I think the new legal situation is an improvement on the previous legislation, but I think the legislators have gone slightly too far in respect of those who are not undergoing treatment for HIV exposure.

Annasopra · 09-10-2017 10:29AM

justshane wrote: »

I don't even know how you think it sounds workable in theory. It's just so wrong on many levels.

If you assume everyone you sleep with has HIV and accordingly take precautions then yes it is workable.

Grayson · 09-10-2017 10:32AM

I've read articles recently which said that people who are undergoing treatment don't even need to wear condoms. If you've undergoing the correct treatment it's next to impossible to infect someone. And if you get infected it won't kill you. Treatments are at a stage where it is a big inconvenience to your life but it's not a death sentence.

that's why they lowered the severity of the crime.

However there is one thing I'd take issue with. The cost of those treatments can be quite high. That means that for people without health insurance it's a lot more sever than for those with health insurance. And we all know what US health insurance is like.

bear1 · 09-10-2017 10:37AM

So.. it is now considered as strong a penalty as parking illegally in California.
I must say, what a complete and utter **** box mentality they have to even come up with this.
You essentially condone someone to death or a life time of medical treatment and it's no longer a crime?
Fcuk right off but then again the Americans aren't known for their brightness.

09-10-2017 10:40AM

bear1 wrote: »

You essentially condone someone to death or a life time of medical treatment and it's no longer a crime?
.

Ah here, you're not doing your case any favours by exaggerating.

HIV is not a death sentence. You're more likely to die with it, than die of it, if you engage with treatment.

For the vast majority, the treatment consists of a daily tablet with your breakfast, and a check-up once a year or so.

bear1 · 09-10-2017 10:55AM

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Ah here, you're not doing your case any favours by exaggerating.

HIV is not a death sentence. You're more likely to die with it, than die of it, if you engage with treatment.

For the vast majority, the treatment consists of a daily tablet with your breakfast, and a check-up once a year or so.

Granted, I somewhat went over the top.
But, if you have a healthy immune system and you start treatment early then yes you've got high chances of making it to the end.
But what if your immune system isn't good?
This is still a stupid argument, if my immune system is weak and someone knowingly gives me HIV I'm effectively sentenced to death while the person who did this gets away with it.
It's a sick law.

09-10-2017 10:58AM

bear1 wrote: »

This is still a stupid argument, if my immune system is weak and someone knowingly gives me HIV I'm effectively sentenced to death.

Really? Like what condition?

If your immune system is that weak, your life expectancy is probably seriously diminished in the first place. For the vast, vast majority of people, they should enjoy a normal life expectancy.

Deliberately infecting others with HIV will no longer be a felony in California

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