# Free Viagra for Rapists and Child Molesters... WTF?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [May 24, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328 "2005-05-24T20:51:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/41 "2005-05-25T23:13:12Z")
> [@Apos](#):
>
> Today’s Senate: OMG SEX!!! WTF!!!
>
> Meanwhile: Healthcare, Social Security and a host of other unimportant problems go unaddressed.
Or this is just used as a large distraction while Social Security gets worked over like Jimmy Hoffa.
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### Author:  [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/42 "2005-05-25T23:13:53Z")
Thanks for the down-low, **Qadgop**. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/43 "2005-05-25T23:41:49Z")
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> So if a person who has been convicted of child molestation serves his sentence, is released back into the community, and uses state supplied viagra to wank to kiddie porn, you’re okay with that? And you see no danger that a rapist may use Viagra to commit a sex crime?
Rape is not a sex crime, it’s a crime of power and control. As is, from what I understand, child molestation.
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### Author:  [@markdiscordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdiscordia)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/44 "2005-05-26T00:00:49Z")
> [@Feydeau](#):
>
> Rape is not a sex crime, it’s a crime of power and control.
:rolleyes:
Rape is one of those many non-sexual activities that involve ejaculating at the end. Like murdering someone and ejaculating. Or kicking in a car window and ejaculating. Totally non-sexual!
What is the origin of this idea that admitting sex is a component of rape somehow makes rape less serious or wrong?
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### Author:  [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/45 "2005-05-26T00:09:02Z")
> [@ScoobyTX](#):
>
> Where did this story FIRST break? Was it some “investigative report” for TV news? Sounds to me like a May sweeps story. Of course, everyday is sweeps for newspapers, and for demogogue politcos.
The New York story came from a report by the state comptroller.
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### Author:  [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/46 "2005-05-26T00:12:43Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#):
>
> So, since the parolee is by all accounts not violating parole, and is legally receiving Medicaid, and Viagra is an approved drug for Medicaid, who are we condemning here?
I think the condemation is directed at the state Medicaid agencies paying for the Viagra , although IMO it’s undeserved.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/47 "2005-05-26T00:17:12Z")
> [@Feydeau](#):
>
> Rape is not a sex crime, it’s a crime of power and control. As is, from what I understand, child molestation.
Um… an erect dick rather helps. Otherwise it would be “object rape” or “sexual assault” at most. (Few rapes involve cunnilingus and heavy kissing.)
> [@Apos](#):
>
> Today’s Senate: OMG SEX!!! WTF!!!
I’m slightly left of center and absolutely no fan of the gov’t taking an interest in what happens between two to thirty consenting adults and their genitalia. However, I see a difference between “OMG SEX! WTF!” and “So taxpayer’s money is being used to provide drugs to help men who have sexually abused others get their penises hard.” This isn’t the same as saying “Gay sex should be criminal” or “lights out/missionary only”, it’s empowering sexual abusers and potentially enabling rape and molestation. It’s not a right they should have if it potentially exposes others to violent crime.
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### Author:  [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/48 "2005-05-26T00:38:53Z")
> [@doreen](#):
>
> The New York story came from a report by the state comptroller.
I take it the state comptroller is planning to run for higher office in 2006? :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/49 "2005-05-26T02:22:00Z")
> [@Feydeau](#):
>
> Rape is not a sex crime, it’s a crime of power and control. As is, from what I understand, child molestation.
Uh, yeah it is. It may be primarily about power and control, but it’s still a sex crime, as in using sex as a weapon.
Child molestation, however, is not always about power. Child molestation IS often about sex-a very fucked up, warped version of it. Many child molestors do not see what they are doing as harmful, and truly believe that their actions were consentual.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/50 "2005-05-26T02:23:42Z")
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> However, I see a difference between “OMG SEX! WTF!” and “So taxpayer’s money is being used to provide drugs to help men who have sexually abused others get their penises hard.” This isn’t the same as saying “Gay sex should be criminal” or “lights out/missionary only”, it’s empowering sexual abusers and potentially enabling rape and molestation. It’s not a right they should have if it potentially exposes others to violent crime.
Until I see how many sex offenders are actually receiving Viagra, I am going to attribute this whole hysteria to just one more distraction from deficit spending, health care and Iraq. You people that are wringing your hands in righteous indignation don’t even know if this is a serious problem! How many sex offenders are we talking about here? 50? 5? 1? Does anybody know? Is it just an oversight that this has not been revealed?
You are being manipulated, and apparently are content to go along with it, because it is something that has an easy solution; just a stroke of the pen, and no more Viagra for pedophiles. Whew! Don’t you feel good about protecting America’s children, and giving some Congressmen another talking point to run on?
Where is the critical thinking this place is famous for? Has anybody bothered to ask if this is a _significant_ problem before you jumped on yet another very comfortable yet meaningless bandwagon?
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### Author:  [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/51 "2005-05-26T02:37:15Z")
> [@ScoobyTX](#):
>
> I take it the state comptroller is planning to run for higher office in 2006? :rolleyes:
I hadn’t heard it before, but this makes me suspicious. Except he’s a Democrat, so it can’t be governor he’s looking at.
Incidently, it was 198 level 3 sex offenders in NY receiving Viagra paid for by Medicaid - no count of how many level 1 and 2 sex offenders. And yesterday
> [@](#):
>
> Pataki instructed the state Division of Parole “to prohibit all convicted sexual offenders under their supervision from using these types of medications” and urged local parole departments to do likewise.
Happened faster than I thought it would.
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### Author:  [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/52 "2005-05-26T02:38:19Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> Uh, yeah it is. It may be primarily about power and control, but it’s still a sex crime, as in using sex as a weapon.
>
> Child molestation, however, is not always about power. Child molestation IS often about sex-a very fucked up, warped version of it. Many child molestors do not see what they are doing as harmful, and truly believe that their actions were consentual.
Okay, I wasn’t clear. It’s not that rape isn’t a sex crime, it’s just that more often it’s about power or control or something other than “just” sex.
And, yes, child molestation is often about control and power. Not always, just very very often.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/53 "2005-05-26T02:47:12Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#):
>
> Until I see how many sex offenders are actually receiving Viagra, I am going to attribute this whole hysteria to just one more distraction from deficit spending, health care and Iraq. You people that are wringing your hands in righteous indignation don’t even know if this is a serious problem! How many sex offenders are we talking about here? 50? 5? 1? Does anybody know? Is it just an oversight that this has not been revealed?
>
> You are being manipulated, and apparently are content to go along with it, because it is something that has an easy solution; just a stroke of the pen, and no more Viagra for pedophiles. Whew! Don’t you feel good about protecting America’s children, and giving some Congressmen another talking point to run on?
>
> Where is the critical thinking this place is famous for? Has anybody bothered to ask if this is a _significant_ problem before you jumped on yet another very comfortable yet meaningless bandwagon?
How am I being manipulated? Have I ever said that this should take top priority- stop debate on any other topic, go ahead and appoint Bill “Help Ms. Parks to the back of the bus” Pryor for judge and nuke Tehran if you want to, but get this taken care of ASAP? I think the overreacting is by people who think it’s wrong to say “This needs to be fixed” until “we take on each problem/from war to pollution/no hope of solution” first.
Global warming is bad. This is bad. I don’t think the two statements are mutually exclusive.
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### Author:  [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-viagra-for-rapists-and-child-molesters-wtf/305328/54 "2005-05-26T03:58:11Z")
So who’s to blame now if, lacking properly prescribed Viagra to help him have normal relations with the wife/ other consenting adult, Mr. Sex Offender is so ashamed and frustrated that he returns to his previously demonstrated methods of affirming his virility?
I’m not arguing for handing out Viagra to every deviant ex-con on his way through the prison gates, but shouldn’t this be a medical decision, made between the doctor and his patient?
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