North Carolina Rape Law: No does not mean No in North Carolina
Carolina rape law validates rape as seen in a case of a 19-year-old girl who in a party at North Carolina agreed to have sex with a man she met at the party. However, she in the middle of it changed her mind as the man turned violent. But, as per law, she cannot legally revoke her consent.
In this case the High Court observes that even if the actual penetration has begun with the woman’s consent the accused shall not guilty of rape. However, he shall be guilty of other crimes because of his subsequent actions.
Jeff Jackson, a democrat senator on 30th March filed a bill to change the law, stating that a person may withdraw consent to engage in vaginal intercourse in the middle of the intercourse, even if the actual penetration has begun with consent and even if there is only one act of vaginal intercourse. He will file the bill again next year. He became aware of this loophole of law as a criminal prosecutor where he was forced to dismiss a rape charge because Carolina law takes away the right to say no after the intercourse has begun.
North Carolina is the only state in the country where no doesn’t really mean no. If at times, the sex turns violent, the woman has no right to tell the man to stop.
However, the implementation of the new bill is facing heat from many conservative forces.
Executive director of Our Voice, Angelica Wind said that the present law firmly suggests that women don’t have autonomy over their bodies. She further added consent shall be enthusiastic and continuous and allowing women to revoke consent might be transformative for the state of North Carolina. She further added that the present law firmly suggests that women don’t have autonomy over their bodies.
