Illegal to Touch (pr article)

LuckyAngel07

The fact that this happens so much that women feel harassed and a law needs to be passed is pretty ridiculous to me. I just don't get how it's suddenly okay to touch a woman's stomach because it's poking out from her body with another human in it, but no one in their right mind would consider rubbing a nonpregnant woman's flat stomach. 

But I'm glad to have some legal backup when (yes, when, not if!)  the day comes someone reaches for my pregnant belly and I break their fingers. :P

http://now.msn.com/pennsylvania-touching-pregnant-bellies-illegal

Uptowngirl2009

I live in PA and posted about this on GPM the other day. I can't believe this had to be a law. PA has many worse problems that they could be dealing with. At least I will be able to ward off unwanted touching by saying, "Don't you know that is against the law?"

islandmonkey8

I think it's bullshit that people do this in general. But I think it's a ridiculous law and don't see that it would be easy to enforce.

lilliesandvino

Given that PA is in such great shape, I'm so glad that our legislators took the time to pass such pressing legislation.

katieg520

Wow...

LuckyAngel07

lilliesandvino said: Given that PA is in such great shape, I'm so glad that our legislators took the time to pass such pressing legislation. Pretty much my reaction when I saw it. Was someone that hard up for something to pass that this took priority? I found some humor in it, but it's really kind of ridiculous.

BruinsBabe33

Isn't this already against the law? Touching someone without permission is assault, right? At least, I always thought it was.

BruinsBabe33

Isn't this already against the law? Touching someone without permission is assault, right? At least, I always thought it was.

LuckyAngel07

BruinsBabe33 said:

Isn't this already against the law? Touching someone without permission is assault, right? At least, I always thought it was.

I don't think simply touching someone could be considered assault; I think it has to be a violent action like hitting, pushing/shoving, throwing something at them, using some type of weapon against them, etc. Granted, I don't know for certain. 

You would think something like this would be covered as harassment already, though! I don't get the need to an entirely new law just for that.

BruinsBabe33

Assault At Common Law, an intentional act by one person that creates an apprehension in another of an imminent harmful or offensive contact

This is what I just found. I would say touching someone's belly is offensive to them. Regardless, this should be common sense not to touch someone else. I really don't see anyone pressing charges for this, though.