Posted by
Frederick T. McKaig on Monday, December 18, 2006 5:16:34 PM
This morning I had the opportunity to be Mike Gallagher's second caller of the morning. The topic was Why Prisons should or should not pass out condoms. An awful lot of people believe condoms should be rationed in prisons, even if they don't particularly like it.
Why then should prisons ration out condoms? After all, prisoners aren't supposed to be having sex anyways. Passing out condoms is in essence the government saying "since you're going to have sex anyways you might as well have 'protected sex' ".
My concern when I called in to speak to Mike was "what about those who are the victim of rape in prison?" If I'm correct Mike Gallagher was against this program in a Philadelphia prison, because handing out condoms would encourage the prisoners to have sex. Mike Gallagher had not even considered those who get raped in prison, and I understand why. Prison rape is more rare than the general public believes happens and in addition to that even though the AIDS rate in prison is higher than the general public, it's my understanding to be around 2-3%.
Rape is about power, not sex. This explains why men who are not homosexual outside the walls of a prison could very well commit homosexual acts in prison. Prison sex in general is "institutional homosexuality", but rape is about power. The inmates are trying to move up in the food chain so to speak, this can be done by raping other inmates.
To stop the spread of AIDS in prisons, condoms are not enough. Here's an interesting fact: condoms do break. It is irresponsible for prisons to hand out condoms without handing out little packets of KY jelly also. Pornography is contraband as well, pornography "use" could prevent prison sex rape as well; and thereby reducing the spread of AIDS in prisons.
Mike Gallagher had it right though. His concern was that the Prisons were not REALLY concerned with the spread of AIDS. The prisons handing out condoms may very well be concerned with prisoners expressing sexual freedom.
If the prisons wanted to really stop AIDS they would quarantine the prisoners with AIDS. They can't though, because that would be discrimination. Even though prisons do discriminate, based on offense. LET'S GET REAL and quarantine those with AIDS and all those who are contagious, after all government is supposed to protect the people; particularly those footing the bill. Most prisoners will be back out into society eventually.