LET TERS
DANCING WITH DANGER
I have been wanting to write this for
years, yet didn’t know exactly where to
send it. I am concerned about the lack of
rules and regulations of Oregon Liquor
Control Commission (OLCC) in the past
10 years.
I was a stripper in Eugene and Spring-
field between 1997 and 2007. I always felt
somewhat safe that there were rules upheld
by OLCC in all the strip clubs. I honestly
have to say that I am appalled and con-
cerned by the lack of regulation of laws
now at all clubs.
I am embarrassed and feel worried for
the safety of the entertainers and patrons of
these businesses. It is now a live sex show
and prostitution runs freely amongst bar
owners and the eyes of OLCC. I am disap-
pointed and dumbfounded by this fact.
Where are you OLCC? Who is letting
this go on? Even as a fully clothed cus-
tomer, I have had my crotch and breasts
grabbed. I fear for the safety of all the
dancers as well as the future of OLCC if
they are allowing this activity to occur on
a daily basis.
Sasha Norris
Eugene
PREVENTING SUICIDE
On June 10 I will be traveling to Wash-
ington, D.C. along with more than 225
American Foundation for Suicide Preven-
tion (AFSP) advocates from all 50 states to
meet with our congressmen and senators,
urging them to support suicide prevention
and mental health legislation.
Together we are standing up, speak-
ing out and seeking improvements in five
key areas that would play a vital role in
preventing suicide and improving mental
health across the country: increased fund-
ing for suicide prevention research; insur-
ance coverage for mental health and sub-
stance use conditions; military and veteran
suicide prevention; preservation of fund-
ing for suicide prevention programs; and
increased funding for the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK) and
Crisis Centers.
I lost my father and brother to suicide,
and I live with bipolar disorder, so this
cause is very personal for me.
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June 14, 2018 • eugeneweekly.com
I have dedicated my time to educating
others about suicide prevention and mental
health. In meeting with members of Con-
gress, it’s our collective goal to effect real
change in our government and further our
mission to stop suicide.
Let’s make mental health as important
as physical health and continue to bring
hope to those affected by suicide.
Sara K. Scofield
Eugene
END CHILD MARRIAGE
Between 2000 and 2015, at least
207,468 children were married in the U.S.,
and 3,285 or more of those cases were in
Oregon and mostly involved girls married
to adult men.
Recently, Delaware became the first and
only state to outlaw all marriage under the
age of 18. In all other U.S. states, minors
can marry through legal loopholes, and of-
ten there is no minimum age for marriage.
In Oregon, 17-year-olds can marry with
parental consent. This law fails to address
the fact that when a child is forced to mar-
ry, the perpetrators are almost always the
parents.
All child marriage should be eliminated
in Oregon. This issue is not about emo-
tional maturity, but rather legal capacity.
Minors under 18 lack the legal rights to
safely navigate a marriage. They cannot
easily enter a domestic violence shelter,
retain an attorney or file a legal action in
their own name.
The law requires that youth shelters in-
form parents of the whereabouts of their
children, which puts victims in danger if
their parents are complicit in the abuse.
Child Protective Services will often not
intervene in child marriages if the parents
consent to the marriage.
Child marriage can also have devastat-
ing effects on health, education and eco-
nomic opportunities.
As a group of high school juniors and
seniors, we urge our legislators to end
child marriage in Oregon. It is a threat to
the safety and freedom of our peers.
Eloise Parish Mueller, president
South Eugene High School
Unchained Club