Lawmakers, unhappy with a recent court ruling saying that it's not illegal for a teacher to have sex with a student, so long as the student's 18, are trying to now make it illegal.

The recent court ruling “opens the door for this being open season on our 18-year-old students,” said Rep. Larry Haler, R-Richland.

At a hearing at the state capitol Wednesday, a spokesman for the state association of criminal defense lawyers argued against criminalizing sex with 18-year-olds, even if they’re students. It's like "taking the proverbial sledgehammer to a fly," he said.

“For the 18- or 19-year-olds, at some point in life, we have to say you’re old enough to make your own choices,” said Wade Samuelson.

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