The seven young people representing Planned Parenthood of the Inland Northwest traveled to Olympia for a firsthand lesson in civics. They came away with a firsthand understanding of free speech.

They hoped to lobby state Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane, for more money for sex education. Ahern had other plans. In a meeting in his office with the teens, he said repeatedly: “By the way, I need to find out how many unborn babies were killed by Planned Parenthood.”

A parent of one of the teens filed a complaint with the Legislative Ethics Board. Last week, the board announced its dismissal of the complaint. Board attorney Mike O’Connell explained: “The legislator is entitled to his opinion and … there’s no ethical provision which addresses language which some people think to be offensive.”

The teens may be disappointed that Ahern wasn’t sanctioned. But their disappointment should be tempered by the lifelong lessons offered to them in that Jan. 21 meeting with the 6th District lawmaker.

The teens belong to Planned Parenthood’s advisory board. More and more agencies and organizations are asking teens to join their boards as advisory or full-fledged members. Teens add a different perspective, and they learn how adults function in the business and civic arenas. It isn’t always impressive.

Ahern discovered his foot in his mouth a few times this legislative session. And he seemed more amused than remorseful, though he did apologize for wondering, during a hearing on a gay rights bill, what would prevent a person from registering a dog as a domestic partner.

Ahern isn’t apologetic about his behavior with the students. He said he believes the parent who filed the complaint made a mountain out of a molehill. The students, according to the complaint, found Ahern’s words threatening, offensive and abusive. But the ethics board rightly found that Ahern’s words constituted his opinion, and opinion is protected speech.

Women and men in the United States have the right to speak eloquently or stupidly, profoundly or crudely. They also have a right to speak first and think later.

The teens can learn from Ahern what not to do when they become legislators visited by young people from their districts: Don’t speak abusively, even though you possess the ability – and the right – to do so.