Why should marital rape be any different than other rapes?

Approximately 10 - 14\% of married women are raped by their husbands in the United States.

Although marital rape is now a crime in all 50 states in the U.S., some states still don't consider it as serious as other forms of rape. The only states that have laws that make no distinction between marital rape and stranger rape are: Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These states have no marital rape exemptions.

I was raped by my now ex husband. I pressed charges against him and the charge was reduced from rape to sexual assault. His sentence: 15 days restrictive duty. At the time he was in the military.

Being raped is one of the most horrible acts a person can go through. It leaves you feeling worthless, ashamed and guilty. It's MY body and nobody has the right to force themselves on me and it shouldn't matter if that person is my husband, a friend or complete stranger.

I ask that you remove the exemption{s} from the other states so victims/survivors don't feel as though they are being raped all over again when they file charges against their rapists only to find out that because of some loop hole, the charge of rape will be reduced or even worse, their rapist is let go with a slap on the wrist.