The age of consent should be lowered to 13.

[Grid]

It's stupid and pointless to lock someone up because they had sex with a teenager. It's stupid, teens have sex with teens and adults have sex with adults, so why can't adults have sex with teens? Hell I have several friends who could go to prison for having sex with their 13-17 year old girlfriends, just because they are 18-21 years old. Hell right now I'm interested in a woman who is 17, but we wouldn't legally be able to have sex because I'm 18. My last girlfriend was 13 years old, and that was when I was 18 also. It's just a really stupid rule. There are people who have gone to prison and are registered sex offenders because they had sex with the person who is currently their wife, but they weren't when they had sex. Technically it's not pedophilia if they are 13 or older, so it has nothing to do with pedophilia. In some US states you can get married at 13. It's just a pointless law that puts good people behind bars. Who else would like the age of consent to be lowered to 13?

[Tristin.]

i dont think it should be lowerd to 13, maybe 15, but not 13. the person may be physicaly ready, but i dont think many of them would be mentaly ready

[Fiction]

13 is too young. There is now law against an 18 year old having sex with a 17 year old btw. As for adults having sex with teenagers, I think each case should be individually looked at. If the teenager gave consent, then the adult shouldn't be punished. Although I do not believe it should be legal because then it would make people think they could get away with abuse.

[Korashk]

i dont think it should be lowerd to 13, maybe 15, but not 13. the person may be physicaly ready, but i dont think many of them would be mentaly ready
So what if they aren't mentally ready? I don't see how that's any of your concern.

AoC should be abolished.

[Jamie]

AoC should be abolished.

Do you fully realize the implications of abolishing age of consent laws?

[The Dark Lord]

No, 13 year olds are nowhere near equipped to be parents.

[Mrs.KermitTheFrogx]

Its 16 in England and personally i dont think there should be a law on it
because there should be advise but the thing is
its someones desicion weither they want to do it or not
and most of the time a law isnt going to stop it
its not stopped eg drugs even things like murder.
Also i think its unfair how its the guy who gets prosicuted for statuary rape
since its not a one way thing
it takes to people to have sex
thats just my personal views any way

[INACTIVE_USER]

Well I have lived in 3 countries and have seen different age of consents

Holland - 16
Spain - 13
Ireland - 17

I do not have a strong opinion on the aage of consent but in some cases I have witnessed teenagers who view it as an age of expectation to have intercourse. This, for example, may lead to teenagers at 13 being pressurised to have intercourse while only entering adolescence. However, if the age of consent is lowered to 13 laws, such as those enacted in Spain, must be brought in to give extra protection to minors in cases of partners over 16

[Amnesiac]

The age of consent is barely enforceable, it wouldn't make a difference if we changed it. The ideal law would be 14-18 with protection only, but that's just as impossible to enforce as the current age of consent.

[Tristin.]

as justin said, its impossible to enforce, so in reality its more of a guideline than a law

[Jamie]

No, 13 year olds are nowhere near equipped to be parents.
Implying that teenage pregnancy is the major issue here.

[Fiction]

I think that the sex it's self is not the issue. Of course it's an issue when kids not old enough to mentally deal with it are having sex, but really it's the pregnancy. Children of teenage parents are much likley to end up growing up in single parent families etc. This can cause all sorts of mental problems for those children in later life and it's not fair on them.

[Grid]

No, 13 year olds are nowhere near equipped to be parents.

They make things called condoms and birth control. Just an FYI.

[Korashk]

Do you fully realize the implications of abolishing age of consent laws?
Yes I do.

[Tristin.]

that does not make them equiped for parenthood, could you at 13, andle a new born baby, school and the pressure? i doubt it

[Dimitri]

I have to agree that changing the age of consent is something that should not be tampered with.

[Fiction]

No form of contraception is 100% reliable, and you can't trust everyone to use them.
Also it's not just having a baby that is mentally challenging. Just being in a sexual relationship can be mentally challenging.

[The Dark Lord]

They make things called condoms and birth control. Just an FYI.

Neither of which are 100% effective.FYI

[Toaster]

You're saying that as if most people had the reason or logic to do it carefully. Most people are unreasonable and quite stupid at the that age, they also think they have everything under control when they really don't. C'mon, 13 years old, the brain is not even close to fully developing.

[KylieEatWorld]

Different states in the U.S. have different laws involving age of consent such as in Alabama the age of consent is 16 as long as the other person is 25 or younger. That law keeps the creepy pedophile crimes out and the inconvenience of 18 year olds getting in trouble for there 17 year old girlfriends.

[Jess]

13 is too young...unless the person is very mature...>_>

[KylieEatWorld]

13 is too young...unless the person is very mature...>_>

But we don't have the means of evaluating every 13 year olds maturity so we can just assume that by 16 they'll be mature enough.

[The Dark Lord]

But we don't have the means of evaluating every 13 year olds maturity so we can just assume that by 16 they'll be mature enough.

most 16 year olds aren't equipped to be a parents, no 13 year old is equipped to be a parent

[DreamSeeker]

To be honest in my opinion I feel it's safe at 16 or maybe 15. 13 is too young and IMHO I find it a bit disturbing going out with a 13 year old at 18. ( no offence though just my opinion)


Sent from my iPod touch 4G using Tapatalk

[Korashk]

most 16 year olds are equipped to be a parents

:what::what::what:

[The Dark Lord]

:what::what::what:

Whoops I've corrected that!

[trooneh]

13 is too young in most cases. The age of consent is in place to make sure that the person can mentally understand all the possible ramifications of having sex. I don't believe most 13 year olds have that ability.

[hotandgay]

i think it should be up to the parents...if they know there child is dating an adult there should be no problem...but i dont think the age should ever be thought to go that young maybe 16 but it just seems wrong on many levels for a man or woman of 18 or 21 to be sleeping with a 13 yr old it even sounds odd with a 16 year old...they put this law for a reason

[trooneh]

i think it should be up to the parents...if they know there child is dating an adult there should be no problem...


That bit, that assumes the parents have good judgement

[hotandgay]

That bit, that assumes the parents have good judgement

well even if they dont your living with them and they should have the overall say it is there house and you dont have to live there they could send you away or put you in foster care...if my parents were to say no to me dating a 21 year old fine thats good because if i were to love that 21 year old i would leave them to save them future problems...and if they loved me back then they would have no problem with waiting a few years to have sex or date...i think it wrong for anyone to have sex unless there sure of what can happen and they are mature for what may come

[INACTIVE_USER]

To be honest in my opinion I feel it's safe at 16 or maybe 15. 13 is too young and IMHO I find it a bit disturbing going out with a 13 year old at 18. ( no offence though just my opinion)

k

i think it should be up to the parents...if they know there child is dating an adult there should be no problem...but i dont think the age should ever be thought to go that young maybe 16 but it just seems wrong on many levels for a man or woman of 18 or 21 to be sleeping with a 13 yr old it even sounds odd with a 16 year old...they put this law for a reason

As I said in a previous post - Spain's age of consent is considered to be 13. However it is only 13 when both parties are under the age of 16. In any countries where the age of consent is as low as this they always introduce additional laws to protect against child abusers

[Cryofthewolf]

Thirteen is WAY too low. There are a lot of people that would take advantage of that law. I understand age sixteen as the age of consent because, as someone said above, it keeps young adults from getting in trouble for sleeping with their under 18 boy/girlfriends, but 13 is too low. =-/

[Continuum]

Here it's 12. My country just legally destroyed yours. Just look:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Age_of_Consent.png

Hurray for the pedophillic den that is the Philippines! :D

[Syvelocin]

My fiancé is older than me :P I say no, just because it was that much more thrilling that it was illegal XD Not as much fun now. ;)

I'd like to see it be 15 or 16 actually. I do get the point. If the person is willing, I don't see why it automatically is treated like rape and gives the older one status as a sex offender if they're caught.

Wow, is that picture thing current? I was unaware of the age laws before that :P

[Charleigh]

13 is still just a child. A 13 year old may just be looking to be loved and payed attention to, also their body isnt fully matured. At 16 at least their body has some hope of developing before introducing it to new things ...
A 13 year old can be irresponsible and make the wrong decisions for the wrong things, they are still learning about new things. Also, if a 13 year old consented sex, they would have the option to be pregnant and have children at such a young age when really, they are still a child themself?
Also, if they consent sex, we will have 13-16 year olds running around looking to get laid, not a good look! Also, more AIDS and STD's might go around, and they might make foolish decisions of spreading it, or making contact with someone who could carry it.

[Trevoooor]

Personally, I don't think a 13 year old is mature enough to handle the potential consequences of having sex, such as pregnancy and STD's.

[Jenna.]

most 16 year olds aren't equipped to be a parents, no 13 year old is equipped to be a parent

This. It shouldn't be lowered. For the most part, a 16 year old should have a little bit more maturity than a 13 year old when it comes to sex. (At least one would hope.)

[sounddude]

No way....

[Craig1995]

Let's be fair there's a reason for the age of consent for straight people accidents can happen people can get pregnant and have no way of supporting a baby because they can't work have no money and will still live with parents if there under 16 it's more common sence than law I think

[Kaya]

I think when you're 13 you know how to say stop. They may not be ready for it...but why put someone in jail for something that isn't rape? Also, why put an 18 year old in jail for having sex with someone who's like 17? Put the real sex offenders in jail.

[Fact]

I think when you're 13 you know how to say stop..

↑ seriously disagree.


In UK age of consent is 16. I think that's a reasonable age. It definitely shouldn't be lowered, if anything it should be put up by 1 year but that's not likely to make much difference so I say it's fine where it is.

A 13 year old being with an 18 year old is 'wrong' on many levels IMO. Even 14 and 17 is an awkward age gap these days.

[Capote]

I can't agree with you on this one. If you think about it, most teenagers are immature--MOST. Therefore, it's ridiculous to say that they are responsible. Hormones need to be controlled. Sex is beautiful; however, it can wait.

[Azunite]

↑ seriously disagree.


In UK age of consent is 16. I think that's a reasonable age. It definitely shouldn't be lowered, if anything it should be put up by 1 year but that's not likely to make much difference so I say it's fine where it is.

A 13 year old being with an 18 year old is 'wrong' on many levels IMO. Even 14 and 17 is an awkward age gap these days.

This

[Grid]

Different states in the U.S. have different laws involving age of consent such as in Alabama the age of consent is 16 as long as the other person is 25 or younger. That law keeps the creepy pedophile crimes out and the inconvenience of 18 year olds getting in trouble for there 17 year old girlfriends.

Pedophilia is only when they are UNDER the age of 13. Hence why I said lower it to 13, since that's the bare minimum.

[Trevoooor]

Pedophilia is only when they are UNDER the age of 13. Hence why I said lower it to 13, since that's the bare minimum.

That's true. But what about ephebophilia?

[Grid]

That's true. But what about ephebophilia?

ephebophilia isn't a crime

[CaptainObvious]

ephebophilia isn't a crime

Nor is pedophilia, but both are illegal if acted upon. Either way, one is about as bad as the other in cases with wide age disparity. Like:

My last girlfriend was 13 years old, and that was when I was 18 also.

I hope you two never did anything, I would consider that...exploitative, to say the least. More importantly, why would you possibly want, at 18, to date a 13 year old? 13 year olds are essentially children.

[embers]

A 13 year old being with an 18 year old is 'wrong' on many levels IMO. Even 14 and 17 is an awkward age gap these days.

It seriously, seriously depends really. Where I am in the UK, there's girls in the year who, when at late-12-early-13-years of age, have gotten it on with 22 year olds. And not just that, but they continue to do it just about every weekend.

They're 14 now, and show no signs of gaining self-control. To say in an area like this 16 is still too young for lads and ladies alike to realise the problems sex like this can cause would be a massive understatement.

(To be fair, some of them look well over 16 and have the tits to prove it, even if it is at such a young age.)



As for ephebophilia, isn't that what most adolescents feel? I know that's what I feel, I can't STAND porn that shows like, 35 year olds at it. But I wouldn't disagree if someone pointed an attractive woman out and said 'I would'.

[Wicked_Syn]

It's stupid and pointless to lock someone up because they had sex with a teenager. It's stupid, teens have sex with teens and adults have sex with adults, so why can't adults have sex with teens? Hell I have several friends who could go to prison for having sex with their 13-17 year old girlfriends, just because they are 18-21 years old. Hell right now I'm interested in a woman who is 17, but we wouldn't legally be able to have sex because I'm 18. My last girlfriend was 13 years old, and that was when I was 18 also. It's just a really stupid rule. There are people who have gone to prison and are registered sex offenders because they had sex with the person who is currently their wife, but they weren't when they had sex. Technically it's not pedophilia if they are 13 or older, so it has nothing to do with pedophilia. In some US states you can get married at 13. It's just a pointless law that puts good people behind bars. Who else would like the age of consent to be lowered to 13?

Are you fucking kidding me man? Go and look in the P101 section...do 13 year olds seem like they can have a clear conscience to consent to sex at that age? They barely know who they are, they are definitely not ready to consent. They aren't. I will say that 15 year olds are questionable. But absolutely not for a 13 year old. No.

[SwimTech]

Yes, but with that could come rape, or falsely claimed rape. 13 is too young for a girl, or boy, to fully understand what they are doing, and the consequences. And if god forbid they get pregnant, how are they going to support the baby, if their body is even able to develop it, and it most likely wont develop properly. Their mind isnt fully developed either. And really? an 18 year old man having sex with a 13 year old girl. When your that young, thats a HUGE difference. Its like a 7th grader having sex with a senior in high school. Someone who is 18 should have sex, if they even do, with someone else who is around 18. However,, once both people are adults, age doesnt really matter, as long as both consent

[Weeping]

Wow, this post got kinda long, you don't have to read lol. But well okay, to make it kind of short. I don't think it should be lowered. Especially not down to 13. The minor age would be like 15. And that's not even okay in many cases.

But of course, if its like max 3 years between, and the youngest of you are still too young, you shouldn't just end up in jail, they should look over it first and if both really agree about it, they should accept it.

:hug:

It's stupid and pointless to lock someone up because they had sex with a teenager. It's stupid, teens have sex with teens and adults have sex with adults, so why can't adults have sex with teens?
Hell I have several friends who could go to prison for having sex with their 13-17 year old girlfriends, just because they are 18-21 years old.
Hell right now I'm interested in a woman who is 17, but we wouldn't legally be able to have sex because I'm 18.
My last girlfriend was 13 years old, and that was when I was 18 also. It's just a really stupid rule. There are people who have gone to prison and are registered sex offenders because they had sex with the person who is currently their wife, but they weren't when they had sex. Technically it's not pedophilia if they are 13 or older, so it has nothing to do with pedophilia. In some US states you can get married at 13. It's just a pointless law that puts good people behind bars. Who else would like the age of consent to be lowered to 13?

Cause it's wrong if an adult have sex with a teenager. They aren't even fully mature for gods sake! Let them grow and be the age they actually are!

So.. You're really interested in that girl. But you won't take the chance just because you can't have sex with her? That's so not a good reason in any way. Cause if you really love someone, the sex doesn't freaking matter!

I don't get how you think..



So what if they aren't mentally ready? I don't see how that's any of your concern.

AoC should be abolished.

So you say that you should have sex with people without first be mentally ready? That's just wrong.



They make things called condoms and birth control.

Yeah, but those stuffs doesn't protect you to 100%. And if a (let's say) 13 year old girl would accidentally get pregnant, I don't think she'd feel really good about it, right? I don't think someone at that age would like making abort, etc.



I think when you're 13 you know how to say stop.

Totally disagree. A thirteen year old barely know who they are. Or what they're really getting in to.



A 13 year old being with an 18 year old is 'wrong' on many levels IMO. Even 14 and 17 is an awkward age gap these days.

It seriously, seriously depends really. Where I am in the UK, there's girls in the year who, when at late-12-early-13-years of age, have gotten it on with 22 year olds. And not just that, but they continue to do it just about every weekend.

Well, in my opinion, that's still totally freaking wrong. They're just kids! They shouldn't even have a relationship with adults. And just because THEY did it, it isn't acceptable!

[Sith Lord 13]

Age of consent law needs to be abolished. It should instead be determined if the person had the capacity to consent. This allows people of greater maturity to be able to exercise their natural rights, while still protecting those without that maturity. Obviously in the guidelines it should state a certain age (I believe it should be at least 16 and no more than 18) at which point the capacity to consent based on age is assumed, though it may be a contributing factor if there were also other reasons the person could not consent (abuse of authority, intoxication, etc).

[Amnesiac]

Age of consent law needs to be abolished. It should instead be determined if the person had the capacity to consent. This allows people of greater maturity to be able to exercise their natural rights, while still protecting those without that maturity. Obviously in the guidelines it should state a certain age (I believe it should be at least 16 and no more than 18) at which point the capacity to consent based on age is assumed, though it may be a contributing factor if there were also other reasons the person could not consent (abuse of authority, intoxication, etc).

Goddamn, I had the same idea but never got myself to post it. Would you agree with doing the same thing for driving? There are plenty of younger teens who are capable of driving, some of them know more about cars than their adult counterparts.

[Sith Lord 13]

Goddamn, I had the same idea but never got myself to post it. Would you agree with doing the same thing for driving? There are plenty of younger teens who are capable of driving, some of them know more about cars than their adult counterparts.

I like the theory, but it also has to do with reflexes, reaction times, and split second judgment calls. I feel it has enough merit to commission a study on it, and that studies findings would be very interesting to read.