We need to change the sex offender laws

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our priority as a society is to protect children. A 19 year old is an adult and a 14 year old is a child. A 14 year old is incapable of giving legal consent. We protect children by making it illegal for adults to have sex with them because children cannot give consent.

I am completely for protecting children through age of consent laws.

I don't think people disagree that we need to protect children. But when a 14 yr old lies about her age, and possibly has a fake license (in this case, I don't think she did), then what? Should the guy demand a birth certificate? Talk to the parent to verify her age?

The law should look at the circumstance. Maybe people just shouldn't have sex unless they are either married or both parties have lots of wrinkles and grey pube hairs which may prove they are over the age of 18.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our priority as a society is to protect children. A 19 year old is an adult and a 14 year old is a child. A 14 year old is incapable of giving legal consent. We protect children by making it illegal for adults to have sex with them because children cannot give consent.

I am completely for protecting children through age of consent laws.

I don't think people disagree that we need to protect children. But when a 14 yr old lies about her age, and possibly has a fake license (in this case, I don't think she did), then what? Should the guy demand a birth certificate? Talk to the parent to verify her age?

The law should look at the circumstance. Maybe people just shouldn't have sex unless they are either married or both parties have lots of wrinkles and grey pube hairs which may prove they are over the age of 18.

It doesn't matter what the 14 year old does because he or she is a child in the eyes of the law and incapable of legal consent. It is probably a good idea to avoid having sex with someone one just met that evening. Having sex with a person one does not know opens one up to all kinds of problems including violating the age of consent laws.

And yes, I think calling the parent would be a great idea. I can hear it now:

"Good evening, Mrs. Smith, I'm here in a bar with your daughter and plan to take her someplace where we can have sex. She says she's 17. Is that true?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our priority as a society is to protect children. A 19 year old is an adult and a 14 year old is a child. A 14 year old is incapable of giving legal consent. We protect children by making it illegal for adults to have sex with them because children cannot give consent.

I am completely for protecting children through age of consent laws.

I don't think people disagree that we need to protect children. But when a 14 yr old lies about her age, and possibly has a fake license (in this case, I don't think she did), then what? Should the guy demand a birth certificate? Talk to the parent to verify her age?

The law should look at the circumstance. Maybe people just shouldn't have sex unless they are either married or both parties have lots of wrinkles and grey pube hairs which may prove they are over the age of 18.

It doesn't matter what the 14 year old does because he or she is a child in the eyes of the law and incapable of legal consent. It is probably a good idea to avoid having sex with someone one just met that evening. Having sex with a person one does not know opens one up to all kinds of problems including violating the age of consent laws.

And yes, I think calling the parent would be a great idea. I can hear it now:

"Good evening, Mrs. Smith, I'm here in a bar with your daughter and plan to take her someplace where we can have sex. She says she's 17. Is that true?"

14 year olds are mature enough to know what they're doing. I feel sorry for this guy who's life was ruined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

14 year olds are mature enough to know what they're doing. I feel sorry for this guy who's life was ruined.

The fundamental assumption underlying age of consent laws is that 14-year-olds are NOT mature enough to know what they're doing. However, if you would like to lower the age of consent to 14 (or 12? or...?), then contact your state legislator (or district equivalent).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It doesn't matter what the 14 year old does because he or she is a child in the eyes of the law and incapable of legal consent. It is probably a good idea to avoid having sex with someone one just met that evening. Having sex with a person one does not know opens one up to all kinds of problems including violating the age of consent laws.

And yes, I think calling the parent would be a great idea. I can hear it now:

"Good evening, Mrs. Smith, I'm here in a bar with your daughter and plan to take her someplace where we can have sex. She says she's 17. Is that true?"

I love this idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our priority as a society is to protect children. A 19 year old is an adult and a 14 year old is a child. A 14 year old is incapable of giving legal consent. We protect children by making it illegal for adults to have sex with them because children cannot give consent.

I am completely for protecting children through age of consent laws.

I don't think people disagree that we need to protect children. But when a 14 yr old lies about her age, and possibly has a fake license (in this case, I don't think she did), then what? Should the guy demand a birth certificate? Talk to the parent to verify her age?

The law should look at the circumstance. Maybe people just shouldn't have sex unless they are either married or both parties have lots of wrinkles and grey pube hairs which may prove they are over the age of 18.

It doesn't matter what the 14 year old does because he or she is a child in the eyes of the law and incapable of legal consent. It is probably a good idea to avoid having sex with someone one just met that evening. Having sex with a person one does not know opens one up to all kinds of problems including violating the age of consent laws.

And yes, I think calling the parent would be a great idea. I can hear it now:

"Good evening, Mrs. Smith, I'm here in a bar with your daughter and plan to take her someplace where we can have sex. She says she's 17. Is that true?"

So, what about the second date, 3rd? If the girl is lying, she's not going to all of a sudden tell the truth after that one meeting.

At 14 she may not be able to legally consent, but she sure as hell knows she's lying and should know right from wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our priority as a society is to protect children. A 19 year old is an adult and a 14 year old is a child. A 14 year old is incapable of giving legal consent. We protect children by making it illegal for adults to have sex with them because children cannot give consent.

I am completely for protecting children through age of consent laws.

I don't think people disagree that we need to protect children. But when a 14 yr old lies about her age, and possibly has a fake license (in this case, I don't think she did), then what? Should the guy demand a birth certificate? Talk to the parent to verify her age?

The law should look at the circumstance. Maybe people just shouldn't have sex unless they are either married or both parties have lots of wrinkles and grey pube hairs which may prove they are over the age of 18.

It doesn't matter what the 14 year old does because he or she is a child in the eyes of the law and incapable of legal consent. It is probably a good idea to avoid having sex with someone one just met that evening. Having sex with a person one does not know opens one up to all kinds of problems including violating the age of consent laws.

And yes, I think calling the parent would be a great idea. I can hear it now:

"Good evening, Mrs. Smith, I'm here in a bar with your daughter and plan to take her someplace where we can have sex. She says she's 17. Is that true?"

So, what about the second date, 3rd? If the girl is lying, she's not going to all of a sudden tell the truth after that one meeting.

At 14 she may not be able to legally consent, but she sure as hell knows she's lying and should know right from wrong.

It doesn't matter that she might be lying and that she ought to know right from wrong. Our society gets that and has decided that the protection of children is our priority and that they can not legally consent to sex with adults. That's why it is called statutory rape- it is rape because the statute, the law, says it is.

14 year olds are children and think like children, so they might do things they would not do if they were adults. We protect them until they are legally adults.

If you would like to change the law so that it is okay for adults to have sex with 14 year olds, go right ahead and write to your legislators. I'm sure you'd find a lot out there who would love to be listed as the sponsor of that bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These types of stories horrify me. I was 18 once. And I met a girl that was 14; we were equally inexperienced, and equally physically mature. I did not know she was 14; i knew she was pretty and smart. I only found out her age at the end of the evening -- after things had happened. Legally, I may have sexually assaulted her, I am not sure..depends on definitions. But, it never occurred to be at the time that I was doing anything remotely wrong. We were just hanging out, and making out. That night in 1982 could have completely changed my life.

I would not have my career/family had I been labeled a pervert then. Oh, and most 18 yo guys would have done the same thing I did.

If it makes you feel any better in MD you are not sex offender.

Age of Consent: 16
Like most states, there are some situations in Maryland where people under the age of consent may legally have sex, as long as there is only a small age difference between them. In Maryland, persons aged between 14 and 16 may consent to sex as long as the other partner is not more than 4 years older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our priority as a society is to protect children. A 19 year old is an adult and a 14 year old is a child. A 14 year old is incapable of giving legal consent. We protect children by making it illegal for adults to have sex with them because children cannot give consent.

I am completely for protecting children through age of consent laws.

I don't think people disagree that we need to protect children. But when a 14 yr old lies about her age, and possibly has a fake license (in this case, I don't think she did), then what? Should the guy demand a birth certificate? Talk to the parent to verify her age?

The law should look at the circumstance. Maybe people just shouldn't have sex unless they are either married or both parties have lots of wrinkles and grey pube hairs which may prove they are over the age of 18.

It doesn't matter what the 14 year old does because he or she is a child in the eyes of the law and incapable of legal consent. It is probably a good idea to avoid having sex with someone one just met that evening. Having sex with a person one does not know opens one up to all kinds of problems including violating the age of consent laws.

And yes, I think calling the parent would be a great idea. I can hear it now:

"Good evening, Mrs. Smith, I'm here in a bar with your daughter and plan to take her someplace where we can have sex. She says she's 17. Is that true?"

So, what about the second date, 3rd? If the girl is lying, she's not going to all of a sudden tell the truth after that one meeting.

At 14 she may not be able to legally consent, but she sure as hell knows she's lying and should know right from wrong.

It doesn't matter that she might be lying and that she ought to know right from wrong. Our society gets that and has decided that the protection of children is our priority and that they can not legally consent to sex with adults. That's why it is called statutory rape- it is rape because the statute, the law, says it is.

14 year olds are children and think like children, so they might do things they would not do if they were adults. We protect them until they are legally adults.

If you would like to change the law so that it is okay for adults to have sex with 14 year olds, go right ahead and write to your legislators. I'm sure you'd find a lot out there who would love to be listed as the sponsor of that bill.

don't be obtuse. Never did I say it was ok to have sex with a 14 yr old. I stated that if a 14 yr old lies about her age, and certainly looks older, then an 18 yr old shouldn't be labeled a sex offender.

And I find it interesting that people claim a 14 yr old is a child, yet that "child" can legally go have an abortion and go on the pill without parental consent. yea, yea, I know the arguments for why they should be able to do such a thing, but it's hypocritical for our laws and society to claim on one hand these 14 yr olds are children, but on the other hand state that they are old enough to get an abortion or take rx drugs without parental consent.

and yes I have a DD and would be livid if she had sex with an 18 yr old if she were 14. But if I knew she lied about her age, and she looks much older, then common sense tells me that 18 yr old is not a sex predator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

don't be obtuse. Never did I say it was ok to have sex with a 14 yr old. I stated that if a 14 yr old lies about her age, and certainly looks older, then an 18 yr old shouldn't be labeled a sex offender.

So it should still be illegal for a 19-year-old to have sex with a 14-year-old, it's just that it shouldn't be a sex offense.

Um.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our priority as a society is to protect children. A 19 year old is an adult and a 14 year old is a child. A 14 year old is incapable of giving legal consent. We protect children by making it illegal for adults to have sex with them because children cannot give consent.

I am completely for protecting children through age of consent laws.

I don't think people disagree that we need to protect children. But when a 14 yr old lies about her age, and possibly has a fake license (in this case, I don't think she did), then what? Should the guy demand a birth certificate? Talk to the parent to verify her age?

The law should look at the circumstance. Maybe people just shouldn't have sex unless they are either married or both parties have lots of wrinkles and grey pube hairs which may prove they are over the age of 18.

It doesn't matter what the 14 year old does because he or she is a child in the eyes of the law and incapable of legal consent. It is probably a good idea to avoid having sex with someone one just met that evening. Having sex with a person one does not know opens one up to all kinds of problems including violating the age of consent laws.

And yes, I think calling the parent would be a great idea. I can hear it now:

"Good evening, Mrs. Smith, I'm here in a bar with your daughter and plan to take her someplace where we can have sex. She says she's 17. Is that true?"

So, what about the second date, 3rd? If the girl is lying, she's not going to all of a sudden tell the truth after that one meeting.

At 14 she may not be able to legally consent, but she sure as hell knows she's lying and should know right from wrong.

It doesn't matter that she might be lying and that she ought to know right from wrong. Our society gets that and has decided that the protection of children is our priority and that they can not legally consent to sex with adults. That's why it is called statutory rape- it is rape because the statute, the law, says it is.

14 year olds are children and think like children, so they might do things they would not do if they were adults. We protect them until they are legally adults.

If you would like to change the law so that it is okay for adults to have sex with 14 year olds, go right ahead and write to your legislators. I'm sure you'd find a lot out there who would love to be listed as the sponsor of that bill.

don't be obtuse. Never did I say it was ok to have sex with a 14 yr old. I stated that if a 14 yr old lies about her age, and certainly looks older, then an 18 yr old shouldn't be labeled a sex offender.

And I find it interesting that people claim a 14 yr old is a child, yet that "child" can legally go have an abortion and go on the pill without parental consent. yea, yea, I know the arguments for why they should be able to do such a thing, but it's hypocritical for our laws and society to claim on one hand these 14 yr olds are children, but on the other hand state that they are old enough to get an abortion or take rx drugs without parental consent.

and yes I have a DD and would be livid if she had sex with an 18 yr old if she were 14. But if I knew she lied about her age, and she looks much older, then common sense tells me that 18 yr old is not a sex predator.

I am not being obtuse. These are the laws and the reasons they exist. We can change the laws because we don't like the outcome of this case, but there are plenty of situations where we would be happy with the application of the laws as they currently exist and sorry if we had changed them.

Unfortunately, "hard cases make bad law."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our priority as a society is to protect children. A 19 year old is an adult and a 14 year old is a child. A 14 year old is incapable of giving legal consent. We protect children by making it illegal for adults to have sex with them because children cannot give consent.

I am completely for protecting children through age of consent laws.

I don't think people disagree that we need to protect children. But when a 14 yr old lies about her age, and possibly has a fake license (in this case, I don't think she did), then what? Should the guy demand a birth certificate? Talk to the parent to verify her age?

The law should look at the circumstance. Maybe people just shouldn't have sex unless they are either married or both parties have lots of wrinkles and grey pube hairs which may prove they are over the age of 18.

It doesn't matter what the 14 year old does because he or she is a child in the eyes of the law and incapable of legal consent. It is probably a good idea to avoid having sex with someone one just met that evening. Having sex with a person one does not know opens one up to all kinds of problems including violating the age of consent laws.

And yes, I think calling the parent would be a great idea. I can hear it now:

"Good evening, Mrs. Smith, I'm here in a bar with your daughter and plan to take her someplace where we can have sex. She says she's 17. Is that true?"

So, what about the second date, 3rd? If the girl is lying, she's not going to all of a sudden tell the truth after that one meeting.

At 14 she may not be able to legally consent, but she sure as hell knows she's lying and should know right from wrong.

IN MD that is not true a 14-16 year old can consent, but can not have sex with someone more than 4 years older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

don't be obtuse. Never did I say it was ok to have sex with a 14 yr old. I stated that if a 14 yr old lies about her age, and certainly looks older, then an 18 yr old shouldn't be labeled a sex offender.

So it should still be illegal for a 19-year-old to have sex with a 14-year-old, it's just that it shouldn't be a sex offense.

Um.

I think the laws need to be changed so that this type of one-off case doesn't label a person a sex offender for the rest of his life. The girl looked 18 and told him she was 18. He believed her to be 18. How does that make him a sex offender?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our priority as a society is to protect children. A 19 year old is an adult and a 14 year old is a child. A 14 year old is incapable of giving legal consent. We protect children by making it illegal for adults to have sex with them because children cannot give consent.

I am completely for protecting children through age of consent laws.

I don't think people disagree that we need to protect children. But when a 14 yr old lies about her age, and possibly has a fake license (in this case, I don't think she did), then what? Should the guy demand a birth certificate? Talk to the parent to verify her age?

The law should look at the circumstance. Maybe people just shouldn't have sex unless they are either married or both parties have lots of wrinkles and grey pube hairs which may prove they are over the age of 18.

It doesn't matter what the 14 year old does because he or she is a child in the eyes of the law and incapable of legal consent. It is probably a good idea to avoid having sex with someone one just met that evening. Having sex with a person one does not know opens one up to all kinds of problems including violating the age of consent laws.

And yes, I think calling the parent would be a great idea. I can hear it now:

"Good evening, Mrs. Smith, I'm here in a bar with your daughter and plan to take her someplace where we can have sex. She says she's 17. Is that true?"

So, what about the second date, 3rd? If the girl is lying, she's not going to all of a sudden tell the truth after that one meeting.

At 14 she may not be able to legally consent, but she sure as hell knows she's lying and should know right from wrong.

IN MD that is not true a 14-16 year old can consent, but can not have sex with someone more than 4 years older.

This case did not take place in Maryland. A young man crossed state lines to another state in which he broke the law of that state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

don't be obtuse. Never did I say it was ok to have sex with a 14 yr old. I stated that if a 14 yr old lies about her age, and certainly looks older, then an 18 yr old shouldn't be labeled a sex offender.

So it should still be illegal for a 19-year-old to have sex with a 14-year-old, it's just that it shouldn't be a sex offense.

Um.

I think the laws need to be changed so that this type of one-off case doesn't label a person a sex offender for the rest of his life. The girl looked 18 and told him she was 18. He believed her to be 18. How does that make him a sex offender?

I think it has to do with the fact that he had sex with a child who was legally incapable of giving consent.