Do you think the laws regarding sex offenders are going overboard and many Americans are in a mode of hysteria? Do you think it is right if 2 teenagers had sex that one should be labeled as a sex offender for life? 2 Teens have sex: one is 18 and one is 14. Is this child molestation? What do you think?
2007-03-09 00:39:12 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Age of consent laws in America make no sense. In one state you're a sex predator if you have sex with a 14-year-old and in another it's not a crime. Obviously there has to be some criminal charge for having sex with young people, but based on the penalties and stigma of such an offense there should be some kind of national standard.
I must say this is a very hard issue to tackle. On one hand, no one likes sex offenders. On the other, we seem to have abandoned common sense. A good example is the 52-year-old Arizona man who was sentenced to 200 years in prison for owning 20 pieces of child porn. It was his first criminal charge ever.
I believe this charge is being lead by the hysterics-bound suburban parents (I actually am one). While we don't care about people getting 5 year sentences for manslaughter (when the state can't prove murder), because we perceive this as crime unlikely to affect us, we want anyone who we can slap the label of "sex offender" on to wear a big red "A" and have their parts cut off. I live in Florida and every other story on the news is about a child being molested or how to keep your children safer. It just feeds the fear.
Well, we should at least give meaning back to the label of "sex offender" and make it represent crimes worth such penalties.
2007-03-09 01:02:50 · answer #1 · answered by fortonmi 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Labeled for life? Maybe not. Held accountable? Absolutely.
There isn't a male or female alive at the age of 18 that hasn't been warned what can happen. An 18 year-old knows better than to get involved with a 14 year-old.
Is it hysteria? No. It is without any doubts warning what can happen if you use poor judgement.
2007-03-09 09:05:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think if two teens had sex and it was mutual, even the girl stating to the fact, that he should NOT be listed as a sex offender. I know there are laws against having sex at a certain age, but let's face facts folks...teens have sex. BUT, if the teen is considered an adult and has sex with a 14 year old, this bothers me. He would know what the law is.
2007-03-09 08:46:40 · answer #3 · answered by Groovy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make the guy 36 and ask yourself the question again. It's not so much a matter of age as it is more a matter of emotional and mental maturity. The change in level of development over the course of 4 years is fairly large.
In fact, I think a better question would be "what kind of 18-year old tries to have sex with 14-year olds?"
2007-03-09 09:19:53 · answer #4 · answered by E3 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have mixed feeling on that subject. Yes, they are both teenagers, but the 18 year old should know better than to have sex with a 14 year old.
2007-03-09 08:51:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have to agree It's legally statutory rape. I am a mother of 3 young children and I dont think the laws are harsh enough.they rape a child and serve 5-10 yrs in jail, they have just ruined that childs life.
I think the laws need to be harder on sex offenders.
2007-03-09 08:48:07 · answer #6 · answered by mikentammy76 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand what you are saying, but you have to remember one thing. If you was 18 and she was 14, what does she have for you that another 18 year old doesnt. Plus the younger the chick is the less mature she is. Most guys who are 18 or older that dates a 14,15 or 16 year is mostly desperate and is looking for somebody to control.
2007-03-09 08:49:07 · answer #7 · answered by savc_port 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the two are willing then they have sex and if its dint in the presence of others forcing the girl or boy to have sex then its called rape if they both did it and then the girl says u offended me for any reason then its wrong. because i don't think having sex at such an age would be forced they both must be willing to do so
2007-03-09 08:50:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
14's pretty young. If it were 16 or 17, I might have more sympathy. I do think at some point, one convicted should have an opportunity to have records expunged assuming no repeat offenses,
2007-03-09 08:49:34 · answer #9 · answered by webned 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The law is the law, obey and you want have problems. Why would a 18 year old want to have sex with a 14year old anyway?
2007-03-09 09:36:30 · answer #10 · answered by kc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋