2007-03-23 02:34:43 · 20 answers · asked by tony b 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
In my opinion the age of consent should be 18, as I think most teenagers are a bit too immature at 16, and 18 year olds are more likely to consider the possible consequences. It would probably be ignored by some youngsters, but I think most would take notice of it, and it might just stop some young people from ruining their lives by having too much responsibility at too young an age.
2007-03-23 02:46:02 · answer #1 · answered by Spacephantom 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It's a tough question. Society needs to protect children, but shouldn't interfere in people's private lives.
Around the world, there is no standard age of consent. It varies by age, by age of the other partner, by sex (male/female, male/male) . In some countries, sex with a 12 year old is legal. In other countries, it is 16, 18 or even 21. In some cultures, any sex before marriage is strictly forbidden regardless of age.
There will never be an ideal solution. Courts need latitude to be able to consider all the circumstances. It's possible for a 16 year old to make an informed consent, and for an 18 year old to be completely unable to form consent, depending on the circumstances.
2007-03-23 05:04:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agreed that it is a social problem, the family values that was in place , when I was a child, they don't exist anymore. I think the parents should go to jail if their children are having sex at any age under 16 years of age . The child that is 12 or 13 do not have the mental ability to make the choice . So the parents should be held accountable for their children, if the child steals a car, or breaks into a house the parents have to go to court and take response ability because they are children, we need to correct the line on what an adult is and what is a child. That's the law that need to be changed.
2007-03-23 02:49:23 · answer #3 · answered by Thelma C 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What difference would it make? The current age is 16 but hundreds of if not thousands of girls and boys have indulged. There have also been arguments put forward for lowering the age of consent to 15 or even 14.No matter what statutory age you put on it young people if they are so inclined will do what they want when they want and very little could be done to enforce it anyway. I stress that this is for consensual sex and would not affect laws against rape or sexual advances against the wishes if the other party.
2007-03-23 02:47:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It would be pointless.The law is already routinely ignored and it would be impossible to police.Also,what about the people who are at the age of consent and already in a relationship.You couldn't criminalise something that they had been doing legally the day before.The answer to teen sex issues lies not with government or law but within the family.Children raised in a secure,loving environment are statistically proven to be less likely to get involved in early sexual relationships.
2007-03-23 02:48:10 · answer #5 · answered by New Boots. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the UK you would have to change a number of laws to do this,the law at present is practicably unenforceable why make it more complex.Remember in the UK you can marry at 16years and you can chose where to live at 16years you could be serving in Iraq at 17 years.As I say a lot of laws would have to be changed,or what are you saying if you were married at 16years you wouldn't have sex or if a couple under 16years moved in together they would sleep separately its complicated and unnecessary.
2007-03-23 06:24:32 · answer #6 · answered by frankturk50 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tricky question considering - if the kids want to - they are going to.
I think more to the point kids need to understand having sex at a young age could lead to consequences they are not capable of dealing with = pregnancy -child support - disease - loss of education - loss of independance-loss of childhood.
Before kids learn sex is great they need to understand sex comes with more negatives than plus's
2007-03-23 03:18:59 · answer #7 · answered by Tapsy 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Theres no point, the age restriction in place now isnt regarded by most teenagers, so why would they aknowledge the age limit if it was raised?
2007-03-23 02:45:07 · answer #8 · answered by vickyvixen84 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it would make no difference, and you would create more paedophiles. Sex education in schools, whatever their real intentions, seems to encourage under age sex. At least that is the evidence. Therefore, I would have expected an argument to reduce it, rather than increase it.
2007-03-23 02:43:43 · answer #9 · answered by Veritas 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What is needed is better communications between parents and their kids about the subject of sex. Laws like these are useless, because they are not enforceable.
2007-03-23 02:58:10 · answer #10 · answered by WC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋