If a law passed in the name of morality has immoral consequences, destroying the lives of those who made a you

Question

If a law passed in the name of morality has immoral consequences, destroying the lives of those who made a youthful mistake, can the law truly be considered moral?

There are always unintended consequences and I think when we try to legislate from self-roughhouses we risk harm in ways that was never intended.

Christ taught that we will be judged on the same ground that we judge others. Isn’t this exactly what we risk when our laws make unreasonably harsh judgments that destroy lives?

"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice." -Abraham Lincoln

The answers so far show that you have no clue what I am talking about.

Do you think an 18-y-old’s life should be ruined forever because he/she honestly believed a 15-y-old was of an age of consent and they had one encounter which they both believed to be consensual?

In the name of morality, many apparently do believe that it is perfectly fine to destroy this young life by labeling him/her with a scarlet letter for the rest of their life.

Laws governing morality that lack compassion may create consequences that are at least as immoral as the acts they wish to stop.

There can be no justice without compassion.

Answer 1

NO, I don't believe that it should be so.

I personally know of someone that had some trouble like that, and I myself have misjudged girls' ages in the past.

Nowadays you've got to be very careful.

My best friend, (God rest him), invented the "let's see who's driver's license photo is worse" game.

Your best shot is to appeal to the family who's prosecuting to drop the charges. (Appeal to the girl to refuse to testify if you have to). And pray.

Children can sometimes be tried as adults, maybe this girl can be found competent to give consent by the same means - consult a lawyer and look into it.

As to whether or not the consequences are moral... well, in THIS case, no they're not. However, at this moment in time I can't think of any way in which the system can be improved - EXCEPT, maybe you could write to your legislators to add a clause saying that if the underaged party testifies that they deceived, failed to inform, or believed the other person was also the same age, that the charges can be dropped and the record expunged.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I don't think that kind of law can be considered moral. Too many people try to legislate morality. I have a feeling that half or more than half of those legislators that voted on that law would have been guilty of breaking it. You are so right about what Christ said. I think too many people have a do as I say, not as I do mentality. I think they're feeling guilty over past mistakes and want to make everyone miserable.

Answer 3

You are right that we need to be very careful when we pass laws that they are truly good laws. A lot of times, people just lash out in righteousness, without thinking things through. We have a lot of problems in our society, that do not have easy solutions. A lot of times, there are underlying causes. We need a renewed effort, by the religious community and other moral people, to address these serious problems properly, and try to create a better tomorrow on this planet. God would like that.

Answer 4

We are being too moral. A murderer is given a trial, his victim is not. I think you're in a happy jesus bubble and it needs to be popped. You would not feel the same way if you walked in your kitchen one day to see a crazed man standing over your loved ones mangled corpse devouring their flesh. Law never really claims to be moral, only just. You claim attrocities done which require the death sentence to be a 'youthful mistake'? How naive are you? Do you really believe that we put people to death for criminal speeding? Or even invouluntary manslaughter? Heck no, we end the lives of those who exceed evil and do not follow the laws of man today. those who imbelish upon the agony of others. nothing is perfect however, this includes judicial decisions. but it's for the better of man.

Answer 5

Sure let's just open the prison doors.