do you really know your neighbor?

[stephElf]

So for all those people that are dying to make 14 or 15 or 16 the legal consensual age to have sex ... go ahead, knock yourself out.

[ChriswUfGator]

All I am saying is... if people don't want to get in trouble, they need to follow the law.

There are a few I don't follow, but if I got in trouble for it, it wouldn't be some shock or boo-hoo, I knew it going in!

Like I said before, with that logic african americans would still be in the back of the bus, women wouldn't be voting, and hell, depending on how far back in history you want to take it, we'd all be answering to the Queen of England.

Again, nice viewpoint there...

[stephElf]

Sorry but I am not convinced that 18 is such a horrific age to have to wait to have sex.
What age do you suggest? 14.7 ?

[stephElf]

I would however condone removing the legal smoking and drinking age all together.   

[ChriswUfGator]

So for all those people that are dying to make 14 or 15 or 16 the legal consensual age to have sex ... go ahead, knock yourself out.

That isn't my point.

I don't think it should be a *magic number* at all, I think when dealing with minors, the only fair way to do it is to have it be based on X number of years' deviation between the ages of the consenting parties. I think it's preposterous that two 15 year olds having sex is just peachy, or two 16 year olds having sex is just peachy, but if one's birthday is even day ahead of the other, let's say 15 years 11 and months vs. 16 years even, now all of a sudden it's a "sex crime".

There are several of these "bright lines" in our current law, where regular people get tripped up by their own birthday, or that of their girlfriend, boyfriend, and often, FUTURE SPOUSE. This is patently unjust.

As to the "age of consent", you clearly aren't familiar with the law. Two 16 year olds having sex, or whatever else, already isn't a crime. The idiot religo-nazis already let that horse out of the barn. The problem is the current laws contain these age-based "gotchas" that are creating a large category of "sex offenders" whose "offense" only exists through pure legal fiction.

[stephElf]

for the 10th time... i am not saying what is just or unjust

and i am not saying that people shouldn't try to change the law

but don't you think people would want to try and keep themselves out of trouble with the law the way it is WHILE working to change it?

[stephElf]

"age-based "gotchas"

such as?

[stephElf]

And why are these landing in court anyway?

Because of a parent feeling their child was taken advantage of?

[ChriswUfGator]

Sorry but I am not convinced that 18 is such a horrific age to have to wait to have sex.
What age do you suggest? 14.7 ?

Then I guess you should have written your legislator back when they changed the law so that 18 was no longer the age of consent. As I've already said, that horse is long since out of the barn.

And I think you're being hypocritical. Not that you'd admit it in the context of this debate, but I'd put the odds of you having waited until 18 to engage in "sexual activity" (which, under this state's laws, includes kissing, 'body contact', etc.) at 0. I suspect that's the case for 90%+ of this country.

[stephElf]

You have missed and continue to miss my point.

Some people are unfairly charged, we get it.

[ChriswUfGator]

"age-based "gotchas"

such as?

Let's say two high schoolers are dating. They're both the same age. Legal.

One has a birthday before the other. Oops, "sex crime"...

[stephElf]

Sorry but I am not convinced that 18 is such a horrific age to have to wait to have sex.
What age do you suggest? 14.7 ?

Then I guess you should have written your legislator back when they changed the law so that 18 was no longer the age of consent. As I've already said, that horse is long since out of the barn.

And I think you're being hypocritical. Not that you'd admit it in the context of this debate, but I'd put the odds of you having waited until 18 to engage in "sexual activity" (which, under this state's laws, includes kissing, 'body contact', etc.) at 0. I suspect that's the case for 90%+ of this country.

My point was, what do you suggest the laws be here in FL? I didn't grow up here, I have no clue the specifics of the sex laws. But if I was a teenager here, I would.

This whole thread has been derailed from the original point... know your surroundings, neighbors, have street smarts...  That's it.

[mandy6488]

wow...I'm very impressed with your choice of the phrase "baby raper"....definitely doing yourself proud!

Well what else would you call a pedophile and/or sex offender? They are POSs that will most likely not be rehabilitated, so who cares what they are called.

Because some of them may have never touched a child? Someone could be a sex offender who was 19 and dated a 17 year old or whatever the law is.. both had consensual sex and then parents found out and pressed charges etc.  I'm not saying there aren't sick-o "baby rapers" out there.. but there are plenty on that list who do NOT fit that description..

I guess I should read the rest of the thread before I post this but oh well.. =D

[stephElf]

So (2) 13 yr olds can have sex? Or it has to be 16 and over...

As long as they are both 16, or 17, or 18, etc...

but not a 16 yr old and a 17 yr old... well until it changes, it is something people need to be aware of. You sound like you are suggesting people blatantly DON'T follow the law because it is unfair.

[ChriswUfGator]

And why are these landing in court anyway?

Because of a parent feeling their child was taken advantage of?

It's usually a situation where they're dating and everything's just peachy. Then they break up, it gets nasty, and someone makes a complaint without truly recognizing the enormity of the snowball they're setting in motion. That's exactly what happened to that other kid in Orlando.