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Originally Posted by Chris
If you're suggesting that sex between an 18-year-old (adult) and a 15-year-old (child) is routinely treated as criminal, then I politely suggest you're a bit batty. 
Actually, I know you're not trying to draw a hard and fast line, but that's precisely the problem, isn't it? Where is the line? |
I agree that is difficult and I assume the lack of prosecution when the law is broken but the age is still quite close is a sensible compromise to deal with the difficulty and unfairness in setting such a hard line. It's illegal but the police are allowed some discretion to stop the courts and the sex offenders register dealing with people in relationships who suddenly find themselves breaking the law.
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Under-age teens are emotionally vulnerable and, for the girl, also physically undeveloped such that pregnancy carries heightened risks. That's why we have an age limit set by law. "We accept it's going to happen" is a serious, serious problem because it means the risks that led to the law are being over-ruled by the unquestionable rightness of post-1960s permissiveness.
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They can still be emotionally unprepared at 16, even 18. Maturity doesn't come about a set age. We put it at a set age to try and do our best to deal with it but that isn't perfect, some will be mature enough (whatever that is!) before that age and others after.
Accepting it's going to happen is just to deal with the possible health consequences, because it does happen. I mean would you want to get the law to deal with two teenagers at 15 having sex? It's just impractical imo.