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Alty · Mar 12, 2008, 07:30 AM

Eleven! My son is nine, do I really have to worry that he could be having sex in two years?

I'm buying a padlock for his bedroom, heck I'll get two, one for my daughter as well.

This scares the cr*p out of me.

Depressed in MO · Mar 12, 2008, 08:47 AM

ABC News: John Stossel Special: The Age of Consent

Those of you in the USA, please check this out. Probably will be very informative. I thought it would be in relation to this topic, among others. I believe it's airing Friday night (March 14, 2008), but that's here in the midwest.

Should be interesting.

TJ

bEaUtIfUlbRuNeTtE · Mar 12, 2008, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Depressed in MO

ABC News: John Stossel Special: The Age of Consent

Those of you in the USA, please check this out. Probably will be very informative. I thought it would be in relation to this topic, among others. I believe it's airing Friday night (March 14, 2008), but that's here in the midwest.

Should be interesting.

TJ

I watched all of it and that is absoulely ludacris! Even after the 'sexual assultor's' girlfriend said she wasn't raped, is now married and has four kids with this guy they still won't take him off the list? The laws the law but there are murderers out there who are getting off the death sentence. That guy needs a super good laywer. He needs justice.

Depressed in MO · Mar 12, 2008, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by bEaUtIfUlbRuNeTtE

I watched all of it and that is absoulely ludacris! Even after the 'sexual assultor's' girlfriend said she wasn't raped, is now married and has four kids with this guy they still won't take him off the list? The laws the law but there are murderers out there who are getting off the death sentence. That guy needs a super good laywer. He needs justice.

Yeah, I can't actually watch it here at work, but it will be airing on Friday, so I will get to watch it then.

I'm sure it will be quite interesting.

Alty · Mar 12, 2008, 11:02 AM

That is insane. I can't believe that this guy is still registered as a sex offender and that he has no way to get off that list. It just goes to show that the real issues aren't being dealt with and taxpayers money is being spent on things like this. Ridiculous.

NowWhat · Mar 12, 2008, 11:44 AM

Where I agree that the system is flawed - with this case in point - it is a good law. There are flaws in every system. I guess you take the good with the bad. IF someone moves in next door to me that is a true sex offender - I want to know.

I feel for this guy and think something should be done, I am still thankful that this registry is here and available.

Alty · Mar 12, 2008, 11:56 AM

I agree that the registry for sex offenders is a very valuable tool, I don't want to get rid of it. But honestly, this guy isn't a sex offender. He had to get permission to take his own kids to the park. He had to live in a mobile home and not with his family because his sister was only 12 and he's considered a sex offender.

They know the facts and still won't take him out of the system, that is an awesome abuse of power. He has to register as a sex offender every year and his married to his supposed victim. They should spend tax payers money catching and monitoring the real criminals, not guys like this.

NowWhat · Mar 12, 2008, 12:01 PM

I totally agree. The system is flawed. There should be something on the books for cases like this. Especially since kids are having sex at a younger age. I have to wonder though, is this a special case or the norm? How many people is this happening to?

Alty · Mar 12, 2008, 12:50 PM

I don't know if this is the norm, I hope not. Obviously it is a problem otherwise they wouldn't be doing a show about it. It would be interesting to find out how many men are actually being accused of rape just because the girl isn't the appropriate age.

The thing that bugs me is that the women in this case is the one that initiated the sex. Yes, she was only 15 and he was 19, yes he's older and should be wiser, but she is the one who initiated it. Maybe there should be a law that also prosecutes teens that have sex under that statutory age. Maybe then teens would think twice before having sex at the age of 15.

The point is that it was consensual sex, they are married today and have 4 children of their own. The fact that he is still considered a sexual predator is ridiculous.

You are completely right, the system is flawed.

NowWhat · Mar 12, 2008, 01:09 PM

Well, see, there's the rub. Yes, she consented. But in that state - it doesn't matter, because she wasn't old enough. She had to be 2 years older to say she wanted to have sex, legally.
So, a law was broken. Yes, I understand that they are now married and have kids, etc. But at that time, she was underage. It was against the law for a 19 year old to have sex with a 15 year old. A law was broken.

Now, could they or should they be able to take this man off the offender list? I think so. I do agree that this is ridiculous. Totally! But, if you start making exceptions because a girl came in and said she asked for it, regardless of her age, what happens next?

Alty · Mar 12, 2008, 01:13 PM

What I'm saying is that she also broke the law. She wasn't old enough to have sex therefore she should be charged too. It's a ridiculous idea to charge her, but no more so than charging him.

By the way, did you notice that we each have three signatures and that they are all the same color in the same order? Twilight zone.

NowWhat · Mar 12, 2008, 01:21 PM

Okay, no, I did not notice that, but now that you have pointed it out - weird :)

NowWhat · Mar 12, 2008, 01:27 PM

I am playing devil's advocate here - so bare with me.

Did she really break a law? I mean, they are saying that she isn't old enough to consent. She isn't mature enough or whatever. So, since she isn't legally old enough to say what she wants, is it up to the person (who is of age) that she is having sex with to put the breaks on?
I guess because she doesn't meet the age requirement, she doesn't know what she is saying? Therefore since she isn't being held accountable for consenting - did she break a law?

bEaUtIfUlbRuNeTtE · Mar 12, 2008, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Altenweg

I don't know if this is the norm, I hope not. Obviously it is a problem otherwise they wouldn't be doing a show about it. It would be interesting to find out how many men are actually being accused of rape just because the girl isn't the appropriate age.

The thing that bugs me is that the women in this case is the one that initiated the sex. Yes, she was only 15 and he was 19, yes he's older and should be wiser, but she is the one who initiated it. Maybe there should be a law that also prosecutes teens that have sex under that statutory age. Maybe then teens would think twice before having sex at the age of 15.

The point is that it was consensual sex, they are married today and have 4 children of their own. The fact that he is still considered a sexual predator is ridiculous.

You are completely right, the system is flawed.

Great point!

ISneezeFunny · Mar 12, 2008, 01:33 PM

Well, if you want realistic... sex at 13, dating around 17...

... that, at least, seems to be the trend nowadays... I overheard my brother's friends (age 15) talking about what his other friend did last weekend with a girl at a movie theater... and when they talk about relationships, their feelings on it is that they're "too young" for a girlfriend.

... what's the world coming to?

I started dating when I was a sophomore in high school...

ISneezeFunny · Mar 12, 2008, 01:34 PM

It seems that a lot has gone by while I was typing that answer. For shame.

bEaUtIfUlbRuNeTtE · Mar 12, 2008, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by ISneezeFunny

well, if you want realistic...sex at 13, dating around 17...

...that, at least, seems to be the trend nowadays...I overheard my brother's friends (age 15) talking about what his other friend did last weekend with a girl at a movie theater...and when they talk about relationships, their feelings on it is that they're "too young" for a girlfriend.

...what's the world coming to?

I started dating when I was a sophomore in high school...

I got my first kiss when I was a freshmen in high school, then the dating started after that. So I was 14, going to be 15 then.

Honestly, Isneezefunny and I completely agree with you, I don't know what this world is coming to. No.. no.. no.. it's the society not the world.

Alty · Mar 12, 2008, 06:13 PM

Okay, you'll all be surprised that I feel so deeply about teens and sex. I'm not going to tell you the age I was when things happened, but I definitely wasn't a good girl. I did learn from my teen transgressions, and I always, ALWAYS, used protection.

I think it bothers me more that teens aren't being responsible about sex, not that they're starting young. Although 14 and 15 is really young.

froggy7 · Mar 12, 2008, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by bEaUtIfUlbRuNeTtE

I saw this on CNN yesterday and it shocked me. Where is the modesty and respect in these girls?!

First, these girls aren't having sex all by themselves. And, the sad truth is that girls from homes with an absent father are more likely to have sex at a young age, looking for male acceptance and love. So the divorce rate may be fueling some of this.

froggy7 · Mar 12, 2008, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Altenweg

I don't know if this is the norm, I hope not. Obviously it is a problem otherwise they wouldn't be doing a show about it. It would be interesting to find out how many men are actually being accused of rape just because the girl isn't the appropriate age.

Just an fyi: Several years ago Parade magazine did a story on this situation. Alabama was looking at changing a law about allowing sex offenders to live within X feet of a bus stop, which was going to force a young woman out of her house. She was on the registry because she had consensual sex with her 15 year old boyfriend when she was 17. So it goes both ways on this.

Even more frightening... if a child is sexually abused, they often act out by abusing other kids. There are states where these kids can be put on the sex offenders list for life because of that if it's brought to the attention of police. Which makes some people think that there are sexual predators that are not being caught because the parents of their victims don't want their kids to have to deal with that for the rest of their life.