Each state has an age of consent, or a minimum age for a potential sex partner. Here's a list state-by-state for the U.S.:
Alabama 16
Alaska 16
Arizona 18
Arkansas 16
California 18
Colorado 15
Connecticut 15
D.C. 16
Delaware 16
Florida 16/18 (bill pending)
Georgia 16
Hawaii 14
Idaho 14
Illinois 16/17
Indiana 16
Iowa 18
Kansas 16
Kentucky 16 - Age 16 if the man is 21 or older.
Louisiana 17
Maine 16
Maryland 16
Massachusetts 16/18
Michigan 16
Minnesota 16
Mississippi 16 - If the female is over 12, the status applies only to virgins.
Missouri 17
Montana 16
Nebraska 16
Nevada 16
New Hampshire 16/18
New Jersey 16/18
New Mexico 17
New York 17
North Carolina 16
North Dakota 18
Ohio 16
Oklahoma 16
Oregon 18
Pennsylvania 16
Rhode Island 16
South Carolina 14/16
South Dakota 16
Tennessee 18
Texas 17
Utah 16/18
Vermont 16
Virginia 15
Washington 16
West Virginia 16
Wisconsin 18
Wyoming 16
Puerto Rico 18
Well, there's the list. Check your state, if you're American, and that's the age he/she's gotta be for some badda-bing.
Now let's be honest, with today's kids and their intense knowledge and practice of sex, they're having sex with each other. What's the difference between having sex with someone their age or someone older?
Wait, you say: we have to protect them from the dangers of sex. What dangers? STD? They give it to each other. Pregancy? There's no difference between the sperm of a 16 year old boy and a 21 year old man. What else? Psychological impact? What psychological impact?

And who sets these age limits anyway? What's the difference between having sex with a 16 year old girl and having sex with a girl who's 15 and 364 days and 23 hours? Does she suddenly become enlightened about sex in that final hour?
Now here's what I think. Again, I'm not advocating anything illegal...I'm not saying "go out and hop some jailbait." It's still illegal, and you can go to jail and be branded a sex offender for the rest of your life (for something relatively harmless; however, you can commit manslaughter, serve your time, and get out with few people the wiser). This is just something to think about, folks. IMHO, it should be legal to have sex with anyone who's attained puberty and is willing.
In fact, all girls, once they reach puberty, should be put on birth control. C'mon, we innoculate them for crap they will probably never be exposed to, but it's out of the question to protect them from pregnancy? One pill a day, that's it. I hear about kids having sex at school, so you gotta be careful. With today's birth control, our young men and women can be introduced to the pleasures of love at an early age bythe more experienced and perhaps dodge the bizarre hangups that many of us adults have developed by waiting for so long. Polynesian cultures did it all the time; it was expected for a young boy entering puberty to make the rounds with all the women of the village so they could teach him what a woman needs.
Oh, but they don't understand the ramifications of sex and must be protected? Like all adults (or even half) have that same level of understanding. I don't think so.
Discuss, if you will.
Edited for spelling snafu.
Edited by Rockhound, 09 November 2004 - 11:14 PM.