winstonjen

What should it be based on? A set age, or the difference in age? I personally think that it should be based on a 2-year difference so long as both individuals are 16 or older, and when they are both 18 or older, there should be no restrictions other than consent. What does everyone else here think?

I'm referring to any form of intercourse, BTW - discrimianation should not be made based on sexual preference.

Arkus 02

2 year limit while in high school is good. 3 of my female friends have gotten hurt that way. One got pregnant too. But it doesnt really matter what the rules are, cause nobody is ever gonna listen and people are still gonna get hurt. I guess its just a fact of life.

Derec

16 as the general age of consent, age difference of two years for 14-16 I think.

18 is definitely too high as a general age of consent.

Well you can get pregnant/hurt even if the boyfriend is within the 2 years and even if you are 18. So that really has no relevance.
Since we are talking criminal law here I do not think a 20 year old should be criminalized just because his girlfriend is 17.

UMoC

Loren Pechtel

Seems like a reasonable standard. I would add a judicial bypass to this but I would add it to any age-based law.

chanoc

Age of consent is 18 in Alaska. IMO it should be lowered to 16.

Amen-Moses

Scrap it and go for licensing.

In Holland it's 12 and they seem fine with it and strangely enough the average age of first intercourse in Holland is exactly the same as it is in Alaska!

Amen-Moses

scumble

Age of consent is a daft idea. It's not followed. In the UK, it's not uncommon to lose virginity at 14 or 15. A law can't control when teenagers start to get horny. The only thing that matters is emotional consequences resulting from sexual encounters - mostly there's an emotional attachment involved, and as you say, Arkus, boys are not good at dealing with it, and end up making girls miserable. It's only a parent or similar adult figure who can advise a child on matters of sex. Otherwise, it's likely kids will try it out, partly through curiosity.
There's no harm in a traditional guideline though.

fatherphil

i'm for bumping it up to 21

Loren Pechtel

The main point of the law is to prevent expolitation by older individuals.

Derec

But all it does is criminalize non-criminals.

Why? If you want to remain celibate that long knock yourself out. But do not force other to do the same by threatening them with a felony charge.
You seem to have a very negative attitude towards sexuality as evidenced by your other posts.

UMoC