What do you think about statutory rape laws?

At 14, you was not in love, but you was infatuated with him and most likely excited that a much older man was interested in you. For a 20 year old to be involved with a 14 year old, does not make sense, since in effect he had sex with a "child". Now that you are 20, what happened to him? Did he ever contact you when you became an adult, or has he been involved in another child? (pedophile)

Where I have a problem with the law, is when for instance a minor, say for instance age 15 gets pregnant with a guy over 18, they get married, but the guy is still charged with statutory rape. Some of these guys have a pedophile record, that most likely never should have.

To determine whether someone is "mature" or not is subjective. What one considers mature another person considers immature. So the law establishes an age at which one can reasonably expect adequate consent to be possible. Sure some teens are mature before that age while others remain immature after that age. But that is the minority of situations. In the majority of situations the opposite is true. So the laws are in place to prevent adults from taking advantage of minors.

EDIT: A 14 year old who is having sex with a 20 year old is most likely compensating for something his or her parents are not providing her, or is sexually abused . We have these laws to deter and prevent predators from taking advantage of these youth

At 14 a child cannot consent to sexual act. The maturity has nothing to do, it was set up to protect minors under the age of consent. What would a 20 years of age man do with a child 14? ^^ That perturbing..

No you did not love him you were infatuated with him. As an Adult he knew better than to have sex with you, he should have respected your age. He is considered a pedophile for having sex with a minor under the age of 16.

If there was a magic machine that could measure maturity, of course that would be best for everything from sexual consent to drinking, to voting and gun ownership.

But there's no magic machine, so instead we pick an age where most people will be mature enough. Of course it's possible that you were an exception. There will always be some exceptions. Even at your current age of 20 you could probably find someone who isn't mature enough yet.

there is no such thing as consensual sex when you are a minor under the age of consent.

yes he did take advantage of you regardless of whether you think that or not, he was the adult of the situation, he knew the laws, and he chose to break them.

i think the laws are there for a reason. no 14 year old should be allowed to make such an adult decision. and no, maturity has nothing to do with it and still shouldnt.

there are PLENTY of reasons to make kids wait!!! dont try to say otherwise!

edit: oh sweetie.... what delusions you hold in that head of yours.... we arent talking about other cultures or things of that matter.... if you are in the USA the law says you cannot consent. thats all there is to it dont bring anyone else into your sad abused story.

The LAW says you are not mature enough to consent. The LAW put him in jail.

You rant on about maturity and all that, but consider this - if you were really all that mature, you would have known the laws (and so would he), and the ramifications of the laws put into place, and you both would have said no.

So you've pretty much blown your own mature theory out the old window, lol.

You cannot legally consent at age 14. A 20 year old preying on 14 year old girls has problems that you apparently do not yet understand. The statutory rape laws were made to protect underage girls like you but they have no way of giving you any common sense.

It is called statutory rape and your consenting had nothing to do with it, you were under 18 years of age. That law was put there to keep older more experienced people from taking advantage of young inexperienced people.. Your mothers boyfriend did the correct thing by arresting the older guy. That is my feelings in this matter.

They are silly. Interestingly for most of the time we've had age of consent laws the ages have been 12 and under. There also have never been any studies or research done that shows that a child is incapable of consenting to a sex act. But the law is the law.

if you really believe that then you still have the mentality of a 14 year old. statutory rape laws don't go far enough.