Should the age of consent be raised?

[joash]

following on from the "my 16 yr old ds is having sex with his 15 yr old girlfriend" thread ... I wondered what people thoughts were on this subject.

Think the age is about right but a sliding scale of age difference should be introduced re statutory rape - here in NJ it's 5 year's difference.

I agree too secur - but what chance is there - when girls are getting their ears pierced before the christening and getting their legs waxed at 9 - kids are made to grow up far too quickly

im a little confused. in scotland you can get married without your parents consent at the age of 14. so surely the age of consent there must also be 14?
also, i think that biological urges will win out all the time.
but statutory rape should not apply to a 17 yr old and a 15 year old. but definitly when say the age gap is 20 years.

Stitch, you can't get married in Scotland at the age of 14!! It was so at one time but has been 16 for many years. Marriage (Scotland) Act.

Does it not seem that the age of consent bears little or no resemblance to the age when many (if not most) teens are actually embarking on sexual relationships?
To address this indifference to the legal age, would it really benefit teens or anyone for it to be raised?
It is not so much about the law but about individuals and how they are placed emotionally and physically to pursue such a relationship.
Age is actually often irrelevant to those making the choices, but for such crimes and criminals as child/sexual molestation and pederasts and rapists then it is vital to have a separate law governing TRUE sex crimes.

That said I do think most 16 yr olds are not equipped with enough life skills to cope with a sexual relationship - I met plenty of 20 something men who were not either!!!! In fact I had child with one...
I just think that plonking an age limit really does not bear any relation to when the children relinquish their virginity.
As other countries show...