We'd probably be shocked to learn how many Alabama male voters

[MineralMan]

think there's nothing wrong with a grown man fooling around sexually with a 14-year-old-girl. As long as she "consents," of course. The same would probably be true in most states.

That's why we have to have laws to protect youngsters from adults, frankly. A sizable percentage of men simply don't get the problem with it.

An anonymous poll on this question would probably produce shocking results for many of us.

At one time, most states had the age of consent for sexual activity set at 18 or even 21. A few states had it set at much younger ages, though. These days, the most common age of consent is 16. That's a reduction of that age. And that's consent to engage in sexual activity with anyone. At age 16.

Most states also have removed penalties for sex at even younger ages, as long as the two people are near in age. Three or four years is typical. Most of those states set a bottom limit for that at age 14. But high school kids having sex with each other is no longer a crime in most jurisdictions these days.

In every state, however, a 32-year-old-man having a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old is a criminal. Roy Moore is a criminal, it appears.

But, the age of consent has gone down over the past 50-60 years. In most states, a 32-year-old man can have sex with a 16-year-old with no risk of breaking the law. I don't think that's appropriate at all, but the states have lowered the age of consent anyhow.

That tells me that there are a lot of men who think that sexual contact with 14-year-olds is OK. I'm betting that we'd all be surprised if there was a poll of men. I don't think I want to know.

[MineralMan]

1. In fact, such a poll has been taken. Not scientific, but a poll.

http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-the-age-of-consent-be-lowered-to-14

The results? 48% said the age of consent should be lowered to 14 years of age.

[Grammy23]

2. We know enough about brain development and emotional maturity to know

that 14 year olds are a long way from maturity in either department. Unfortunately, the sex organs and hormones are activated long before the brain is finished with its growth and development. So a young person can get conned into or tricked into a situation of a sexual nature by an insistent boyfriend or an older person who SHOULD know better. The age of consent needs to reflect a person’s ability to know the risks and what they are consenting to do. If your brain has 10 more years or so to develop fully, a 14 year old cannot and should not be allowed to consent to a sexual relationship. At that age, consent (for girls) is driven more by hormones and perhaps an adolescent view of love, romance and being “grown up”.

A 32 year old man who takes advantage of girls in their early teens should be prosecuted for their deeds. They know their power over her and utilize that to get what they want. They groom them and are predators in every sense of the word.

[MineralMan]

4. I don't disagree with you.

However, teens have been engaging in sexual activity since forever. As long as they're near the same age, I can see no point in criminalizing that activity. That doesn't mean that I think it's a good idea, of course, although I felt differently when I was a teenager.

Like many teenagers, I was sexually active before being 18 years old. And never in any non-consensual way, regardless of whether kids under some age can legally consent or not. My rule has always been that only enthusiastic consent is actually consent, and that was my rule even as a teen.

My issue is with full-grown adults being sexually involved with people under the age of 18, or 16, as is the law in most states. I think that's wrong. I think it should be illegal. I think it should result in criminal prosecution.

There was a time in human history, of course, when the only thing required for sexual activity was puberty. In those days, lifespans were short, and childhood wasn't extended as it is today. People started reproducing as soon as they could reproduce. That era disappeared when educating children required a longer time than it did in earlier times. Putting off reproduction was a plus, since it enabled people to learn more before they made babies.

The current laws are based on actual life. Teens have sex with each other, despite the misgivings of adults. So we've stopped arresting and charging kids who have sex with each other. At the same time, we've enacted some tough laws against adults who do sexual things to young people. It's the balance we have now.

I disagree with setting the unrestricted age of consent to 16, which is the case in most states and countries. I think that's too young. But, those are the laws that have been passed.

[Grammy23]

8. Yes, and what two teenagers do in the back seat of a car is far removed

from what Roy Moore is accused of doing. I agree with you that two teenagers can get in way over what their emotional maturity is ready to handle. Ann Landers warned girls long ago that what starts out as pretty innocent kissing can pretty quickly escalate to something she might not have planned on happening. The teenage boy (in his wildest dreams) might have HOPED it would happen but should have enough rerestraint not to force the girl to do something she does not want to do.

Roy Moore, a grown man, knew full well what he had in mind if he did what this woman says he did. He certainly didn’t take her to his cabin in the woods if all he had in mind was getting to know her better. Any contact with her of a physical nature was highly inappropriate and most likely illegal....even in Alabama.

I guess my main point is that what we know about human development validates that having an age of consent is correct and that lowering the age below 16 is not wise. If two teenagers get carried away and engage in consensual sex is totally a different matter than a 32 year old man pursuing a 14 year old. So I think we agree for the most part.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. There Isn't A Doubt In My Mind, MM

And, i don't really want to know either.

[MineralMan]

5. Yup.

There are plenty of nasty, ugly folks out there. The only thing that will keep Roy Moore from getting elected will be Republicans who have young daughters and understand just how wrong what he did at age 32 really was. I hope there are enough of them to keep him out of that office.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. You And Me Both, Dude!

I fear the opposite will occur, though.

[MineralMan]

7. It certainly could happen.

Alabama's a whole other country, it seems.