My son just turned 18 and has a 15-year-old girlfriend, so I did a little research on "age of consent" laws in Jersey. I was surprised at what I found out.
The age of consent in New Jersey is 16 with the "acceptable difference between ages" set at 4 years.
That means once someone is 16, they can have sex with anyone they choose no matter what the age difference. So, as morally reprehensible as it would be, a 60-year-old man could have sex with a consenting 16-year-old girl in NJ and not run into legal trouble.
Hence the song "You're Sixteen."
NJ has an "acceptable age difference" of 4 years which means that, in the state, it's legal to have sex with a person under the age of consent as long as you are within 4 years of their age. So, an 18-year-old can have sex with a consenting 14-year-old, a 17-year-old with a 13-year old and so on.
Agree with it or not, that is the law.
We are the United States of America, not the "separate states" of America. A person should not be permitted to participate in a sexual activity without consequence in one state while doing 20 years for that same act in another. In Utah, the "acceptable age difference" is TEN YEARS. So that means a 24-year-old can have consensual sex with a 14-year-old and high-five his friends at the bar later, while in every other state that person would do serious time.
The age of consent should be a federally regulated law that is the same across the country. I'm not saying what the law should be. It should just be the same accross the country.
Age of consent by state - (
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Is it though? Look at the the 'religion' that's most popular in that state. It's really not that surprising.
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it's pretty wild to see how Utah sticks out like a sore thumb.
Is it though? Look at the the 'religion' that's most popular in that state. It's really not that surprising.
That is the point. The "age of consent" laws are regulated by local state politicians who rely on the local vote to get elected. So, they acquiesce to the beliefs of the locals.
The disparity in the law between states is ridiculous. Many states have no "acceptable age" allowances. So, you can have a 19-year-old doing serious time for getting intimate with their 17-year-old gf/bf.
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it's pretty wild to see how Utah sticks out like a sore thumb.
Is it though? Look at the the 'religion' that's most popular in that state. It's really not that surprising.
Mormon's don't condone sex out of wedlock. And other than some of the fringe polygamous groups, they don't marry children. So as perverse as the age difference is, it relates to marital relationships, not casual sex. Most sex in Utah is between 21 year old returning male missionaries and 19 year old girls who get married after a couple of months of dating.
You just defined Mormonism in a nutshell.
Umm, isn't the better question, why isn't it necessary every state be the same?
I mean, unless you're ok with some dude getting away with the fact that it was okay to have sex with your daughter because the state says the age of sexual consent is 16 (or lower).
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The crazy ten year difference allowed in Utah notwithstanding; why is it necessary every state be the same?
Umm, isn't the better question, why isn't it necessary every state be the same?
I mean, unless you're ok with some dude getting away with the fact that it was okay to have sex with your daughter because the state says the age of sexual consent is 16 (or lower).
Do we really want this to become the debate topic for national politics?
As for standardizing the Age of Consent, that's a really tough sell constitutionally. What's your basis, the Commerce Clause? Been there, done that: check the history of the Mann Act, a generally well-intentioned piece of anti-trafficking legislation that was twisted into a (highly selective) federalization of the age of consent.
On the list of things I would federalize, the Age of Consent ranks pretty low. And I have three daughters.
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just crazy.
You just defined Mormonism in a nutshell.
And don't even get me started on the Jews/Episcopalians/Jesuits/Blacks/Mexicans/Thai...
Speed limits, marijuana use, (until recently) same sex marriage, school curriculum, motorcycle helmet usage, etc.
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Speed limits, marijuana use, (until recently) same sex marriage, school curriculum, motorcycle helmet usage, etc.
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Yeah, like that last line means anything :(
That sounds much creepier than I think you intended it to sound.
It depends. A senior and a sophomore are at similar places in life. A HS graduate dating a sophomore or a junior is doing himself no favors.
Also, this is stupid. I didn't have a girlfriend in high school, but there is nothing wrong with a senior and a freshman getting it on. In fact, that's how must girls were deemed popular.
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But your 18 year old dating a 15 year old gives me the creeps. Thats a huge difference at that stage in life.
Also, this is stupid. I didn't have a girlfriend in high school, but there is nothing wrong with a senior and a freshman getting it on. In fact, that's how must girls were deemed popular.
Even way way back when I was in HS, I would have thought that to be icky. I would also wonder about the senior; maybe he couldn't get someone his own age? Of course, if I was the freshman I would have been all "yes - Jennifer O'Neill!" (I think that was the big book/movie back then)
As the father of both a daughter and 2 sons, I can honestly say I have no idea what universal law I would find acceptable from either perspective. I certainly wouldn't want my freshman daughter dating a senior. I also wouldn't want my senior son dating a freshman. I don't know what age difference or age of consent is "correct" though.
I am actually much more interested in a movement to remove the statute of limitations for sexual abuse of a minor. I have written several politicians at the city, state, and federal level with very little in the way of interest.
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In comment 12388375 Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy said:
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it's pretty wild to see how Utah sticks out like a sore thumb.
Is it though? Look at the the 'religion' that's most popular in that state. It's really not that surprising.
That is the point. The "age of consent" laws are regulated by local state politicians who rely on the local vote to get elected. So, they acquiesce to the beliefs of the locals.
The disparity in the law between states is ridiculous. Many states have no "acceptable age" allowances. So, you can have a 19-year-old doing serious time for getting intimate with their 17-year-old gf/bf.
In 1988 Arkansas set their age of consent to "it don't matter, just have fun!".. oh that crazy govnah!
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In comment 12388681 WideRight said:
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But your 18 year old dating a 15 year old gives me the creeps. Thats a huge difference at that stage in life.
Also, this is stupid. I didn't have a girlfriend in high school, but there is nothing wrong with a senior and a freshman getting it on. In fact, that's how must girls were deemed popular.
Even way way back when I was in HS, I would have thought that to be icky. I would also wonder about the senior; maybe he couldn't get someone his own age? Of course, if I was the freshman I would have been all "yes - Jennifer O'Neill!" (I think that was the big book/movie back then)
He was 17 while she was 15 which to me, there is nothing wrong with. She'll be 16 in another 6 weeks. Then they will be 18 and 16. There is nothing wrong with this. Also, they aren't "getting it on" (or so that's what I am lead to believe).
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But your 18 year old dating a 15 year old gives me the creeps. Thats a huge difference at that stage in life.
Also, this is stupid. I didn't have a girlfriend in high school, but there is nothing wrong with a senior and a freshman getting it on. In fact, that's how must girls were deemed popular.
When I was in HS that was the case. I remember being a freshman and you'd have some hot freshman dating a senior. I remember the thinking was not revolved around age but more so grade wise.
You might have freshman dating a senior in HS. Soph dating senior in HS or college freshman. I remember people looking at it in terms of grades rather than age.
Old enuff to bleed, ole enuff to breed...Mick Jagger
Old enuff to pee, old enuff for me...Roman Polanski
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In comment 12388375 Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy said:
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it's pretty wild to see how Utah sticks out like a sore thumb.
Is it though? Look at the the 'religion' that's most popular in that state. It's really not that surprising.
Mormon's don't condone sex out of wedlock. And other than some of the fringe polygamous groups, they don't marry children. So as perverse as the age difference is, it relates to marital relationships, not casual sex. Most sex in Utah is between 21 year old returning male missionaries and 19 year old girls who get married after a couple of months of dating.
If you're talking about the mormon part of Utah yes, the rest of us are like the rest of the country. Then 10 year thing is fine, I have no desire to have sex with anyone under 18, let alone under 21.