They should be prosecuted. At the same time, public debate on whether the law should be as it is currently or whether it should be changed is a fundamental pillar of democracy.
I don’t know much about how these laws work in the US, but I think that an 18yo having sex with a 17yo is morally no different than a 19yo having sex with an 18yo, and laws should reflect that. At the same time, a 50yo having sex with a 17yo is just as icky as the 50yo having sex with an 18yo.
A distinction without a difference for the purposes of the conversation surrounding this insanity.
Both are illegal. Full stop. That’s where the conversation needs to end when discussing whether or not someone should be prosecuted here.
The varying levels of severity aren’t relevant at this stage.
They should be prosecuted. At the same time, public debate on whether the law should be as it is currently or whether it should be changed is a fundamental pillar of democracy.
I don’t know much about how these laws work in the US, but I think that an 18yo having sex with a 17yo is morally no different than a 19yo having sex with an 18yo, and laws should reflect that. At the same time, a 50yo having sex with a 17yo is just as icky as the 50yo having sex with an 18yo.