Why Is Statutory Rape Law Unfair

While many people believe statutory rape laws are unfair in various situations because they hinder relationships intimacy, ultimately statutory rape laws are effective because they keep predators away, decrease unplanned pregnancies and encourage abstinence. Statutory rape is when an adult has intercourse with anyone under the age of consent. This could be vaginal, oral, anal and mutual masturbation. There are numerous amounts of cases on the statutory rape law. Many of which people believe are unfair. The statutory rape law varies depending on where you live but it is certainly a law of efficiency.
Many people argue that this law is unfair because it does not allow relationships to connect intimately. Although this may or may not be true this law should be treated as any other law. At 18 one is said to be an “adult.” When a person is under the age of
A one year difference is not a huge gap but it is still the law that should be followed. Knowing that a person is unable to have sex with their partner because of this law should encourage abstinence. Many teens are eager to have sex with their partner unaware that if they are under the age of consent their partner could face consequences. Understanding this law is important. This law should not be revised to meet everyone’s sexual desires. If the situation was with a person who is 19 and another who is 12 then many people would be raging that something should be done. Again, even at 17 a person’s mind is not fully developed to make a decision such as sex on their own. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, they found that 51 percent of 12 to 19 year old girls were most influenced by their parents when making decisions about sex (Parks 13). In other words, these teens are not engaging in intercourse by 100% their choice, but by the environment surrounding