In most states, it's no, no, and no, and it's because the law recognizes that the "free will" presumed of normal adults, is limited by impediments to full judgment, including both mental handicap and immaturity.
The answers all turn to "yes, yes, and yes" when the subject turns 18.
I am not the one to argue that the cognitive functions are dramatically improved over the two years from 16 to 18. I do know there are significant differences between the physiological functioning and the intellectual competence of an adolescent and an adult.
I would argue that a line has to be drawn somewhere, however arbitrary the placement of that line might be. The only reasonable alternative would be to require extensive maturity testing on an individual basis, and from a "liberty" and "privacy" point of view that would be way, way too intrusive a requirment.
So we're stuck with an age limit on, for instance, sex. This is not a perfect solution, but one that, roughly and on average, works to the benefit of the young, who need protection. We're not talking about limiting the free will of consenting "adults."
"The law" should have been brought to bear to prevent bars from catering to middle-school girls and to prevent old horndogs from rogering 14-year-old Lolitas. But even absent any change in law and law enforcement, social pressure could deliver a lasting smackdown against those who sexualize minors.
If a few barkeeps and lechers get smacked down hard in the press and in public estimation because Mandy Smith has done her bit to influence social pressure in that direction, I say, more power to her.
How about legally raising the age of consent? Well, argue it back and forth and put it to a vote. But the question can't be dismissed as nannyism a priori.
Yes age is in fact a crutch used by statists to gather more power over young people. That is why those under age have NO RIGHTS in court. So it seems ones God given rights are only given at age 17 or 18 or whatever? That is a pretty odd idea isn’t it? Who knew God gave rights age dependent?
As for the particular issue, if you read and thought about my post you would know what I said was she gave away her childhood by deciding of her own to go to bars at age 13. Had she never met Wyman, had she never even ever had sex with anyone, her she threw away her childhood. That was her choice and not a call for yet another law.