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Dear Tax-chick,

I don't think I'd hold parents accountable for the randy acts of young-uns on the verge of physical maturity. I'm old enough to know folks (older than me) who married, yes, married, at age 15. And stayed married. And raised good families, and grew to old age with each other.

I read a headline the other day announcing adolescence extended to 25. Culturally, that's where we may be at. Psychologically, that's perhaps what our society has done to younger folks.

But physically, most boys and girls are ready for parenthood no later than age 14 - 16, and plenty, a whole lot earlier. Passing laws to punish the parents of children who figure that out doesn't seem to me to be wise.

sitetest

Passing laws to punish the parents of children who figure that out doesn't seem to me to be wise.

I'm not thinking in terms of "punishing," but more of "incentivizing" adults.

It may be that there's nothing useful to be done. However, when a 13-year-old and a 12-year-old have produced a child, we at least ought to be able to agree that something has gone wrong.

If they are old enough for sex, they are old enough to get a job and move out and take care of themselves.

Tell them that too. Make it a rule.

I think they have it wrong, from what I’ve seen, the age of adolescence seems to have extended beyond thirty these days........

I don't think I'd hold parents accountable for the randy acts of young-uns on the verge of physical maturity. I'm old enough to know folks (older than me) who married, yes, married, at age 15. And stayed married. And raised good families, and grew to old age with each other.

I read a headline the other day announcing adolescence extended to 25. Culturally, that's where we may be at. Psychologically, that's perhaps what our society has done to younger folks.

But physically, most boys and girls are ready for parenthood no later than age 14 - 16, and plenty, a whole lot earlier. Passing laws to punish the parents of children who figure that out doesn't seem to me to be wise.

I get into trouble on these things, I tend to be a Barry Goldwater type libertarian. First off, we do need an age of consent as a benchmark for society, I would choose 16, some might differ, but I think it would be a good compromise. I think overall the Europeans handle the matter of sex, generally better than we do. On other stuff, no, but I think on this one, they are ahead of us. I would have varying punishments (ranging from fines to limited incarceration, depending on the cases and circumstances) left up to the judge for the grey area between 13 to 16, anyone under 13, toss the book at them and throw away the key.

You hit the nail on the head. in the realm of nature, we are ready to reproduce at the ages somewhere between 13 to 16. First the parent should teach their values and such to give their children a good thought process to decide right from wrong and also that they will be held accountable and responsible for their actions as adults. Even at 13 I knew what was right and wrong, anyone tried persuading me to have sex back then, I would say no because I was taught that and can make decisions based on what I was taught. As a society, we are falling down and worse, extending adolescence until 25. We should not be doing that. We are tempting biology by not instilling values, accountability and responsibility to go with them.

Under ancient Jewish law, one is an adult at 13, in Rome, it was 14 and even i England, I think it was the same with the exception of making major business contracts. My grandfather quit school in 1914 at the age of 13 and got a real job.

I know I'm drawing a target on my back at times, since I come in from a different angle, but I always have to answer the questions on "what would the Constitution say" as well as address the reality of biology in cases like these.

Generally I do believe that once a person has serve their debts to society, they start with a clean slate. One thing I do disagree with Megan's Law is telling the general public they are a sex offender. I would even toss out the law on a Constitutional basis ideally. I guess due to the gravity of the situation, I can compromise where they should register with the police only, only the police would know and as long as they are following post release conditions set by the judge, they should be left alone. I just don't want to open the door to vigilante justice.