There's also the parent liability issue. Since you're legally responsible for your kids until they're 18.
If your 14 year old daughter goes out and gets an STD, you're legally required to have it treated, and should you leave it untreated and something happens to her you're in deep s***.
Granted, this is true for 16 year olds as well. Maybe it should be raised to 18 or allow kids to be legal adults at 16. And you can't have someone under 18 sign a legal document exonerating you from any responsibility if your kid does something stupid and gets pregnant/an STD.
It's not an easy question to answer. I agree that there's people out there mature enough to handle sex at 13-14 years old. Then again, my dad was driving my grandpa home from Detroit when he was 10 years old, and did a damn good job, too. But he still had to wait until he was 16 to get an actual license. I guess if you're going to have sex at 13-14, don't get caught.
I don't think there's a simple blanket answer, but then again I don't think you just throw up your hands and say they can have sex/drive cars/smoke cigarettes/drink alcohol when they're mature enough to handle it.
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TheRock ~ Slow dramatic zoom-pan. Doesn't phase the hooded man.
"You have issues." - MWC. Pot. Kettle.