LDSChristian Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 I'll use the laws here in NC as an example. It's legal for someone to marry at age 16 with the consent of a parent or legal guardian and marriage has no age limit yet laws are strict about dating. What do you think of laws like that? I find them kind of contradictory. Quote
Backroads Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 What are the laws? There is a place in New England where a couple can be married at 14 with court approval... Quote
Jenamarie Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 The laws aren't strict about dating, they're strict about sex. They don't want older persons using their age and possible authority over a younger person to pressure them into a sexual relationship they may not be ready for, and not emotionally mature enough (or have the financial means) to extricate themselves from. That's why the marriage requires parental consent/court approval, so that (hopefully) more mature minds can decide if this is *really* want the minor(s) want. Quote
Soulsearcher Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 I'll use the laws here in NC as an example. It's legal for someone to marry at age 16 with the consent of a parent or legal guardian and marriage has no age limit yet laws are strict about dating. What do you think of laws like that? I find them kind of contradictory.I guess it depends where you live, though i don't really know of many dating laws, though i do know laws that govern sexual relations at and between certain ages. Guess it depends on the location, wording of the law and the willingness to apply it to certain relationships. I think protecting minors is a good thing and while it might annoy some people they do it for a reason. Quote
LDSChristian Posted February 25, 2011 Author Report Posted February 25, 2011 I guess it depends where you live, though i don't really know of many dating laws, though i do know laws that govern sexual relations at and between certain ages. Guess it depends on the location, wording of the law and the willingness to apply it to certain relationships. I think protecting minors is a good thing and while it might annoy some people they do it for a reason.Yea, it's a good thing. I'm not talking about that at all. I'm just talking about how some laws are yet people can still get married at 16. Quote
Soulsearcher Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 Yea, it's a good thing. I'm not talking about that at all. I'm just talking about how some laws are yet people can still get married at 16.With parental consent, you already answered your own question there. A lot of time the people pressing charges using the " dating laws" are parents who did not consent to what was going on with their child. It's just a matter of looking at a slightly bigger picture than you have been viewing it as. Quote
slamjet Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 Easy. You're not mature enough if you decide to marry at the age of 16. You even less mature if you date someone who is 16. Age 16 is meant for going out and have fun, not serious dating. Quote
rameumptom Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 Laws regarding sex and marriage are two different things. In the instance of sex, it is to protect young kids from predators. And most 21 year old guys (or 50 year olds, for that matter) who prey on kids do not see themselves as predators. Teens often feel important when an older person shows them interest, and then expresses it in a sexual way. Yet, that is why we have laws, such as statutory rape, because the child is not fully aware or in a position to make a proper decision. Second, marriage is not about sex, but about a contract. When approved by parents, it means the parents are granting the child to be emancipated and responsible for his/her own life within the contract of marriage. Quote
LDSChristian Posted February 25, 2011 Author Report Posted February 25, 2011 Laws regarding sex and marriage are two different things. In the instance of sex, it is to protect young kids from predators. And most 21 year old guys (or 50 year olds, for that matter) who prey on kids do not see themselves as predators. Teens often feel important when an older person shows them interest, and then expresses it in a sexual way. Yet, that is why we have laws, such as statutory rape, because the child is not fully aware or in a position to make a proper decision.Second, marriage is not about sex, but about a contract. When approved by parents, it means the parents are granting the child to be emancipated and responsible for his/her own life within the contract of marriage.That second part is what I've tried to get through to people on here. I do kind of laugh whenever I hear someone say it's a contract. Just an odd way of describing it to me I guess. Quote
slamjet Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 That second part is what I've tried to get through to people on here. I do kind of laugh whenever I hear someone say it's a contract. Just an odd way of describing it to me I guess.Wow. Quote
Guest Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 That second part is what I've tried to get through to people on here. I do kind of laugh whenever I hear someone say it's a contract. Just an odd way of describing it to me I guess.Marriage, as far as the law is concerned, is purely a contractual agreement. Anything beyond that is provided outside of law - e.g. Church, each individual practice, etc.The law only covers marriage as far as property rights, support for children, inherent power of attorney (such as medical decisions in case the spouse is incapacitated to decide on his/her own, etc.) are concerned. In some states, consummation of a marriage is a requirement for the contract's validity. There is really nothing much beyond that in the legal sense. The law doesn't care if you love your spouse or not. Quote
MorningStar Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 I think dating laws are good. They protect naive teens and pre-teens from those who want to prey on them. Quote
Dravin Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 (edited) I know it's been brought up but I'll reiterate that dating laws is a misnomer and kind of confusing. I thought you were suggesting there were actual laws limiting dating, what we are talking about is age of consent laws and as mentioned the idea is a combination of protecting from manipulation and/or that minors (of certain age cut off) are not mature enough to make informed decisions about such matters as sexual relations and thus cannot legally consent. The point of parental consent is that your parents are mature enough to make informed decisions about such matters for you. It's why they can give permission for their 8 year old to go on a field trip and said 8 year old can not. Of course once one is old/mature enough one can sign their own waivers acknowledging the risks inherent in a field trip. I don't think most would disagree with the concept though they may want to haggle over the ages/maturity levels involved. Edited February 25, 2011 by Dravin Quote
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