Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan
This bears repeating: He did rape her. At 12 years old, she can't give consent. If they have sex, it's rape.
I'm not going to wring my hands over the Young Offenders' Act. Both parties in this situation are children, and I think a 16 year old is pretty close to being a child. There is, however, a huge physical difference between a 16-year old and a 12-year old--and that's what disturbs me here. Obviously the 12-year old should not have been meeting up with older boys on the internet, if that's indeed what happened. But a 16-year old boy who wants to have sex with a 12-year old is in need of some serious help. A justice system that just threw the book at him would just be compounding the tragedy. He needs help--and serious help--not a life sentence.
And yes, I'll echo what others have said: 12 is indeed THAT young. A 16 year old is a teenager, in the midst of puberty, and growing into an adult body. A 12 year old is a child, in a child's body.
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You are correct. However, I guess it is just me but I think there IS a distinction between a violent unwanted rape and willing statutory rape.
Would you not be a lot more enraged if this had been an attack by a 16 year old on a 12 year old as opposed to an arranged meeting where he committed statutory rape?
In terms of body development, I know a 12 year old boy who is 5'10" and is often mistaken for a 15 or 16 year old. It all depends on the 12 year old.
I agree with you that it is strange behaviour for a 16 year old nonetheless and he should get some help, but not a long term because I don't think this particular incident warrants it.