Sex offender gets his name wiped off state registry

[c_yeager]

My buddy was 18 when he slept with his 16 year old girlfriend. Her parents disaproved of him because he was the stereotypical trouble maker during his time in high school. He fit the "stoner" grunge image perfectly. He was not allowed to enlist in the navy. He cannot own a gun and has to register as a sex offender. He still gets harassed on occasion due to the fact that he manages a store in a popular mall. The sex offender system really needs to be reformed.

The ubiquitous 16 and 18 year old relationship is not a sex offense in most states in the U.S., there are some exceptions though. Most of the United States list the age of consent at 16, others often make allowances for a disparity of age, for example its only a crime if you are more than three years older than the person who is under 18, and a few states have a hard and fast under-18 rule. This fact alone indicates a big problem. For example, the quoted relationship would be illegal in Arizona, a person convicted of this offense in Arizona would have to register as a sex offender if they move to Washington, despite the fact that the crime that they commited in Arizona is not even a crime in Washington. That alone is enough to call the whole registry into question on it's face.

 

[megatronrules]

I personally feel that the "sex offender" label is all to often applied where it doesn't belong. Like the 18 yr. old and 16 yr. old thing for example. What about if your 21 and a girl who looks every bit of 21 and is really 17 but consents to sex and gives you her older sister's ID,should you then be labled a sex offender for life,and put in the same catagory as a rapist of child molester?

I'am sorry guys some here may disargree with me but in my mind a 16 year old who consents to have sex with her 21yr. old boyfriend isn't the same as a 21 year old molesting a 5 year old,and ahould not be treated as such end of story. Look I'am 27 and I'am not saying I'am gonna out and get a 17 year old girlfriend by any means,but lets face it a 17 year old now isn't a 17 yr. old from when my parents were my age. I really feel that to many people in our sociity today try to make everything bad age is only a number I know people who say that its wrong I'am seeing a woman whos almost 38,because she 10 years older than me. Fact is she looks very good for her age she could pass for my age all day long,but because she IS older its wrong in thair opinion. Well I say to people like this call me the graduate LOL. If two people love each other and want to have sex even if they are 17 and 25 its no ones business but thairs IMHO.

 

[Gray Peterson]

In the UK the age of consent is set for people 16 years and above.For homosexuals I think it is a few years more,although Im not definately sure.

All of the ages were equalized at 16 years in England, Scotland, and Wales, and 17 for Northern Ireland when the Sex Offenses Act passed in 2000.

For example, the quoted relationship would be illegal in Arizona, a person convicted of this offense in Arizona would have to register as a sex offender if they move to Washington, despite the fact that the crime that they commited in Arizona is not even a crime in Washington. That alone is enough to call the whole registry into question on it's face.

Debating facts with the sex registry supporters never works. They all absolutely LOVE the idea, even though it can come bite them in the butt. "Well, I never commit sex offenses so it doesn't matter".

Well, folks, here is an example of how sex offender registries will harm us all in the end: Boston City Councilor Proposes "Gun Offender" registry

You can bet your bottom dollar they will eventually just make carry permits and gun ownership registries available to the public, because owning guns is "shameful and they should be fired". See this page for more detail, specifically about Toby Hoover of Ohioians against Gun Violence calling for employers to fire CHL holders or refusing to hire CHL holders.

Sex Offender Registries do not work. Only YOU as a parent can protect your children, not the state sex offender registry. If the only time you'll take steps to protect your children against people breaking into your house ONLY if there's a sex offender around, you're a bad parent. You have to assume that there are people out there who are NOT on the registry, who haven't been caught yet. A registry is only as effective as the compliance with it.