In General Terms, When Is A Child No Longer A Child?

We have so many young people getting in adult trouble today including getting pregnant by todays standard a "child" is almost non-existant. In the Martin murder case he was called a child by the defense but the prosecution countered by always sight his age as he was a teen. Our laws have changed to try very young people as adults because they are now committing very deadly crimes. This is tough question and issue and of course does not apply to all kids but I am glad I was a "kid" when there was no doubt about it. Childhood memories are among the best we have. What a shame.

"Tried as an adult" is one of the most sickening forms of hypocrisy in our "justice" system. A person is either responsible for their own decisions, in which case they should have the freedom to make them, or they are not.

When they develop mens rea.

rhinefire said:

We have so many young people getting in adult trouble today including getting pregnant by todays standard a "child" is almost non-existant. In the Martin murder case he was called a child by the defense but the prosecution countered by always sight his age as he was a teen. Our laws have changed to try very young people as adults because they are now committing very deadly crimes. This is tough question and issue and of course does not apply to all kids but I am glad I was a "kid" when there was no doubt about it. Childhood memories are among the best we have. What a shame.

Click to expand...

Every human being develops at a different pace. Some societies have defined adulthood at a time when reproductive capability has been achieved. Our society just picked a magic number of 18 years old. This probably isn't a fair standard either.

I think the magic number should be 21. As far as being tried as an adult for crimes, that process makes no sense to me. If my wife is killed by an 8 year it affects my family the same as if my wife is killed by a 21 year old. I think the law could be applied uniformly to everyone in regards to criminal activity.

It seems that the real unstated question is, "At what age is it morally acceptable to have sex with a younger person?" It's a very interesting question but very few will entertain it because we are comfortable with the the arbitrary magic number of 18. Those who question this number are socially ostracized for bringing it up. It's best to stick with the magic number of 18 and let it go. When no moral principle can be applied just default to the law. It is a complex discussion that has already been solved.

Deal with it.