[Sabrina]

A new law has just been passed in my country making it illegal for a teenager under the age of 16 to kiss. This is not for family hugs and kisses but for french kissing or kissing of a sexual nature. This law has been implemented due to the high Aids / HIV stats in my country.

I am not quite sure how the law is going to be implemented as "punishment" for this "crime" has not yet been decided upon.

Real crime is so very high in my country ....... and I feel that an exploratory teenager is going to do what he or she wants to do - no matter what laws are in place. Whilst I understand the sentiment of this law - I can't help but think our government should be spending more time on the high rape, murder, hijacking and other violent crimes that have become quite a trend in South Africa.

[AAAAA]

There are similar regulations in my state as well. Here it is called sexual contact. The age of consent for said sexual contact is 18. If one or both are minors you can be prosecuted. There is an added problem here, once convicted, you must register as a sexual offender as well. I as a citizen do not know if you were a teen with overactive hormones and low impulse control or an actual sexual predator. This is very frustrating. Most states have rules (which are still ridiculous) such as one individual cannot be more than two years older than the other.

NORMALLY there is only prosecution when there is proof of sexual contact, i.e. a pregnancy. Recently a friend’s son was “making out” with his girlfriend (he 15 and she 17) in a department store parking lot with security video. Initially when approached by law enforcement our friend said “go ahead and give him a ticket, maybe it’ll teach him something” until the police officer explained the gravity of the situation and how this will follow the boy for the rest of his life. The case is still ongoing and I am anxious to see what happens.

The only other case that I know of first-hand was that of a co-worker (18) and his girlfriend (17). Since she was the minor, she was concidered the victim and he was the only one punished.

However here, the law was enacted (I believe) to try to reduce teen pregnancy and reduce teen mother's on welfare. I agree with you though, there is a lot of time and money being wasted, this should be a parenting issue, not a government issue.

[Sabrina]

I imagine teen pregnancy is also a reason for the law ...... here we have young ladies who fall pregnant on purpose because it means they can get a small bit of money each month from the government (not enough to adequately care for a baby though).

[Perna]

It is interesting. We'll see what happens with it. I think it was to also stop other, older teens from raping younger, etc. so peer to peer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3672591.stm

[heyjoe]

that is absolutely rediculous that a kid would have to be registered as a sex offender for the rest of his life for making out with someone his own age or even two years older if they are both under 18. this is an example of the rediculous overaction and imposition of a particular groups morality on everyone else. This country is rapidly becoming a police state.

[salukigirl]

why would making it illegal to kiss stop someone from raping? obviously, raping is illegal and people still do it. sounds to me like another thing that the govt has no clue what to do so they implement stupid laws that wont change anything.

i dont understand why education doesnt seem like no. 1 priority. people get mad because women have abortions. yet, they dont want to make the education availible about sex. they teach abstinence only which is proven to not work. they dont want people to get aids so they implement laws instead of teaching kids about aids and how to prevent it. they dont want kids to die in car accidents so they use scare tactics and laws instead of simple education. seems so simple to me. teach the public and a lot of these "problems" would go away. but teaching the public is too expensive, so lets throw them in jail for making out. that makes a lot of sense.

[Perna]

Worldwide age of consent:

http://www.avert.org/aofconsent.htm

[Sabrina]

Education ......... yes, our country sadly lacks that - though I guess they try.

Our possible future president believed he could indulge in casual sex (well, he did) and shower after to prevent contracting Aids. Sad but oh, so true!

[salukigirl]

i just think its funny that when you look back in history of places where the lower classes of people had no education, it was not a very good society. in fact, we, as humans, have never really had a "good" society. so it just seems like someone would have thought by now "hey, maybe we should educate the public and not keep them scared all the time". but once that happens people wise up to the govt and are no longer easily controllable. ugh....

thats crazy that the leader of a country would think you could wash off the hiv virus after casual sex.

Holy crap. Don't they know that kissing doesn't cause pregnancy or transmit HIV? You don't get HIV from kissing...

I understand the laws against SEXUAL CONTACT between minors but kissing has never been considered sexual contact to the best of my knowledge...

[lorisinto]

Very interesting, especially in light of the news about Britney Spears' younger sister! But, of course I don't feel it should be illegal for teenagers to kiss, or even to be sexual active necessarily.