Touche Di. lol.

Reality check, the age of consent law is not (only) about rape of young women or premature marriage. Unfortunately Sex with a minor can be consentual which is why there has to be laws against it for the protection of the vulnerable child. Stick with the facts and leave the red herrings to the rednecks - or you will be easily mistaken for one.

Oh, so we want laws to protect children, who with consent (despite 'immaturity') are exploited by predators (and society that knows no bounds)?

Now, is that merely related to the 'having' of sex, or the 'type' of sex, and how do we define what age/type is acceptable?

If someone is not mature enough to consent to sex, then are they mature enough to know that gay sex (or married life) is their 'best' option.

Consent does not validate the type of sex.

Hardline, no sex outside marriage, no gay sex, no sex under 16. This ain't going to happen, so just what is the message society wants to give (via education, media, law, actual practice)?

Law is irrelevant if its instructive purpose is denied and punitive purpose not pursued. Do we want to openly promote gay sex as a life affirming option and reality on par with marriage and now, de facto relationships. If we want current consent laws to reflect an equality - either in age &/or practice - then the first order issue - what sex is licit and how old do you need to be to know that?

End game; the law appears to be irrelevant,& is not stopping illegal sex. Is consent law a means of dealing with underage buggery? Is there any point retaining consent laws at all? Will we end up with the ridiculous outcome of ages as low as 12 or 10 eventually?

Sorry,the original thesis is sound. Sex, outside the context of marriage (ie partnering for child bearing & child raising), doesn't make sense in a legal (societal policy) sense unless we want to promote another particular lifestyle & outcome.

What age is a good age for child bearing & rearing? Ask any 15 year old mother and they would probably have preferred to wait a little bit longer to raise a child, but as for the sex, society is saying you don't have to wait or necessarily be cautious...in fact, why bother having one supportive, life long partner (of the opposite sex!?!)... such drudgery and historical nonsense!