Safeguard teenagers by raising age of consent

PERHAPS the best way to protect young teenagers from the harm caused by sexual exploitation, or statutory rape, would be to raise the age of consent.

It is much easier to tell the difference between a 21-year-old and a 15-year-old than between a 16-year-old and 15-year-old.

If the age of consent were 21 rather than 16, a jury would probably disbelieve a defendant who claimed he honestly thought a 15-year-old was of legal age. They would definitely disbelieve a defendant who claimed he thought a 13- year-old was 21.