Age of Consent and Legal Age of Consent and Legal Ages.Ages.

Mr Wilson’s ERC (Secondary 4)Mr Wilson’s ERC (Secondary 4)

The state of AffairsThe state of Affairs

In the United States of America, you can In the United States of America, you can enroll in the army at 18, but you cannot enroll in the army at 18, but you cannot have a beer before you are 21.have a beer before you are 21.

So you are old enough to want to die, but So you are old enough to want to die, but not to drink responsibly.not to drink responsibly.

A little bit of vocabularyA little bit of vocabulary

Age of consent only means the age at which Age of consent only means the age at which someone is considered legally competent someone is considered legally competent of consenting to sexual acts.of consenting to sexual acts.

Other « legal » ages include:Other « legal » ages include: Age of majorityAge of majority Age of criminal responsibilityAge of criminal responsibility Age of marriageAge of marriage Legal driving ageLegal driving age

Sexual ActivitySexual Activity

What does it mean to even have an age of What does it mean to even have an age of consent?consent?

In June 2006, the Canadian government proposed a bill to raise the age of In June 2006, the Canadian government proposed a bill to raise the age of consent from 14 to 16, while creating a near-age exemption for sex between consent from 14 to 16, while creating a near-age exemption for sex between 14-15 year olds and partners up to 5 years older, and keeping an existing 14-15 year olds and partners up to 5 years older, and keeping an existing near-age clause for sex between 12-13 year olds and partners up to 2 years near-age clause for sex between 12-13 year olds and partners up to 2 years older. The initiative also maintains a temporary exception for already older. The initiative also maintains a temporary exception for already existing marriages of 14 and 15 year olds, but forbids new marriages like existing marriages of 14 and 15 year olds, but forbids new marriages like these in the future. This was adopted on May 1st 2008.these in the future. This was adopted on May 1st 2008.

Do you think it is important to protect Do you think it is important to protect younger persons from older ones?younger persons from older ones?

Adults and ChildrenAdults and Children

Laws put into to place to protect child abuse Laws put into to place to protect child abuse have become more popular since the 19th have become more popular since the 19th Century.Century.

During the Industrial Revolution, children would During the Industrial Revolution, children would start working before ten, because of their small start working before ten, because of their small size.size.

In Ancient Greece, it was common for a 30 year In Ancient Greece, it was common for a 30 year old man to marry a girl in her early teens.old man to marry a girl in her early teens.

In the news…In the news…

A 17 years old drove A 17 years old drove his SUV his SUV throughthrough a a couple’s bedroom.couple’s bedroom.

He was high on He was high on speeds.speeds.

The speed at impact The speed at impact was 154 km/h.was 154 km/h.

He killed himself and He killed himself and the two sleepersthe two sleepers

… … and yet some moreand yet some more

This car’s driver was This car’s driver was 17 years old, had a 17 years old, had a blood-alcohol level blood-alcohol level of .094, was driving at of .094, was driving at 140km/h in a 50 zone.140km/h in a 50 zone.

He survived, his He survived, his passengers didn’t.passengers didn’t.

How would you feel?How would you feel?

Drinking & DrivingDrinking & Driving

Is drinking alone the problem?Is drinking alone the problem? The most significant concern is about combining driving The most significant concern is about combining driving

and drinking.and drinking. 40% of fatal accidents involve alcohol. You are 4.4 times 40% of fatal accidents involve alcohol. You are 4.4 times

more likely to die in a car crash due to alcohol more likely to die in a car crash due to alcohol consumption, than being murdered, in Canada.consumption, than being murdered, in Canada.

It is hoped that between 16 and 18, drivers learn good It is hoped that between 16 and 18, drivers learn good habits before adding the danger of alcohol.habits before adding the danger of alcohol.

North Americans are 4.6 times more likely to develop North Americans are 4.6 times more likely to develop alcohol abuse or alcohol related health problems if they alcohol abuse or alcohol related health problems if they have begun drinking before the legal age.have begun drinking before the legal age.

Five facts about accidents Five facts about accidents involving young driversinvolving young drivers

1 in 5 drivers are involved in a crash during their first 1 in 5 drivers are involved in a crash during their first year on the road .year on the road .

male drivers aged under 21 are 10 times more likely to male drivers aged under 21 are 10 times more likely to have a car accident than male drivers aged 35 or over. have a car accident than male drivers aged 35 or over.

young drivers have a higher proportion of crashes at young drivers have a higher proportion of crashes at night than older drivers.night than older drivers.

1 in 8 British drivers are under 25, but a quarter of 1 in 8 British drivers are under 25, but a quarter of drivers who die in traffic collisions are in this age group. drivers who die in traffic collisions are in this age group.

In 2007, 40% of passengers killed or seriously injured – In 2007, 40% of passengers killed or seriously injured – meaning lost limbs, paralysis, brain injury and other life-meaning lost limbs, paralysis, brain injury and other life-changing injuries – were in a car driven by a young changing injuries – were in a car driven by a young driver. driver.

To the batcave!To the batcave!

A little video interlude.A little video interlude.

Smoking, gambling, clubbingSmoking, gambling, clubbing

Why is there even a legal age to smoke?Why is there even a legal age to smoke? What about gambling? After all, it is your What about gambling? After all, it is your

money, so why should they stop you from money, so why should they stop you from spending it?spending it?

If a club offered no alcohol, would you still If a club offered no alcohol, would you still want to go?want to go?

Flipside: maybe adults want a place where Flipside: maybe adults want a place where there are no kids.there are no kids.

Rights & PrivilegesRights & Privileges

Not everyone even agrees what rights are.Not everyone even agrees what rights are. Natural rights: Rights that stem from God Natural rights: Rights that stem from God

or Nature, do not depend on the law of a or Nature, do not depend on the law of a specific society and cannot be taken away. specific society and cannot be taken away. Examples include the Right to Life, or Examples include the Right to Life, or some would say the Right to own a firearm some would say the Right to own a firearm in the United States of America.in the United States of America.

Rights & PrivilegesRights & Privileges

Legal Rights: These are based on a Legal Rights: These are based on a society’s rules and laws. The most society’s rules and laws. The most important example is the Right to Vote, but important example is the Right to Vote, but others include freedom of speech, Legal others include freedom of speech, Legal Equality, etc.Equality, etc.

This means that they are not universal This means that they are not universal and can be taken away by legislation.and can be taken away by legislation.

Rights & PrivilegesRights & Privileges

Positive Rights: These give you the Positive Rights: These give you the permission to do something.permission to do something.

Negative Rights: They prevent you from Negative Rights: They prevent you from doing something, often in order to protect doing something, often in order to protect the positive right of another entity.the positive right of another entity.

Rights & PrivilegesRights & Privileges

Privilege: a special entitlement granted by Privilege: a special entitlement granted by the ruling authority, either by birth or on a the ruling authority, either by birth or on a conditional basis.conditional basis.

Examples include a driver’s license.Examples include a driver’s license. Generally, privileges come with Generally, privileges come with

obligations. Some privileges do not.obligations. Some privileges do not.

It’s all about me, and I want it all!It’s all about me, and I want it all!

Because you want something, does it Because you want something, does it mean you should get it?mean you should get it?

Does it mean you should have everything Does it mean you should have everything you want, even if it means others might you want, even if it means others might not?not?

What are we willing to pay to get what we What are we willing to pay to get what we want?want?

It’s that time again, let us reflect…It’s that time again, let us reflect…

Is access to certain material goods 1) a Is access to certain material goods 1) a natural right, 2) a legal right or 3) a natural right, 2) a legal right or 3) a privilege. Why do you think so?privilege. Why do you think so?

(i.e. think about cell phones, cars, health care, shelter, food, different types of (i.e. think about cell phones, cars, health care, shelter, food, different types of clothes)clothes)

Which material goods do you think ought Which material goods do you think ought to be considered as legal rights?to be considered as legal rights?

……and some more thinking to do!and some more thinking to do!

Should children be protected from adult Should children be protected from adult influence and power? Give examples to influence and power? Give examples to support your answer.support your answer.

Is smoking a victimless crime? Should you Is smoking a victimless crime? Should you be allowed to smoke if you want to?be allowed to smoke if you want to?

And for good measureAnd for good measure

Why do you think teens pay more for car Why do you think teens pay more for car insurance, and do you think statistics insurance, and do you think statistics matter? (ie do you believe the statistics?)matter? (ie do you believe the statistics?)

If driving and drinking is dangerous, why If driving and drinking is dangerous, why do people still do it? Propose a way to do people still do it? Propose a way to change this state of affairs.change this state of affairs.

ReferencesReferences http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privilegeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privileges http://http://en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights/wiki/Rights http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Consenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Consent http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060107/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060107/

crashes_homicide_060107/20060107?hub=TopStoriescrashes_homicide_060107/20060107?hub=TopStories http://www.drugabusestatistics.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k5NSDUH/2k5results.htmhttp://www.drugabusestatistics.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k5NSDUH/2k5results.htm http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060623/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060623/

age_consent_faq_060623/20060623/age_consent_faq_060623/20060623/ http://www.allstate.com/foundation/teen-driving/teen-safe-driving-facts.aspxhttp://www.allstate.com/foundation/teen-driving/teen-safe-driving-facts.aspx