To whom it concerns,

This petition is written to bring attention, raise awareness, provoke pondering and ultimately request a change be made to our sexual consent law here in our state of Michigan as well as our country as a whole.

Michigan’s law on sexual consent needs to be rectified and modified. The laws of sexual consent should be adjusted to exclude acceptance of a person of significant age gaps pursuing a “minor” child.

This law needs to change by perhaps adding levels of acceptance such as in other states.

-In our state of Michigan as well as 30 other states the law lists that 16 is the legal age of sexual consent.

-8 states list that 17 is the legal age of sexual consent.

-12 states list 18 is the legal age of sexual consent as well as adulthood.

We would like our law in Michigan to be modified to reflect those states that raise the age to 18, but have teirs of exclusions such as in Tennessee and Oregon for example.

*A person becomes a legal adult at the age of 18, then that declares any person under the age of 18 a “minor” child. For this petition I will focus on the age of 16 years old.

-MRI studies have shown that the average male does not reach maturity until approx: age 25, while a female will reach maturity by approx: age 21.

-This points out that by MRI standards a 16 yo “minor” child is not close to being developmentally mature enough to make a possible life altering decision such as consenting to sex.

-Without parental/guardian signatures a 16yo old “minor” child does not have the ability to consent to smoking, drinking, medical care, schooling, playing sports, drivers training or voting, however they are able to make a potentially life altering decision by consenting to sex with anyone 16+.

-This also points out that a fully matured man or woman is developed far more than a 16 yo “minor” child and can use their naturally developed power of knowledge to mentally and emotionally manipulate a still developing 16 year old “minor” into consenting to sexual relations.

*How can it be legally justifiable for an under developed, underaged “minor” child to make a decision that constitutes as consensual sex in 31 states across our country?

*The law states that a person/adult can have sexual relations with a “minor” child 16yo+ with the “minor” child’s consent unless the adult is a person of authority (Dr., Teacher, Counselor, Officer etc.). I would argue that based on MRI studies an adult naturally has authority over a not yet fully developed 16yo “minor” child.

*How is it decided that a person any age above 16+ Can legally have sexual relations with a 16yo “minor” child? Ex: A 39yr old legal adult can sexually engage with a 16yr old “minor” child as long as the “minor” consents.

*Furthermore, the law seems to reverse the severity of concern when it comes to indecent photography of minor children vs sexually engaging directly with a minor child: A legal adult can be charged as a sex offender if they are found to have indecent photos of a ”minor” child under the age of 18 in their possession.

-This means that it is illegal to have indecent photos of a ”minor” child under the age of 18, however it is seen as legal for an adult (18+) to engage in physical sexual conduct with a 16 year old “minor” child.

*This does NOT make sense and it needs to change not today. Not tomorrow. It needed to change YESTERDAY!

Most teens in this world socially connect with people online through various platforms. Below is a scenario:

A 16-year-old minor child chats with people through various social media accounts. In doing so, a 39yo engages in conversation with the 16yo. Through chatting the 16yo becomes comfortable and begins to share his/her insecurities (which many minor children/teens have). The 39yo now aware of the insecurities begins to feed into them and starts to build the 16yo’s confidence with compliments that make them feel valued, liked and seen. The attention feels new and rewarding. The 39yo has now used the 16yo’s vulnerability to gain trust and then they make plans to meet. They meet and start to “cuddle” until the cuddling leads to more and then innocence is lost. At the age of 39 this legal adult was able to get the 16yo minor to trust and ultimately consent to sexual relations. Police are eventually notified and they investigate, but since they do not find indecent photo’s in possession of the 39yo and because their is consent by the 16yo minor child, no law has been broke. No charges will be made and the adult goes on with life proudly declaring that they have done nothing wrong.

This 16yo’s circumstances can not be changed, but your child’s can be.

As parents/care takers and loved ones we must stand up against this morally disturbing ability. We must rectify, look into and at the very least seek modification to this law. In order to help our children grow more mature before they consent to sex. If we don’t change this law now how many more young under developed 16/17yo minor children will be coaxed and taken advantage of.

*Given our current issues in America such as abortion rights, poverty and the rise in mental health issues (especially amongst teen/minor children). This petition is requesting that the legal age of sexual consent be reviewed and at the very least modified. We ultimately would like to see the legal age of consent to be raised to the minimum age of legal adulthood which as it is; the age of 18 years old.