QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 03:00 PM)
So what you're saying is that 15 year olds should be treated as adults for what they do to other people's bodies but treated like children for what they do to their own?
Smoke screen here. Are you suggesting that because some 16 year olds are capable of murder, rape, etc they should be allowed adult responsibilities and rights? Treated like adults in a criminal setting merely establishes the best venue to protect society. Our juvenile court system was not established to handle a 15 year old who murders in cold blood. Just because we call it the adult system, and enforce adult penalties for vicious kids, means we should treat every child as an adult. Just because a 16 year old participates in the gang rape of a girl and is adjudicated in an adult courtroom, and receives and adult sentence, means every 16 year old should be able to enter into a contract, vote, or have medical procedures without notifying parents.