Reply #102: That info had to do with your statement that teens would ignore it anyway.

[uppityperson]

Just making sure you know who is supposed to be protected, and who gets prosecuted if it happens.

Now, about different ages of consent and marriage. It is states rights as of now, vs federal law. I think the thinking is that states consider their young people mature enough at different times (rather like in the early 70's you could drink alcohol at different ages in different states, now federally uniform age of 21). Some states consider (picking numbers out of the air since I'm tired of looking it up) 14 to be mature enough, where another will consider maturity to happen at age 16. There are also differences (some places) in consent and marriage between males and females, again protecting those who may suffer the most (usually females' consent is older, am thinking because they are the ones that get pregnant).

Yes, some states a person can get married, with parental permission, at an age younger than otherwise would be age of sexual consent. Perhaps the thinking is that by parents giving permission, they are saying that the young person is mature enough.