Where I lived in the US, 16- & 17-year-olds could freely have sex with each other, but if a 40-year-old were to have sex with a 16-year-old, it would be statutory rape. Although I do think many teenagers are capable of making a mature decision, I'm glad the law is in place. At the very least, it tells the old perverts that what they are doing is WRONG and GROSS.

Maybe I see too many teenages on a daily basis to have an unbiased view on this.