Should Adultery Be A Crime?

[Mongo53]

Yes, but I don't think they should be! Just because they're there doesn't mean I agree with them!

Whether you agree with them or NOT, you still have to follow them.

Adultery in the military is also doing your wife doggy style or getting a BJ.

Thats Sodomy, but yea, I know the point your trying to make.

Just keep in mind, how many servicemen have been court martialed for having sex in other than the missionary position, or even for sleeping around, or sleeping around on their wives. Statistically, the equivalent of zero.

But, sleep with the spouse of a fellow service member, or of a subordinate, and you'll be court martialed, NJP'ed, fast enough to make your head spin.

Something about leaders sleeping with your spouse that sorta makes for bad morale, and unit cohesiveness. I know how hard its hard to imagine, but if you could, how combat effectiveness of a unit might suffer a tad, when you're asked to sacrifice and risk you're life by a guy sleeping with your wife?

 

[ItalianScallion]

Murder pretty obviously impedes the victim's life and freedom. Sex, not so much.

Unless the jealous spouse finds out...

I think that is a valid point. As IS has pointed out, in god's opinion, if you have committed the sin in your mind that is equivalent to acting it out. Since a judge cannot read minds, how would that be proven in court?

You're right. It would have to be proven just like any other crime. Mental intent cannot be prosecuted if nothing took place (with the exception of a contract for murder). Physical can, just like attempted murder.

 

[UNA]

Whether you agree with them or NOT, you still have to follow them.

I know, and I do...I actually think I follow all of them but just because they don't effect me doesn't mean I don't mind them...

 

[2ndAmendment]

Wirelessly posted

Sorry, you can't legislate morality. You can't make adultery illegal nor can you regulate what 'kind' of sex is approved. Good on Colorado...finally

Then why are there laws against:

1. murder
2. theft
3. sex with a child
4. sex with animals
5. incest
6. prostitution
7. public intoxication
8. host of other things

Most of man's laws are trying to enforce God's 10 commandments.

Of course laws legislate morality and of course one can and should regulate what 'kind' of sex is approved.

 

[SamSpade]

Then why are there laws against:

1. murder
2. theft
3. sex with a child
4. sex with animals
5. incest
6. prostitution
7. public intoxication
8. host of other things

Most of man's laws are trying to enforce God's 10 commandments.

Of course laws legislate morality and of course one can and should regulate what 'kind' of sex is approved.

The premise behind the statement "you can't legislate morality" is not to say that you cannot make laws regarding morality, as has been so widely misstated. It was meant to say that you cannot create laws in order to make people moral, which is almost stating the obvious. You can only create laws to keep people in line with a moral code, but you don't change the person at all.

 

[2ndAmendment]

The premise behind the statement "you can't legislate morality" is not to say that you cannot make laws regarding morality, as has been so widely misstated. It was meant to say that you cannot create laws in order to make people moral, which is almost stating the obvious. You can only create laws to keep people in line with a moral code, but you don't change the person at all.

I agree with your statement. God changes the heart.

 

[UNA]

Then why are there laws against:

1. murder
2. theft
3. sex with a child
4. sex with animals
5. incest
6. prostitution
7. public intoxication
8. host of other things

Most of man's laws are trying to enforce God's 10 commandments.

Of course laws legislate morality and of course one can and should regulate what 'kind' of sex is approved.

There is a difference between outlawing murder and outlawing adultery. Murder, theft, sex with a child or animals, incest, and public intoxication are all acts that hinder MY (and others) right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Adultery, prostitution, and what "kind" of sex do not hinder MY rights. I could care less what people choose to do with their bodies WRT sex (or body art and so on....). There shouldn't be laws against these things. If one chooses to have an open marriage, get paid for sex, have 'other' types of sex (I won't go into details, I assume you can imagine ) I don't care and I don't really understand why anyone else does either! As long as they're not infringing on my rights (or those of others as well, of course). Who am I to say what people do in the privacy of their own homes (or hotels... )

 

[Baz]

One step closer to judgement day. Morals and values will continue to sink lower until this day comes. Then it will be time.

Is that when the dinosaurs return in their spaceships to reclaim our planet?

 

[SamSpade]

Is that when the dinosaurs return in their spaceships to reclaim our planet?

They're already doing that, except we don't call them dinosaurs anymore, they are called socialists.

 

[2ndAmendment]

There is a difference between outlawing murder and outlawing adultery. Murder, theft, sex with a child or animals, incest, and public intoxication are all acts that hinder MY (and others) right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Adultery, prostitution, and what "kind" of sex do not hinder MY rights. I could care less what people choose to do with their bodies WRT sex (or body art and so on....). There shouldn't be laws against these things. If one chooses to have an open marriage, get paid for sex, have 'other' types of sex (I won't go into details, I assume you can imagine ) I don't care and I don't really understand why anyone else does either! As long as they're not infringing on my rights (or those of others as well, of course). Who am I to say what people do in the privacy of their own homes (or hotels... )

Seems "'kind' of sex" would include sex with a child or animals, incest. Are you not contradicting yourself? So you do think it is OK to regulate the kinds of sex that are performed. Right?

 

[UNA]

Seems "'kind' of sex" would include sex with a child or animals, incest. Are you not contradicting yourself? So you do think it is OK to regulate the kinds of sex that are performed. Right?

Please don't put words in my mouth...you're the one who differentiated between sex with a child/animal/incest and other "kinds" of sex. I assumed you meant "kind" of sex to be different acts between consenting adults. Please take off your politician hat here and use your common-sense. Thank you...

 

[2ndAmendment]

Please don't put words in my mouth...you're the one who differentiated between sex with a child/animal/incest and other "kinds" of sex. I assumed you meant "kind" of sex to be different acts between consenting adults. Please take off your politician hat here and use your common-sense. Thank you...

Typical ad hominem attack.

 

[PsyOps]

There is a difference between outlawing murder and outlawing adultery. Murder, theft, sex with a child or animals, incest, and public intoxication are all acts that hinder MY (and others) right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Adultery, prostitution, and what "kind" of sex do not hinder MY rights. I could care less what people choose to do with their bodies WRT sex (or body art and so on....). There shouldn't be laws against these things. If one chooses to have an open marriage, get paid for sex, have 'other' types of sex (I won't go into details, I assume you can imagine ) I don't care and I don't really understand why anyone else does either! As long as they're not infringing on my rights (or those of others as well, of course). Who am I to say what people do in the privacy of their own homes (or hotels... )

And you don't think adultery hinders one’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? What about when kids are involved? Do you think there is no mental distress that is involved in the spouse that was cheated on? Families are destroyed both economically and emotionally from adultery. This is far more than just trying to legislate morality. Real people are affected in a host of ways that – if you’ve never experienced it – you obviously don’t seem to understand. Not to mention it breaks a legal contract. A marriage IS a legal contract. Promises are made then broken. But it’s the kids that suffer the most. How many broken families from adultery have resulted in broken kids; kids that resort to drugs, violence, and end up with the same behavior they learned from their derelict parents? Society has to deal with the end result of adultery. From this aspect, it’s everyone’s business and in their best interest as members of communities.

As easy as it is to get a divorce these days, there is no reason for anyone to feel they have to commit adutery.

 

[UNA]

Typical ad hominem attack.

and your previous post wasn't?

 

[UNA]

And you think adultery hinders one’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? What about when kids are involved? Do you think there is no mental distress that is involved in the spouse that was cheated on? Families are destroyed both economically and emotionally from adultery. This is far more than just trying to legislate morality. Real people are affected in a host of ways that – if you’ve never experienced it – you obviously don’t seem to understand. Not to mention it breaks a legal contract. A marriage IS a legal contract. Promises are made then broken. But it’s the kids that suffer the most. How many broken families from adultery have resulted in broken kids; kids that resort to drugs, violence, and end up with the same behavior they learned from their derelict parents? Society has to deal with the end result of adultery. From this aspect, it’s everyone’s business and in their best interest as members of communities.

I never said adultery was OK, my point was that a) it's difficult to prove and if you make it a crime you have to defend it, bringing in the whole "adultery of the heart" thing and b) open relationships (depending on how/who wrote the lay) may also become illegal, which would be bad.

As easy as it is to get a divorce these days, there is no reason for anyone to feel they have to commit adutery.

I agree, if you're THAT unhappy then divorce (not that that's a TON better) but at least there's no lying. People just don't have the guts anymore.

Easy way to fix these problems: "Choose wisely, treat kindly" and I can't take credit for that, it was Dr. Laura that I heard it from.

 

[PsyOps]

I never said adultery was OK, my point was that a) it's difficult to prove and if you make it a crime you have to defend it, bringing in the whole "adultery of the heart" thing and b) open relationships (depending on how/who wrote the lay) may also become illegal, which would be bad.

I didn’t say you said it was okay. In most instances I don’t think adultery would be hard to prove at all. I’m not sure what “adultery of the heart” means; but if you are the one that was cheated on and you have kids that were harmed from it, I think it should be something that the cheated spouse should have the leverage to file charges for.

Open relationships shouldn’t be hard to prove either. They would come with plenty of witnesses.

 

[Gilligan]

As easy as it is to get a divorce these days, there is no reason for anyone to feel they have to commit adutery.

"Easy"??? I must have had a uniquely bad experience or something.

And....from what I've observed, a lot of adultery is committed by people who have no real desire or intention to leave their spouse and/or marriage.

 

[Gilligan]

I didn’t say you said it was okay. In most instances I don’t think adultery would be hard to prove at all. I’m not sure what “adultery of the heart” means; but if you are the one that was cheated on and you have kids that were harmed from it, I think it should be something that the cheated spouse should have the leverage to file charges for.

Open relationships shouldn’t be hard to prove either. They would come with plenty of witnesses.

According to Maryland law, its not adultery without intercourse. Period, end.

Try to prove that...open relationship or no.

 

[2ndAmendment]

and your previous post wasn't?

No. I did not attack you. I attacked your position. You made a personal attack.

 

[Pete]

I don't know about making it a criminal offense but it certainly should have more civil ramifications that it currently does. If you stack adultery up against all the other non capital crimes it affects more lives catastrophically than any of them. Marriages wrecked, kids hurt, poverty. Someone steals your hoopty wheels off your car in the grand scheme of things it's not a big deal. Adultery on the other hand affects people in many cases in a devastating way.

Hell in most states you can't even file for divorce on grounds of adultery or they discourage you because it isn't worth it. Even if you do and win, so what, the marital assets are divided 50-50, child support formula is applied and it is no different than irreconcilable differences.

I say judges should be allowed to judge cases instead of the factory type screw job most dissolving marriages get today in the age of "no one is bad". Of course some people are bad and they #### up the lives of their families forever. You screw around, boom, you get the shaft, man or woman. You get an unappealing property settlement, unsavory alimony judgment, and instead of just walking off and leaving a bunch of people who's lives are altered you get your true share of the pain.