Re: They already are, redcocoa101....

Well, Marc Dutroux believed having sex with children was okay. As I see it, he just carried this to the extreme. Therefore, I shall henceforth compare you to Marc Dutroux.

Actually, he did not. He would not have kidnapped them before or killed them after if he hadn't thought that he was "murdering their souls" anyway.

Nowhere did I argue that because this is natural, it is therefore right.

True. You only argued it should be recognized by the state. Cynic reply to make, but fair point.

Actually, since all animals reach maturity at a different rate, it would tend to suggest sexual intercourse should be allowed around the time we reach childbearing years, so basically around 11 or 12.

The concept of age of majority applies to many more things than sex. At that, in many countries the legal age for sex is below the "full" age of majority at 18, so clearly the link is not perfect. Also, since very few (and with a tendency to be even fewer) countries recognize parental exemptions where the parents can allow their minor child to have sex no matter their age, it's clear that the state is intent in breaking the link between majority for most things, and sex.