The state Legislature should not fail to raise it this year. The chief objection to raising the age of consent has been the difficulty in prosecuting statutory rape cases.
Experts say the girls are often reluctant to testify.
That raises the question of whether the right approach to protecting these girls is through extended social services rather than tougher laws. There is no point in prosecuting kids for having sex with kids. It's been going on since Romeo and Juliet. But predatory older men preying on young girls presents a serious problem that must be dealt with. It's not just soccer coaches.