What you speak of is “moral conduct” not statutory laws governing legal consent....
Not that I disagree with what you say but the “ laws” do not defend on the bases of moral issues but rather the laws goVerning each state..

Consider please a look at the state laws noting even their variance..

What Is the Age of Consent?

Federal law makes it criminal to engage in a sexual act with another person who is between the age of 12 and 16 if they are at least four years younger than you. Each state takes a different approach as the age of consent has ranged from 10 to 18. Some states, such as California and New York, set an age at which all sexual intercourse is considered statutory rape. For example, a state might set the age of consent at 18. In this hypothetical state, two seventeen-year-olds who had consensual sex could both theoretically be convicted of statutory rape.

What Is Statutory Rape?
Statutory rape occurs when a person over the age of consent engages in sexual intercourse with someone under the statutory age of consent, also known as a minor. In most states, the age of consent has been arbitrarily designated by statute. However, this age of consent varies widely from state to state. Statutory rape is a strict liability crime, meaning that the consent of the younger person or mistake about their age is not a defense.

Other states imply a different method which, like the federal statute, takes into account the relative ages of both people. In these states, such as Texas, the age of consent is determined by age differentials between the two persons and limited by a minimum age. For example, a state might set a minimum age of 14 but limit consent to partners who are within 3 years of their age. This would allow a sixteen-year-old to lawfully have sex with a fourteen-year-old, but make it criminal for an eighteen-year-old to have sex with that same fourteen-year-old.

What Is the Age of Consent?

Federal law makes it criminal to engage in a sexual act with another person who is between the age of 12 and 16 if they are at least four years younger than you. Each state takes a different approach as the age of consent has ranged from 10 to 18. Some states, such as California and New York, set an age at which all sexual intercourse is considered statutory rape. For example, a state might set the age of consent at 18. In this hypothetical state, two seventeen-year-olds who had consensual sex could both theoretically be convicted of statutory rape.

Other states imply a different method which, like the federal statute, takes into account the relative ages of both people. In these states, such as Texas, the age of consent is determined by age differentials between the two persons and limited by a minimum age. For example, a state might set a minimum age of 14 but limit consent to partners who are within 3 years of their age. This would allow a sixteen-year-old to lawfully have sex with a fourteen-year-old, but make it criminal for an eighteen-year-old to have sex with that same fourteen-year-old.


https://www.thesurvivoralliance.com/legal-age-consent-50-states/

https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/statutory-rape-the-age-of-consent.html

I've spent over forty years working with kids and teens. I've have known very very few under 16 years who were mature enough to make wise decisions about ANYTHING, but especially as important a decision as engaging in sex. We did not allow them in any situation, alone, until they were 16, plus my wife and I had to agree they were ready, because of what I saw going on socially with teenagers. They, of course, thought it was unfair, but in Texas parents generally have the final say until they turn 18. They were very active socially, but it was always in a supervised group settings. My girls now range in age from the late twenties to the late thirties. By the way, if I had boys, they would have lived under the same restrictions. I have never had a reason to regret my 'heavy handedness' in raising them, and they are now raising their kids in the using the same standards.

You bring up valid comments..Supervision and discipline... Something sorely missing in todays environment of either having only one parent or two but that are out working just to pay bills.. The family nucleus unintentionally disappears with everybody grabbing something quick to eat as they’re running out the door.

One of the things that I treasure most as an adult now is remembering our special Sunday meal where we were all required to be bone at 3 o’clock in the afternoon for dinner, hair brushed hands clean, no televisions, no telephone, etc.. We had family discussions most often just catching up with what we have done throughout the week and time for our parents to grill us about homework assignments being done, special projects working on,anything we needed help with etc. I had two older brothers so I didn’t get away with much wasn’t allowed to date till I was 16 either. If my brothers didn’t like whoever I may be socializing with I got told rather quickly as did the boy... LOL LOL good times now though don’t regret any of it..I believe we need to get back to more of that structure in our lives if society is going to sustain.