 | Should adultery be considered a crime, much like murder and/or theft, which is punishable by law? What would be a fitting punishment? What constitutes “justice”? (No need to comment on a response from your peer) |
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Jared Poulsen
12/11/2015 07:53:45 am
Adultery should not be illegal. It is a person's choice who they choose to be sexual with. If there was a law against this, and one decides to file for a divorce, and the other spouse refuses to sign the papers, the other party could be legally locked into a "never ending" marriage that would make said person extremely unhappy. While infidelity is unethical and immoral, if it was illegal then it would deprive humans of what should be a basic human right - the right to choose who you have intercourse with. Adultery is a personal issue between two people, the legal system has no right to get involved in it. Neither party is being physically harmed in any way, so there really is no need for a law making it illegal. A fitting punishment to someone who has had an affair would be to break up with them. If this person decides that they would choose someone else over their spouse, then they shouldn't be together in the first place.
Emily Byrnes
12/11/2015 07:55:31 am
I do not believe that adultery should be punishable by law. Although it is not right to commit adultery, one should not be punished by the law for doing such a thing. This act is consented by both adults and it is their choice to decide whether or not to have this intercourse. This decision is not rape and does not harm either person physically. The people having an affair know what they are doing and unless someone is physically abused, this is not a crime. In traditional wedding vows, there are the lines that say that one shall always stay faithful and love each other for as long as both shall live. Although the wedding vows for this are being ignored and one person is cheating, people get a divorce every day because they stop loving each other and that is not considered a crime. This situation, if caught by the spouse, should be handled without court decisions. The spouse has the choice to either stay in such a relationship where the husband or wife cheats or get a divorce from such a person. These decisions could be made at home and should not be brought into court unless a divorce is being settled.
Mason Hayes
12/11/2015 07:56:43 am
I don't think adultery should be considered a crime. It's understandable that it was considered a crime during the Puritan period, but it's different in modern time. Crimes such as rape or murder have a victim that don't have the choice of their circumstance. In adultery , both parties are involved in the affair by choice. However, even though it shouldn't be considered a crime, it's still frowned upon. Since it's not a crime, it doesn't need a punishment made by the law system. It would be punishment enough if these people were found out. Since adultery involves intercourse with someone different than your spouse, it would cause damage to their relationship if the spouse were to find out. It's also quite possible that the community around them would look done upon those are participated in this affair. This could cause further damage to their social life. This would be justice enough.
Erin Cunningham
12/11/2015 07:57:14 am
I am not supporting adultery, but it should not be handled the way rape or murder is handled. Unlike murder or rape, adultery does not physically hurt anyone. The act of cheating is one's choice, and one's choosing to commit adultery reflects their morals. I feel that most people believe that cheating on a loved one is wrong, and they would not partake in this act. However, if one does decide to cheat, their getting caught and having to come clean with the truth, most likely leading to the end of the relationship, is punishment enough. Although making adultery illegal may lower the amount of disloyal spouses, it will not stop everyone. Just like every other crime, those who decide to commit adultery will find sneakier ways to do so without getting caught- murder and rape is illegal, but their are still murderers and rapists in the world. Besides, evidence would be needed in a trial to prove one guilty, and the process of a trial would be lengthy and, in my opinion, not really worth it. It would only put the adulterer and the one cheated on in more, unnecessary stress. Again, I am not condoning adultery in any way, but making adultery against the law would honestly be a waste of time.
Aaron King
12/11/2015 07:58:16 am
I do not believe it should be punishable by law. Although, having sexual intercourse with someone who is not your spouse is unethical and against most religion it should not be a felony. For example, no one is injured or hurt in sexual intercourse. This is different than rape and murder because no one is injured in the process. Also, if one was to cheat on their wife or husband than their marriage was not meant to last and they can simply get divorced if needed. One doesn't need to be punished by the law for cheating in their married relationship. It is not a crime worth punishing for because it is too simplistic and too small. If it were a crime worth punishing then thousands of people every year might be sent to jail for such a small crime. Such an unethical misdemeanor should not be punishable.
Joe Yacovelli
12/11/2015 07:58:42 am
I think that adultery should be considered a crime. However, I don't think it should have the same punishments as one who committed homicide or rape. I think this should be illegal because when a person marries another, they promise their life to that one person. They should not have the right to have intercourse with another who isn't their spouse. People have intercourse to reproduce with their wives, not to have "fun" with another person. Although i think its illegal, the punishment shouldn't be that severe. This is because it is enough of a punishment to most likely lose your wife. Adultery should be a misdemeanor. It shouldn't be a felony because that is too harsh of a penalty for this act; however, in some states it is considered a felony. Many think that justice means fairness, but this is not the case in all circumstances. A misdemeanor penalty for adultery may be unfair because one has the right to do whatever with themselves, but adultery is unethical and unjust, definitely deserving a consequence.
Lucas Kaine
12/11/2015 07:58:48 am
Adultery should be considered a crime, but not as severe as murder or rape. A person who wishes to commit adultery against his/her spouse should divorce before this even happens. While it is their own choice, it is a terrible thing to do while they are married to someone else. In a large amount of states, adultery is already a crime and punishable by fines or even some jail time. When adultery is committed, there should at least be a fine of some sort. What constitutes justice is whatever is took from the victim, the same amount has to be taken from the criminal. For instance, if someone commits a murder, then their life should be took as well. Also, if rape is committed, then the person who did it should have the same amount of whatever fits the instance took away from him/her as well. Adultery should be a crime, but it should not be as harshly punished as murder.
Eamon Devine
12/11/2015 08:02:25 am
Adultery should not be punished in any way, shape, or form under law. Every person has the freedom and choice to do it or not, and if somebody else is not happy with it, they need to work it out themselves. Rights such as the freedom of speech apply even when some people do not like or agree with the comment, and that idea works with more than just speech. Anybody who is upset directly from adultery needs to work the problem they have out personally with the other people involved. In addition, if somebody does not like the idea but has never experienced it, they cannot do anything because they have no right to interfere in other people's lives. It is the choice of the individual, not the government or anybody else. It should not and cannot be punished under law because of the unconstitutional outcome that would cause. If somebody involves wants "justice," they need to be able to work that out with their partner or walk away. Every person has the right to freely express themselves, even if not everybody likes the expression. No group or single person has the right to take that away from another.
Jack Klicsu
12/11/2015 01:46:42 pm
I do not think adultery should be considered a crime. Even though it is a terrible thing to commit, everyone has the freedom to court with whoever they want. There should be no punishments because it is not a law and it's the cheaters choice to do that to their partner. However, adultery can cause serious problems if caught, but the only legal punishments that should and could be made is physical harm done to anyone by their partner because they found out about the cheating. "Justice" can come from a peaceful and respectful divorce or working it out with your partner through talking to each other or couples therapy. People shouldn't to this to each other because of the emotional effects it can do to people, but other than that, it should not a crime or a law.
Danielle Rossi
12/11/2015 01:47:42 pm
Although adultery is wrong and immoral, it should not be punishable by law. If a man or woman participates in an act of adultery, it is there choice and should be handled between the couple which was affected. The only time law should be prominent in adultery is if the man or woman involved file for a divorce, otherwise, it should be solved between the couple. It would be impossible for adultery to be considered a crime because of the fact that it is a secretive thing and can only be caught if the person is caught in the act or if one confesses to committing adultery. If adultery was punishable by law, there would not be many cases unless one files against the person committing the act. On the other hand, marriage is a legal document which both parties agree to not commit acts such as adultery. Therefore, you can see why adultery could be considered a crime. But adultery should not be a crime due to the fact that during the act you are not physically hurting someone, just breaking the trust and heart of their so called loved ones. Adultery is more of an act of breaking morals. Acts can be moral but illegal and immoral but legal. Adultery is immoral but legal. Therefore, adultery should not be considered a crime and punishable by law.
bobby
12/11/2015 01:53:11 pm
Adultery is an act that does not deserve a punishment outside of the relationship. Although causing emotional harm to the partner in the relationship, the cheater does not physically harm their partner. A person with a job they they've had to work for all their life should not be taken away with a criminal record of adultery. Adultery is an act that part takes in the bedroom, an should stay within the relationship. having a criminal record can really effect a persons life negatively. cheating a relationship does not deserve a punishment other than the ending of that relationship. if there were to be a punishment or penalty, that would be total overboard. a second of jail time or a fee would be over the line
Tyler Pranger
12/11/2015 01:53:45 pm
While adultery is not seen as a criminal act, I do believe that there should be some punishment. When one marries another human being, you are bound to the said individual. Currently, if you commit adultery, you are only seen as a transgressor of your marriage. In the days of Jesus Christ, however, adultery is on one of the ten commandments, as it is seen as an act of betrayal against another human, as well as an act of betrayal against God.
Quinn Hillman
12/11/2015 01:54:40 pm
Adultery should be illegal. In order for a person to get married, they must get married by law. It is required to use the law to get married, so it should be against the law to break a marriage. When a person gets married, they commit themselves to be loyal to their partner. By performing an act of adultery, that person is breaking their commitment. This should be punishable by a fine of up to $1000. An act such as littering can be punishable by a fine of $300. This is a very minor crime, but it still has a pretty big punishment. This is why adultery, which is much worse than littering, deserves a fine as a punishment. Justice should be decided by the partner who was acted against. They should have the right to decide if they want a divorce, and if they do, the process should be paid for by the one who performed the act of adultery.
Kaylan O'Banner
12/11/2015 01:55:35 pm
Adultery, is not as severe as rape or murder, therefore the punishments should not be the same. This does not mean adultery is considered okay. Although, jail time is not necessary, other consequences could suffice. If a person in the marriage commits adultery, the other should be able to file for divorce without the partner’s signature. Adultery is not physically abusive, it’s more mental and emotional, due to the effects that come after. It can cause the other partner in the relationship to “put up walls,” or become depressed. If a person decides to commit adultery, the proper way to handle it would be counseling or to file for divorce. The guilt the partner who acted inappropriately will feel, would most likely eat them alive for the rest of their life. Committing adultery would be more of a lesson then a punishment. For the person who committed the act, they’d learn not to do it again because in the end, it’s not worth losing who you love. The faithful party will learn to watch who they trust, and they will be able to build and move on.
Robert Sergiyenko
12/11/2015 01:55:54 pm
Adultery should be considered a crime because a marriage is an ethical, legal, and above all, spiritual bond that should not be consciously broken. If it is consciously broken however, it should not be punished as severely as the more serious offense of homicide. In some states, voluntary homicide can be punishable by death or life in jail. Adultery should be punishable by community service and temporary revocation of driver's license. It would be unfair to kill someone or sentence them to a life in jail for a mistake (that didn’t deprive anyone of their life) that they made at an earlier point in their life. From community service, people will own up to their mistakes by giving back to the community. A revocation of the driver's license would prevent that person from traveling long distances on their own, making them less likely to commit adultery. I personally do not approve of divorce, but I understand that it is the choice of the couple in question, so it should be an option. Another valid option is to have counseling sessions to get the couple’s life back on track if they wish to stay together. By using these methods, justice could be brought to both sides in an adultery controversy.
Erin Bishop
12/11/2015 01:56:50 pm
No person is committed to only one person. If a person so chooses to go through the process of adultery, then it is their choice, and they should be ready to accept either the responsibility that comes with the act, or the consequence. The consequence, however, should not be on the same degree as murderers and thieves. Nothing can prevent a person from doing ANYTHING. A person either chooses to do the right thing or the wrong thing, rules do not affect them. Some people may say that marriage vows are binding, but they are just words on a paper. Nothing is binding, as proven by the increasing number of divorces. In fact, I know of three divorces in my family alone. Deeming adultery illegal is not the right way to go because NO ONE will listen. A more fitting punishment would be divorce papers, or if you had not gotten that far, break up. If a spouse does it once, who is to say they won’t do it again?
Casey Marshall
12/11/2015 01:57:26 pm
I do not believe adultery should be considered a crime. I am not supporting adultery, but I do not believe it should be a punishable law. It is a very personal thing, and I believe it should be kept in the relationship. Unless a husband and wife decide to bring it to court and get a divorce, I do not believe the government and laws should be involved in marriage. Adultery does not involve the government, so there should be no punishment for it outside of the relationship. Even though there is no physical abuse, mental abuse is often more devastating and internal. A fitting punishment would be to just deal with the consequences agreed upon inside the relationship, whatever that may be. Justice is dealing with your own struggles, whatever they are, and coming to terms with it. Since adultery is such an intimate thing, I do not believe it should be shared throughout the government.
Abbi Locke
12/11/2015 01:58:00 pm
Adultery should be considered a crime if the couple has a binding legal agreement in the form of a marriage licence, and that document was signed without the influence of drugs, alcohol, or negative coercement. Although it may seem harsh for the government to interfere in a personal matter, the requirements around divorce, such as the compliance of both parties, can prevent people from getting out of a bad marriage. Justice is whatever helps the wronged party to cope or move through the crime committed, and prevents the committer from doing this to someone else. The law should give a spouse the power to leave a marriage under extenuating circumstances, such as adultery. Furthermore, a suitable punishment would be a fine paid to the wronged party, and an identifier added to the cheater, such as a small tattoo on the upper arm. This would not be readily seen to the rest of the world, but anyone who is going to be his or her next partner would have to have knowledge of what he or she did, and make a conscious decision to move past that in the relationship. Or, if the initial couple feel that they can work together to make the marriage work, whether for their children, or for love, or for some other reason, the money to pay for therapy should come from the cheater. However, the tattoo should still be an option for the wronged party to decide. This may deter repeat offenders. Altogether, adultery is not as serious as murder or rape, and should be treated that way.
Hailey Coleman
12/11/2015 01:58:50 pm
Yes, I do believe that adultery should be treated as a crime. To be married to a person is a law-abiding union. To be married to someone means that you have signed a legal document stating that you and your aid spouse are married; you also have to recite faithful vows that should be honored and followed in your marriage. To break this vow and cheat on your spouse technically means that you have broken that contract and your vows, hence, you have broken the legal contract that has bound you together. Although I do think that adultery should be considered illegal, I do not feel that the punishment should fall under the category of other severely punishable sexual acts. I believe that the punishment for adultery should be altered to how long treason was made to the marriage and how many other partners the "transgressor" was with. The punishment for adultery would be a forced separation of the couple by default, with additional fines and punishments for the severity of the situation. I also believe that adultery should be treated as a crime because if a couple wants to terminate their marriage, their is an alternate, ethical way to abolish it. Instead of one partner breaking their contract solely and being with another man, a couple could easily get a divorce in a consensual setting.
Kaitlyn Remond
12/11/2015 01:59:15 pm
I do not agree with adultery, however, I do not think that people who commit adultery should be punished by law. Although participating in sexual activities with another married person that is not your spouse is unethical, it is the choice of both people. The person who is being cheated on might feel hurt on the inside, it ultimately does not result in someone being physically hurt. Cases of rape and murder are punished because people are hurt or killed, however, sexual activities do not result in someone being injured. Making adultery illegal would be taking away their basic rights which are being able to choose who they want to have sexual relationships with. I believe that the law should not get involved with the problems of adultery because there are more important cases that should be given a strict punishment, such as murder and theft. Rather, the issue should lie in the hands of the people who committed the act because it is their personal problem. Committing adultery is more sinful in the eyes of religion than the law. Committing adultery is more of an issue that has to deal with personal problems that they need to work out between themselves. If the person who was cheated on wants justice, then they should be allowed to get an immediate divorce if they so desire.
Bethany Sherback
12/11/2015 01:59:15 pm
Adultery should not be considered a crime similar to murder and theft. Cheating is a personal interaction that must be worked out by those involved. The government does not have the right to interfere with individuals’ conflicts unless a lawsuit is voluntarily filed. If adultery was a punishable crime, a huge amount of people would be in violation of the law. It would require a countless number of trials and court cases, which judges and juries would not be able to handle. It would be extensive to acquire evidence of cheating due to the secret nature of the act. There would be an increasing amount of inmates; jails could crowd and those who committed adultery would not be as “tough” as other inmates. Those jailed for the crime could be important leaders of the government or companies and business could fail. Overall, if adultery was a punishable crime under the law, our society would suffer. It is a personal affair that must be resolved by those who are involved.
Alexandra Adames
12/11/2015 01:59:27 pm
Adultery is the voluntary act of having an affair with someone who is not your spouse. Committing adultery breaks vows that are made on your wedding day, but not a legal law. I do not think that adultery should be considered a legal crime. Adultery is a voluntary action that does not lead to injury or physical abuse. (If one during the affair is physical abuses then legal actions should be taken.) If one commits adultery than something is probably wrong with the marriage. Committing adultery is breaking moral law rather than legal law. On a couples wedding day they vowed to be faithful to each other. If one breaks that vow then they have betrayed their spouse. I think rather being punished by law, the faithful spouse should have certain rights, which allows for "justice". If they choose to stay together and work on the marriage than then the other person must do so, however if they wish to get an immediate divorce the other spouse cannot object. If adultery is committed I do not think that legal punishment should occur.
Ariella Bourdeau
12/11/2015 01:59:49 pm
I am in no way encouraging adultery, but adultery should not be considered a crime. It is not grouped in the same category as murder or theft. Adultery is not directly or physically harming another person. It is more of an emotional pain and a moral wrongdoing.It usually leaves all parties involved in a poor mental state, the aftereffects are horrendous. Punishments should be left up to the spouse that was cheated on. He or she should be allowed to make the decision to get a divorce, go to counselling, etc. A fitting punishment would be letting the faithful spouse decide what should happen in the relationship. Adultery is an act that is more morally-oriented and should not be punishable by law. Justice in this situation would be taking whatever steps the faithful party would prefer to stay healthy and happy for his/herself. The government has no business deciding what should be done in a relationship between two people.
Robert Sweeney
12/11/2015 02:01:01 pm
In my opinion, committing adultery should not be considered a crime. I think this because even though people sign a marriage license, they still have the right to choose and make their own decisions in the real world. I do not support people committing adultery; however, I do not think that it should be a crime either. People should be able to choose who they want to join genes with in the world and not be forced into having intercourse with one person. Everyone in the United States has the freedom of choice, and I think that they should always have this choice no matter what the circumstances. People say that since marriage is a legal process, and that no one should be allowed to commit adultery. However, people still have the freedom of choice, so they should not be forced into one relationship for the rest of their life. I do not think that there should be a punishment for this since I do not think that it should be a crime. People say that couples should get a divorce instead of committing adultery. However, there are many cases where a husband or wife cannot get a divorce. These situations can include the other spouse not wanting to get divorce, or not being able to afford a divorce. In both of these cases I think it is perfectly alright to see other people and have relations with them because you are not in a committed relationship anymore. What constitutes as justice would be finding new people to spend the life with. This would be justice because each person is getting what they want and deserve in life as well as being able to move on from what happened with their previous marriage.
Spencer Kerwin
12/11/2015 02:01:12 pm
Adultery, although a very disgraceful act, should not be a crime. With adultery, no one is getting physically hurt. Crime should be something that physically or economically hurts someone. Adultery violates the morals of what people believe in, but it doesn’t physically or economically hurt the other person. If this was a crime it would be a crime against someone being a very rude person. People can be rude and not be committing a crime. Everyday there are people who do bad things that aren’t criminals and shouldn’t be persecuted as one. Those who commit adultery are extremely rude to their marriage and spouse, but aren’t criminals. A fitting punishment for adultery is the allowance of the spouse of the person who committed the crime to divorce the person who had committed adultery without their consent. That way the spouse can indubitably divorce the other.
Tyler Passerine
12/11/2015 02:03:00 pm
In my opinion, committing adultery should not be considered illegal. This is because it is your decision who you have sexual relations with. Even though getting married is a legal process and I do think it is right to commit adultery, it is still a freedom that people have. It is not a legal obligation to honor your vows. There are also many different situations in which people do not want to be in a marriage but are stuck in it, such as one spouse refusing to get a divorce, or a marriage in which they have been separated for a long time. If a person is not in a committed relationship anymore, I think it is perfectly ok to have another relationship. Some people might say that it should be illegal because it goes against almost every major religion, however, religion is not what shapes our laws. People also may not be part of a religion in which that is a rule, and due to the freedom of religion guaranteed in the first amendment, it is not legal to force your religious beliefs onto someone. In a way, finding someone new is justice as people who commit adultery are generally not happy in their relationships now. People are getting what they want in a new relationship, and keeping it legal allows people to move on faster.
Madeline Testa
12/11/2015 03:07:37 pm
I believe that committing adultery should not be considered a crime. By being a member of the catholic faith, it is against the ten commandments to commit adultery. However, in some religions that rule does not apply. I do not believe it is right an just however it is something that you will just have to live with. The punishment should be decided my the significant other not by the state. It is something that should be between the two married people. There are some cases where people are stuck in their relationship and really don't even have any connection still there. Therefore, it is like they aren't even together anymore. People also have the freedom to do what they want and if that is what they choose to do than so be it.
Ariana Terlaga
12/11/2015 03:18:10 pm
Adultery should not be considered a crime as it is more of a moral based issue, rather than an actual violation of the law. While adultery consists of breaking the emotional trust of someone, a pain that the victim can recover from, murder consists of taking away one's life, a consequence that the victim cannot overcome. In the United States, there is a separation between church and state. In times such as the Era of Puritanism, adultery was illegal because of how it was seen as a sign in the eyes of God. Today, religion is generally kept out of legal matters, so it would not be fair for adultery to be considered a crime. On the other hand, adultery usually results in divorce, which is punishment enough for the adulterer to endure. Though an adulterer is willing to be unfaithful, there are more often than not remnants of guilt that linger after the fact. The adulterer having to live with a sense of remorse for the remainder of his or her life will not only be a form of punishment, but also serve as justice for the faithful individual in the marriage. Since the adulterer will have to deal with the same emotional pain that the victim was forced to go through, the situation can be resolved in a fair manner without the law being involved. In short, adultery is more of a personal issue, so the law should not be involved with the act in any shape or form.
Nick D'Amico
12/11/2015 03:51:29 pm
Tyler Pranger
12/11/2015 06:56:46 pm
While adultery is not seen as a criminal act, I do believe that there should be some punishment. When one marries another human being, you are bound to the said individual. Currently, if you commit adultery, you are only seen as a transgressor of your marriage. In the days of Jesus Christ, however, adultery is on one of the ten commandments, as it is seen as an act of betrayal against another human, as well as an act of betrayal against God.
Madeline Kovach
12/11/2015 08:47:01 pm
According to the Bible, adultery is "the sin of a married man having sexual relations with anyone other than his wife or a married woman having sexual relations with anyone other than her husband." It is considered a sin against the person you are married to, and although adultery is not morally right, I don't think it should be considered a crime. It definitely should not be lumped in with crimes such as murder or rape either. For one, murder is the unlawful, premeditated killing of a person and can be punishable by death. Rape is the unlawful act of forcibly having sexual intercourse with someone without their consent. Adultery does not meet the standards of a crime, therefore it should not be illegal. It is one's choice to have sexual relarions with someone whether it is their spouse or not and a fix for committing it can simply be leaving that person and finding someone better.
Laura Trombetta
12/11/2015 09:17:05 pm
Adultery is the act of sleeping with a person other than your spouse. Although an abominable act like this should not go without any sort of punishment, it is not necessary to give a person jail time for it. Many religions clearly state that adultery will lead to judgement by God, and one who commits it lacks any sense. However, this holds true for many other acts that are not punishable by law. For example, cheating on exams is something that is strongly discouraged because it will lead to punishment by the school and will greatly affect your grade but this act is not one that will get you thrown into a jail cell. As with cheating, adultery is a mistake made by many people around the world. If people were punished by law for every mistake that was made, there would be no more free people. An act such as adultery should not be treated as seriously as rape or homicide. In both of these cases a person is physically being harmed and although harm (emotional) is being caused to the individual being cheated on, it should not be treated as a crime that is punished so strictly. We are all human; everyone makes mistakes and it is not always necessary to legally punish a person for forgetting their morals.
Christina Constantinou
12/12/2015 10:25:57 am
I do not think that adultery should be considered a crime punished by law, however i do not encourage or support it either. If a person commits adultery, they are breaking the bond they had with their married partner. They take this risk knowing that if they are caught, they will have to suffer the consequences of possibly losing their husband/wife and living with the guilt of it. I don't think committing adultery should be punished by means of prison, a fine, etc. such as more serious crimes are. Theft, murder, and rape all involve the possibility of people getting hurt, killed, scarred, and physically stolen from. With adultery, it is not like rape where a person is being physically harmed. The harm done in this situation is emotional. Someone whose partner commits adultery against them should have the right to seek help afterwards, because although they were not physically damaged, they may become emotionally unstable from much confusion and heartbreak. The law should not get involved to keep these problems simple and leave it in the hands of the people involved. If the faithful partner wants justice, they should be able to file an immediate divorce. This would somewhat punish the unfaithful partner because they now have to deal with their spouse leaving them. It was their decision in the first place to take the risk of intercourse with another person, so they would have to suffer the emotional consequences it may bring.
Chelsea Hidalgo
12/12/2015 10:29:10 am
I do not agree that adultery should be penalized by the law or made into a criminal offence. Although marriage is technically a contract drawn up between two people and cheating could be the breach of contract, it is more of a civil crime than a criminal one. It is already valid in divorce proceedings. It's better to give couples privacy than to have the state interfering.
Riley Kweder
12/12/2015 11:54:32 am
I think adultery should be considered a crime because it affects a lot of people, and the emotional and psychological impact on the people involved can be devastating. Research has proven that children from broken families victim to adultery are less likely to become successful in life, as well as having psychological issues of their own.
Owen Raymond
12/12/2015 12:38:19 pm
I believe that adultery is unquestionably morally wrong, but i do not believe that it should be against the law or be considered a crime like murder. I believe that is not acceptable, but it should be up to the people who are affected by the issue to resolve it. It should not be up to the justice system to solve a relationship. Also, in adultery no one is physically being hurt, which gives it even less of a reason to be charged like murder. If a person commits adultery it should be up to the spouse of that person to decide if they want to continue the relationship or get a divorce. It should always be up to the people who are affected by adultery to decide a fitting punishment, such as a divorce, rather than have a court or law decide the punishment. If a person commits adultery then they should be prepared to face any consequences that arise from their decisions. Also, like Tyler said, keeping adultery legal allows people to move on faster. If the legal system gets involved in adultery it will cause people to dwell on situations that they want to get away from. Keeping adultery legal allows people to do what they need to, in order to move away from the situation as fast as possible.
Liam Gerety
12/12/2015 03:17:52 pm
Although adultery is immoral and wrong, I do not feel that it should be criminally punishable. It's a breach of contract, thus making it a civil crime, and there is already civil redress that goes along with it. This is usually when one sues the other for monetary and/or benefits.
Bethany Christie
12/12/2015 03:30:06 pm
Adultery cannot be considered a criminal offense because it is more of a civil one. Although adultery is morally wrong, it is not law enforcement’s place to dictate. In addition, this country is a secular republic which does not derive its rules from religious texts, but universally accepted statutes. Adultery is much too ambiguous and fluctuant to be handled by anyone but those involved, which is why it cannot be punishable or handled by law.
Benjamin Santangelo
12/12/2015 04:00:02 pm
That is the Question. If it were to be made illegal, it would fall under the same principles as a contract, whereby, in breaking the contract, they break the law. If it were legal, which it mostly is, it would fall into the category of best friends - together until regarded unconventional or unacceptable by all parties involved. However, unlike friendship, adultery is the choosing of one person over another on purpose, often times leading to emotional unrest. And, unlike friendship, laws do not recognize emotional impacts of any thing in any way. They recognize crimes classified by others as punishable by authorities. Minor wrongdoings and emotional disturbances are not classified in this manner. Furthermore, the actual marriage contracts vary in their specifications, but usually do not cause arrest upon betrayal. And in another angle, laws are made to protect people and possessions from shortcomings they cannot protect themselves from. There is no need, then, as whoever violated their (usually holy) moral code is going to get what is coming to them at the hand of their "dearly beloved". Thus Adultery should not be illegal.
Brianna Murray
12/12/2015 10:39:50 pm
Simply put, adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and an individual who is not his/her spouse. Most people may think that infidelity should be made illegal because it has a strong "emotional and psychological impact” on victims. Despite this, I personally believe that adultery should not be considered a crime. Of course, the act is morally wrong, but it is in no way a violation of law. Even when married, people have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies. It is unfortunate that this freedom may cause a relationship to end, but that does not mean that one should be criminally punished for it. To me, a fitting punishment for adultery would just be having to live with the consequences. Someone regretting the terrible, irreversible choices they have made seems reasonable enough.
Eric Yeh
12/13/2015 11:39:04 am
Adultery is the act of having intercourse with another person that is not their spouse.While committing adultery is viewed as unmoral, I feel that it shouldn't against the law to do so. Its a persons choice on whom they marry and love, and it is also their choice if they don't have feelings for their spouse anymore. Yes the spouse's emotions and trust will be damaged, and that is something more personal in a persons life. It would be too much for the government to start and regulate relationships within society in order to make sure adultery is not being committed. Punishment for the act of adultery would be too much. As it is, the person that committed the act will already be looked down upon socially if news ever got out. There's enough justice in the idea that breaking one's bond of trust and love with their spouse also severs connections in one's social life. Losing friends and family would just be some of the consequences from sleeping with someone else. It's an immoral act already, but having the government interfere with adultery is going a bit too far. Adultery is an emotional matter that should be dealt with by the ones who are affected.
MacKenzie Kerwin
12/13/2015 11:51:42 am
I don’t think adultery should be considered a crime. Rape and murder are two very serious offenses with appropriate consequences, but I don’t think cheating on a spouse falls under the same category. Yes, two people are married under the law, but who they choose to spend their time with is their own independent decision. Though I don’t think anyone can have a valid excuse for cheating, I think it is legally justified because it doesn’t physically hurt anyone. Murder and rape are much more dangerous, permanent, and difficult to forgive than adultery. Victims are physically harmed in the process, but the only hurt that comes from adultery is a broken heart or loss of trust. People who have committed murder or rape deserve to be punished, but they’re completely different wrongdoings than cheating on a spouse—especially since they’re on such a larger scale. Of course, adultery should be frowned upon—it’s inhumane to vow one’s love to someone only to break that promise with someone else. Nevertheless, no one should be sentenced to jail as if they murdered someone if all they’ve done is cheat. The guilt and remorse that comes with adultery is enough punishment.
Jaden Diaz
12/13/2015 12:27:25 pm
Adultery should not be considered a crime, under any circumstances. Maintaining adultery as a criminal offense is a violation to one's privacy. Although it is a shameful and sinful act to commit, it should not be justified by law; simply because it does not transgress against our country's regulations. Unlike murder or theft, adultery is not an act that physically harms someone or illegally takes/steals someone's possession. A suitable "punishment" or a way to resolve the issue would be enforcing couples' therapy so they can discuss why it had happened and what the reaction is going to be. Meaning the decision of continuing the relationship or not. But it is upon the couple to make a decision that personally affects their lives, and does not violate the law. Justice-
Kaitlin Sepanek
12/13/2015 04:58:50 pm
Adultery should not be considered a crime like murder or rape. If two adults have an affair with each other’s consent, then there is no illegal part of adultery. However, because it is not illegal does not mean married men or women should go around having affairs with other people. This action is not morally right, and should be handled between the married couple. The government, although powerful, will not know if someone is having an affair, and ultimately cannot enforce a law on it. In a religion such as Puritan, an affair would be considered a sin, even if the person he/she is married to is not in love with their spouse, both the person in the affair and the spouse involved would be “damned by God”.Adultery is a lot like cheating. It is the same concept and ultimately ends the same- with the spouse breaking the tie with the one who cheated. This topic should be between the people involved, not the government. A punishment to the person who committed adultery should be discussed between the people married, many of which would divorce each other if such an action was committed. Though adultery is not appropriate, the government should not become involved with this.
Shannon Maxey
12/13/2015 05:49:05 pm
Although I believe that adultery is immoral and wrong, I do not think that adultery should be considered a crime punishable by law to the extent of murder or rape. Marriage is a commitment by law, and a person willing to commit adultery is not abiding their vows. This being said, I believe that a rational punishment for adultery would be for the spouse to be notified of the husband/wife's wrongdoings. The consequences will then be up to the spouse for the decision of divorce. Unlike murder or rape, adultery does not physically hurt anyone. I am not condoning adultery, however I believe that their are more serious crimes in the world that a person should be held accountable for.
Jessica Bawlick
12/13/2015 06:40:58 pm
Adultery should not be considered illegal because it cannot be related to murder or theft. Adultery is when a married man or woman has voluntary sexual intercourse with someone other than their spouse. I believe that relationships are very personal and no ones buisness but the people involved. Therefore, the law should not play a role in marriages/relationships unless asked. If the innocent partner in an unloyal relationship asked for a divorce due to adultery, the law should not question the pair and immediately go through with the divorce. That consitutes justice to me. Being able to choose what happens in a situation such as adultery. Some may want to try and fix their relationship and start over whereas others may want to be done and move on. Justice allows us to do what we feel is nessecary in our own personal marriages.
Olyvia Gendron
12/13/2015 07:43:04 pm
Adultery is considered derogatory because nearly all religions disapprove of it. In some cultures it is even punishable by death. In European and American cultures, people generally view adultery as abhorrent if not sinful; but enforcing laws that consider promoting sexual immorality as a capital offense will not help the “moral decaying of our society”. Daniel Kagan, a Denver Democratic Rep. made a statement on the repeal of the bill that criminalized adultery that said, “I see it as saying adultery is a matter between a spouse and his conscience and his God, but not his local sheriff”. A person’s choice to be unfaithful to their spouse may be wrong, but it would be taking away their jurisdiction to consider their decision illegal. Laws that legislate morality are not keeping someone from committing adultery. Cheating on a spouse is in no way a serious felony like murder or arson and therefore shouldn’t be punishable in the same way. Colorado recently passed a bill repealing their law on the criminalization of adultery because even though it was considered a criminal offense, there was no punishment. A law without a penalty for violating it is not a law at all, it is a suggestion imposed by the government. Laws that criminalize activities that are not only voluntary, but are also behind closed doors are unenforceable. Adultery is wrong, completely immoral, and a sin; but it is also a choice, and the government cannot keep people from bad habits or activities that have both participants’ consent.
Audrey Robinson
12/13/2015 07:50:12 pm
I do not believe that commiting adultry should be considered a crime like murder and theft. Although it is one of the Ten Commandments "Thou shalt not commit adultery", most people follow their heart a little too much which results in a significant others heart being broken. Unlike murder and theft the only 'thing' really being stolen or killed is someones heart and emotions, therefore someone can't be guilty or not for hurting someones feelings because everyones feelings have been hurt at once. If commiting adultry were a crime, then prisons would be overfilled for a petty crime, and even more tax dollars would be wasted. I think a suitable punishment would be for the person that commited the adultry to reimburse their spouse for the wedding, and pay for the divorce.
Jeremy Lang
12/13/2015 08:05:30 pm
Adultery shouldn't be illegal in any shape or form. Adultery is an act of sexual realtions between a married person and another unmarried person. Even though Adultery is something shamful and despicable its a persons choice to have sexual realtions with someone. There are no laws being broken other than the vows made between your spouse and self. Someone cannot be punished for commiting a moral crime. Punishing someone for adultery is like punishing someone for being rude and unpleasent. Unless a physical law is broken there is no good reason to arrest someone for adultery. It is not the laws place to take action on a personal event such as this. What if the couple want to work things out and move past the event, or what if the married couple wants to divorce? The person who cheated on their spouse cant be arrested since it doesn't involve the law. Also in some cases some marriages are diverce and are allowed to see another people other than the spouse they are married to. So why does the law have the right to interfere with someones individual life, personal life, and choices in life?.
Christopher Twombly
12/13/2015 08:07:39 pm
Although I strongly believe that adultery is unethical and morally incorrect, I don't think that it should be illegal. When an individual decides to have sexual intercourse with someone besides their spouse, it is ultimately their decision. Even though marriage is a commitment by the law, and someone who commits adultery is not abiding by these laws, there should not be a punishment as severe as murder or theft given to the individual. Besides harming someone emotionally, adultery does not do any physical harm. Rather than punishing the person that committed the act, the couple should seek therapy or other means to help resolve the issue. Within the United States court system there are different classes of crime, and the act of adultery does not fall into any such crime that would compare to murder, rape, or theft. Although adultery could be considered immoral, the government has no business in punishing someone for an act that had no physical harm. Personally, I believe that the loss of trust and a broken heart is enough of a consequence as a result of adultery. In conclusion, adultery is a personal issue that should be resolved in private rather than by someone that has no ties to the relationship.
Allison Tilki
12/13/2015 09:08:30 pm
I do not believe that adultery should be considered a felony. Marriage is a legal binding between two people who have vowed to remain loyal to each other. It is a decision that is made from both ends of the relationship, without government regulation. If a person is to commit adultery they are breaking the vow to their spouse that has been made and most likely terminating their marriage. However, they are not physically harming their spouse or other people and it is their decision to decide the next course of action in their marriage. In the case of adultery the two people within the relationship are the only ones with the right to decide what is to follow, it is not of the governments concern. In the case of rape, murder, and theft, there are serious offense's taking place and even loss of life. This is not something where one side of the incident can debate what occurred and the people involved can discuss a course of action. Murder, rape, and theft are occurrences that can not be mended and are not up for debate as to consequences. For these reasons, I do not believe that adultery should be considered a felony.
Rachel Lamore
12/13/2015 09:20:30 pm
Adultery, the act of cheating on your spouse, should not be considered a crime that is punishable by law. Although I do not support this crude and selfish act, it should not be compared to other injustices like murder and theft, nor should it receive the same punishments. In fact, breaking one’s promise of life-long commitment to their partner is only seen as a sin in the eyes of one’s religion, not in one’s government. In America, we are not governed by a theocracy, so religion and law do not go hand in hand. Yes, there are some laws that have been derived from certain religions. However, these atrocities were only made felonies because they were violent, uncontrollable, or threatening to the public’s safety. Being that adultery does not fit under any of the characteristics of an illegal act, there is no reason why it should be acknowledged as a violation of the law. Due to this, this dirty act is, unfortunately, justified. Nonetheless, there is already a very severe punishment for this wrongdoing, and that is an everlasting feeling of guilt. Self disgrace is like a cloud hauntingly hovering over someone for the rest of his/her life, and there aren’t many worse feelings than that. Along with this, the awareness of knowing you have betrayed your religion is a horrifying one, and might possibly be the most eerie punishment of all.
Sydney Borkowski
12/13/2015 09:49:12 pm
I do not think that adultery should be considered a crime. Though I completely agree that adultery is immoral and very wrong, I do not think it constitutes criminal action. Adultery does break trust and can cause deep emotional distress, but no one is hurt physically. Therefore, I do not think criminal action is justified in this case. Perhaps the adulterer should be put on the sex offenders registry or even be charged with a misdemeanor, but besides that, i believe no official punishment is needed. Justice in this case is that the partner of the adulterer is aware of her/his partner's actions and has the freedom to a divorce if they so choose. It should be up to the partner, not the government, to determine how the adulterer will pay for their actions. In technicality, it is between the married couple, not the legal system. If the spouse files for a divorce, then justice has ben served. If not, then that is the couple's choice.
Rebecca Rinaldi
12/13/2015 10:14:24 pm
Adultery is a matter that should be solved between the people directly affected (the two in the relationship). In saying that, I am not condoning adultery as okay. It should not be a matter dealt with by the law. This is a personal issue that the government does not have the right to interfere with. Adultery deals with morals, and does not physically affect anyone. Furthermore, no one is losing a life, nor their earned goods. The transgressor will get a stain on their reputation that soap and water can not rinse away. This is punishment enough. There are greater crimes that should be accounted prior to worrying about people's personal issues, however the law can intervene when a divorce is requested. Justice will be served when the guilt kicks in.
Olivia Modesti
12/14/2015 05:16:30 pm
I do not think that adultery should be considered a crime. Although it is morally incorrect and can hurt a person mentally, it does not hurt anyone physically. This act is not as harmful as rape and death. When a person becomes active with some one other than their spouse they are breaking the vows and trust that they once had. Adultery should not be considered a crime that is punishable because we are free to make our own choices wether they may be good or bad. A couple should be able to deal with the situation themselves instead of bringing the situation to court. The person who committed the crime will feel guilty and the act will haunt them for life. And that should be considered as a huge punishment. There are more serious crimes going on in the world that should be taken care of rather than a problem in a couples relationship. This is an awful problem that the couple will have to work out and decide wether or not they want to end the relationship.
Brianna Lum
12/14/2015 06:07:08 pm
I do not believe that adultery should be an act punished by the law. This cruel act is a selfish choice made, but no one gets physically hurt; it's a personal matter. The laws and the people enforcing them should focus on the more important matters, like murder.
Corinne Cude
12/15/2015 07:58:06 pm
Adultery is, unquestionably, wrong, in most every way possible. Not only does it violate a long-standing, established trust-filled bond with someone you have an emotional connection to, but it has personal repercussions as well. Often times, the individual will experience feelings of intense regret and sorrow, for they know what they are doing is wrong. It should not be illegal, for it is more a personal issue than anything. It does not need the public scrutiny, for it is already humiliating enough. The effects of such a sinful act will be a fitting punishment by themselves. Justice is served on its own, without the government or law overstepping its boundary and dictating what's wrong and what's right. As previously stated, several consequences will be experienced. Reputations will be negatively tarnished, and irreparable bonds will be broken. Such an event will leave both parties scarred for life. Comments are closed.
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