Michigan congressional candidate says sex with teenagers could be OK, if they're mature enough

[demmiblue]

Source: ClickOnDetroit.com

A Wyandotte man running to unseat Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell voiced an opinion on Facebook that is raising some eyebrows.

Tom Bagwell commented on a Facebook post regarding the story of a 24-year-old female teacher allegedly impregnated by her 13-year-old student.

Bagwell commented saying: "Children should be protected as best we can. Unfortunately, the unintended consequences of government action often can cause more harm. We need reforms that make cases more subjective and look at each case separately rather than simple hard age cutoffs.

When pressed on it by another user, Bagwell continued: "Hard age of consent laws don't take into account the actual maturity of the child. Some teenagers are able to handle these relationships many can't. If there is actual abuse by all means charge with a crime, but it should not be a snap judgment.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan-congressional-candidate-says-sex-with-teenagers-could-be-ok

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Oh my goodness!

Where are these people coming from!!!!

[KG]

2. typical idiot libertarian spew; somehow this problem is due to govt overreach...

[PatrickforO]

3. OMG!

I WAS gonna put all rolling on the floor laughing smilies here, but on further thought...

[Rex]

4. Holyshit, so this guy does not understand statutory rape?

NO, consent by a child does NOT make it okay...HOLYFUCKINGSHIT, where do I need to send some money to keep this asshat out of office?

[rjsquirrel]

5. Someone needs to look into this guy

especially if he has regular access to young people.

Also, his hard drive.

[demmiblue]

6. Yep. n/t

[David__77]

7. As a minor teenager I agreed with this.

And, indeed, I had sexual relations with men over age 18 while I was as young as 14.

I don't think it's a black and white issue. For instance, I would not necessarily want a 18 year old to be prosecuted for sexual relations with his or her 16 year old boy/girlfriend, especially if they had been together since they were both minors.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

8. Worth noting that it's only the context that makes the first two awful.

If you were to present me with the first two statements in the abstract, without telling me that they were apropos of a specific teenager who was 13 rather than, say, 16 or 19, then while I wouldn't agree with them outright, I'd certainly view them as a legitimate position.

A blanket statement that "the age of the participants doesn't matter", however, is just straightforwardly evil.

[Initech]

9. Is he on a registered sex offender list? If not he probably should be.

[SwankyXomb]

10. Tom Bagwell wants to fuck your kids

And not in the "you're all screwed" way most Republicans do.