Is Bill Maher defending pedophilia here?

[MineralMan]

52. As far as I'm aware, no state has an age of consent lower than 16 years.

Also, every state I'm familiar with has laws that protect high school students from teachers, even if they're over 18. What has changed, however, is that youngsters close in age are not charged if they have sex with each other in most jurisdictions. That was changed, because teenagers have sex with each other and are not criminals for doing so.

Adults need to leave young people alone and not exploit them sexually. In states where the age of consent is 16, more potential for abuse exists. I think the age of consent should probably be 18, except when it come to sexual activity between two people near in age, since that has always happened and always will.

Adults who prey on young people are predators. Period. Adults who have positions of any sort of authority over young people should be charged if they prey on those young people, regardless of the legal age of consent. Teacher, ministers, cops, employers, and all of thos people should be charged if they mess with anyone under the age of 18, in my opinion. After the age of 18, people are deemed to be adults, but even then, adults much older should leave them the Hell alone, in my opinion.

I don't care if high school kids have sex with each other, as long as they agree to it. My only concern is adults having sex with youngsters. That is just wrong. Leave the kids alone. That's my rule.