Louisiana lawmakers opt against setting minimum age for marriage
Source: The Hill
Lawmakers in Louisiana have decided against setting a minimum age to marry in the state. The Louisiana House over the weekend declined to take up a Senate bill that would bar anyone under the age of 16 from being able to marry in the state, according to the Associated Press.
The Republican-led House instead voted overwhelmingly in support of a rewritten version of the bill that says parental consent must be given for residents under the age of 18 to marry.
State Rep. Stephanie Hilferty (R) was in support of the Senates version of the bill, saying a minimum age is necessary to keep people from "covering up acts of rape as a marriage." Speaking against setting an age restriction for marriage in Louisiana, state Rep. Nancy Landry (R) said she didnt like the way lawmakers were making it sound like every teenager who is married is a sex trafficking victim.
"It's really disturbing to me, because a lot of 16-year-olds are very mature," Landry said.
Last year, Delaware became the first state in the country to ban child marriage, followed by New York and Texas, setting the minimum age for marriage in any circumstance at 18.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/446679-louisiana-lawmakers-opt-against-setting-minimum-age-for-marriage
eggplant
(3,912 posts)Then they can have a two-year engagement. Problem solved.
former9thward
(32,065 posts)No, the "problem" is not solved.
brooklynite
(94,688 posts)eggplant
(3,912 posts)Marriage shouldn't be a shield for rape.
BlueTsunami2018
(3,498 posts)Many teens get pregnant by people the same age as they are. Should he be charged with rape? Suppose hes younger, should she be charged with rape?
Seems a strange solution.
eggplant
(3,912 posts)Older man rapes young girl (typically a "friend of the family" and this is covered up with a quick wedding.
Two underage kids getting it on is usually not considered statutory rape (consult your local laws), so that's not what I was talking about. I can imagine that if two underage kids (pregnant or not) want to get married, they can both go in from of a judge and petition for emancipated minor status, and then get married. But you can't railroad the girl into it, or we're back to square one.
As for the older woman and the younger boy? Yes, you charge her with rape. It happens. She doesn't get to marry him -- usually there is a restraining order until he's 18, and often she does time.
Sex between a minor and an older adult is coercive rape, and marrying your rapist is pretty much guaranteed to have a bad outcome.
former9thward
(32,065 posts)But not in the real one. The recent "anti child marriage" laws do not allow for your (or any) exceptions.
Tiggeroshii
(11,088 posts)This is beyond repulsive.
dameatball
(7,399 posts)Demon Dem
(43 posts)An old man can marry the 12-year-old daughter of his ol' buddy, and if she gets pregnant, she can't abort. FUBAR.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,175 posts)As more and more deplorables are "home schooling" their kids to be able to indoctrinate them in a racist lifestyle, away from those 'evil' liberal public schools, keeping the kids in ignorance about what is "normal". There could be more of a percent of those homes that totally can shield their children to the outside world and who are pedo perverts who could "groom" and then "sell" their kids to old perverts for cash. It could even involve adopting kids just for this purpose. Once married, there is nothing the State can do about it.
pandr32
(11,605 posts)...in both the formal and biological sense.
Happening right here on our shores
keithbvadu2
(36,873 posts)Grown enough to marry
keithbvadu2
(36,873 posts)Marry girls when they're '15 or 16,' said 'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson
https://www.cnn.com/2013/12/31/showbiz/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson-comments/index.html
sakabatou
(42,170 posts)BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)Only Idahos Mormon legislators could be this disgusting... want to marry a twelve year old? Come to Idaho and now... Louisiana...