Kentucky: Child marriage ban delayed after opposition from conservative group
Under current law, 16 and 17-year-olds can marry with their parents’ permission. Any age under 16 can also get wed, as long as they are pregnant and marrying the father of their child.
A new bill that would prohibit anyone aged 16 or under from marrying and prevent any 17-year old from tying the knot without the approval of a judge, who would have to be convinced that the minor is mature, self-sufficient and not being coerced into marriage.
More than 200,000 children married in US over the last 15 years
Three 10-year-old girls and an 11-year-old boy were among the youngest to wed, under legal loopholes which allow minors to marry in certain circumstances.
The minimum age for marriage across most of the US is 18, but every state has exemptions – such as parental consent or pregnancy – which allow younger children to tie the knot.
Kids don't stand a chance!
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Jobew1 ago
not too many generations ago, people in the US in their late teens had actual responsibilities and started working to support themselves. some still do. it's only recently where most are successfully able to avoid growing up until their 30s. don't see that much of a problem, in and of itself, to allow responsible 16-17 year olds to marry in certain circumstances especially if both parties are religious, understand the obligation, and the marriage is age appropriate
Immelda ago
Sorry i should have clarified which part i wanted focus on.
Jobew1 ago
no you're right, that part of the law is a difficult one. realistically any kid 14 and under who has a baby, maybe the parents of that tweenie should be charged with a crime of neglect for allowing it (obviously stat rape for any perp whose 18 and up). i guess that the presumption should be giving the baby for adoption (and no marriage) for kids under 16 with marriage being allowable with a judge approval for those at least 14.. idk it is a tough problem esp with the us being so promiscuous generally
auralsects ago
has it occurred to you that measuring age in terms of the natural stages of biology is more sensible than the number of revolutions around the sun. ponder this for a bit and you might see how absurd this conversation is. it's almost surreal. yea it is a serious 'problem' that fertile creatures get pregnant, and without even having obtained a Masters degree in dance theory!
Jobew1 ago
yeah ok, try implementing laws in even a village that bases consent/marriage upon "natural stages of biology", that should be easily defined and implemented.. yeah threre's no absurdity in that.. btw you do realize that the natural stages of biology are out of whack currently with some girls hitting puberty before they can actually carry a baby due to our effed up diet and environmental factors right???
3141592653 ago
plus all the artificial hormones in dairy and meat products
3141592653 ago
Yes to this.
scarlettm512 ago
Except that you cannot go simply by physical maturity. There is a psychological maturity level to be considered as well. Also, chemicals such as BPA have accelerated the maturation process (lowered the ages of puberty) with endocrine disruption. So you have 9 year olds getting their periods and growing breasts. A 9 year old -- even if physically mature, is in no way shape or form psychologically mature enough to engage in a sexual relationship. They aren't even ready to have the type of boyfriend you just kiss.
Add in the fact that previous generations were very adult centric and that adults were expected to grow up, be responsible and act like adults -- having sex, getting married at that age and being pregnant meant that you became and acted like an adult. You didn't leave your kids at home with grandma while you went out partying and acting like you are still a child. Our society today cannot function the way that previous generations did because our society is youth obsessed and we have adopted this idea that we should NEVER grow up. We should party and act like teens for our entire lives instead of following the natural order of things where we sow our wild oats in youth and then put away childish things and behave responsibly like adults. We can't go back to the "old ways" unless ALL of society goes back to ALL of the old ways.
auralsects ago
Sex is for babies period and that's why god commands it be done exclusively within the confines of marriage.