Colorado to Ban Child Marriages

[The Straight Story]

Colorado to Ban Child Marriages

By STEVEN K. PAULSON
Associated Press Writer


DENVER (AP) -- Gov. Bill Owens signed a measure banning child brides, ending an uproar sparked by a court ruling that said 12-year-old girls could enter common-law marriages in Colorado.

The state Court of Appeals ruled on June 15 that Colorado had no stated minimum age for common-law marriage but said the state has adopted English common law, which makes girls as young as 12 and boys as young as 14 eligible for marriage.

"It was imperative that Colorado change its law concerning the minimum age for common law marriage. The age of consent for marriage should be consistent in our statutes and, most importantly, our young children must be protected," Owens said as he signed the bill Tuesday.

The bill to close the loophole passed without major opposition during a special session on illegal immigration. Lawmakers said the issue could not wait until lawmakers return to work in January. The law raises the minimum age for common-law marriage to 18 or 16 with parental consent and a judge's approval and goes into effect Sept. 1.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TEEN_MARRIAGE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

[RoyGBiv]

1. Glad they're on top of things ...

I'm sure this was a pressing problem.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. It could be among some immigrant groups

When I worked with street kids a few years ago, one of the girls who showed up at the drop-in center was a 13-year-old from one of the Southeast Asian tribes (not Hmong, one of the others--I forget which) who had run away because her parents wanted to force her to "marry" a 30-year-old man.

Also, don't forget that Colorado is right next door to Utah, where some of the renegade polygamous Mormons marry barely adolescent girls off to much older men.

[RoyGBiv]

3. My bad ...

Hadn't thought of that.

[SensibleAmerican]

5. It is a big problem, actually

Pedophiles are exploiting certain states' lax marriage laws.

[DanCa]

4. What about embryos and fetuses dang it.

Marriage between embryos is an abomination. :sarcasm:

[smtpgirl]

6. Great, after the FLDS

has "sucked" all of the state & govt. $ for welfare!!!!

Now CO wants to change the law

So where is that Warren Jeffs dude anyway?