Posted on 07/26/2005 2:08:42 PM PDT by BenLurkin
My mom married at 15 (to an 18 year old) in 1948, stayed married until my dad's death in 2001. That was in the midwest too. It was kinda how things were often done then.
I do understand the complication here, but there are plenty of felons in jail with wives and children at home. The girl's parents still have the responsibility to provide for her.
"Yes, I know that often these kids go into "group homes" rather than families, but is forcing a girl to be married a better solution?"
My only point was that if you are going to decide the fate of another human being you have more responsibility than that of an innocent bystander. You had better make damn sure that your decision is the correct one. Your decision may affect them for the rest of their life. I am sure you were acting on good faith but putting someone in state care seems like an absolute last resort to me.
Did you check on her to see how she was doing? I could never do what you did without feeling personally invested in her outcome. It would worry me night and day.
There is no law in Kansas allowing 13 year olds to wed, the courts established it by decree.
John 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
And how old are your daughters? I've got two myself. You'll have your daughters running off to sleep with and maybe marry the first guy who treats them reasonably nicely.
My daughters are both married, one at 24 and the other at 27. The latter one made me a grandpa a couple of months ago, that's the older one, now thirty.
The thing is, you raise 'em properly, and you can trust them to do the right thing, but if they want to, they will find a way to be alone with a man. You can lay down those sorts of rules at 15, but not at 19 or 22.
BTW, I like the way you have segued from leave him alone to go to jail. Very slick slick.
No flames from this direction. And no I'm not endorsing underage girls with much older men. Just pointing out that there are some cases where there is no criminal intent. As I said in a previous post my husband would have been villified had I been but a few months younger than I was. At this time I'm 25 and he's 38. That's actually more of an age difference than there is between this girl and her husband.
Nothing in the story indicates that she was forced to marry the father of her child. Chances are pretty good she waned to do so.
I never had the temerity to ask.
later pingout.
Statutory Rape is not the same as pedophilia. Pedophilia is attraction to (and sex with) prepubescent girls (or boys!). Statutory rape is just that, statutory, the definition of which varies from state to state. Pedophilia is a mental disorder, probably incurable.
But there is also no statutory law prohibiting it. The Kansas legislature could write if they wanted. The Court probably overstepped their bounds by setting a particular age. I suspect it's not that clearcut. There may be some language about maturity, but without a specific age. In such cases the judges are expected to apply judgment on a case by case basis, not make a hard and fast "rule", which is the province of the state legislature.
Geez, this has to be one of the most uneducated, uninformed opinions I have ever heard regarding adoption.
You should know that placing a child up for adoption is one of the most loving and generous things a young pregnant girl can do.
You should see, as I have, the brave unselfish girls who know what's best for them and their baby.
You should know there is nothing cold about a person who loves a child so much, that they give a childless couple a chance of being parents, while they give the child a chance at a happy life, and they themselves get a chance at straightening up their own lives.
I could go on and on about the things you should know, but I sorta think you already know these things. I sorta think you don't mean what you said.
Wow, are you Johnny Carson with a turban?
Well as long as we are getting techincal, the proper term for adults attracted to adolescents is ephebopobia.
True.
The Kansas legislature could write if they wanted.
Again true.
The Court probably overstepped their bounds by setting a particular age. I suspect it's not that clearcut.
Again I agree.
There may be some language about maturity, but without a specific age. In such cases the judges are expected to apply judgment on a case by case basis, not make a hard and fast "rule", which is the province of the state legislature.
True enough but I believe the statute says consent of the parents, plural. If it does the Judge has overstepped his bounds, no?
But really, thats not the point. I would hope that lightening strikes and they live happily ever after. But, anecdotes aside, statistics argues strongly against it.
And as a law I want adults suffering criminal sanctions for having sex with children and in cases of forcible rape of children I say hang'em.
Of course we'd have to consider the equal protection argument which goes like this. If a 21 year old man can have sex witha 13 year old girl without consequence, can a 21 year old man have sex with a 13 year old boy without consequence?
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