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The only danger was of an overreaching government sticking their noses in where they are not wanted.

What is the solution to forced marriage of 12-year-olds?

Not the first time Texas CPS has overreached.

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.

The only danger was of an overreaching government sticking their noses in where they are not wanted.

What about the older men in the group sticking their penises where they were not wanted?

Ok, I guess they’ll just have to send them all back in there, only to get ‘married’ off to those old men, impregnated, and kept like cattle! How’s that sound? But hey, they’ll be free from gov. influence!

They may never get out again, but hey, what do you care?

The only danger was of an overreaching government sticking their noses in where they are not wanted.
If I'm not mistaken, I believe your argument is based on whether the government has the evidence it needs to do what it did. It can't possibly be that pedophilia is ok and the government should just turn a blind eye to it. My opinion is they messed up due process and should all be fired for that, but they really do need to try again the right way.

Well, lets see what the ruling says and the evidence...
http://www.3rdcoa.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/htmlopinion.asp?OpinionId=16865

"...*The Department's lead investigator was of the opinion that due to the "pervasive belief system" of the FLDS, the male children are groomed to be perpetrators of sexual abuse and the girls are raised to be victims of sexual abuse;..."
"...*Department witnesses expressed the opinion that there is a "pervasive belief system" among the residents of the ranch that it is acceptable for girls to marry, engage in sex, and bear children as soon as they reach puberty, and that this "pervasive belief system" poses a danger to the children...."

All one has to do is strike : "...that it is acceptable for girls to marry, engage in sex, and bear children as soon as they reach puberty"
and replace it with: "...that it is acceptible for young girls to be the victims of pedophilia and engage in unlawful behavior willingly or not."
to get a full understanding of what they are trying to do.

In case you were wondering what pedophilia is:

American Heritage Dictionary - ped·o·phil·i·a
n. The act or fantasy on the part of an adult of engaging in sexual activity with a child or children.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

And here's interesting snipet from the latest SCOTUS ruling regarding child pornography:
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/06-694.pdf

"II
A
According to our First Amendment overbreadth doctrine, a statute is facially invalid if it prohibits a substantial amount of protected speech. The doctrine seeks to strike a balance between competing social costs. Virginia v. Hicks, 539 U. S. 113, 119–120 (2003). On the one hand, the threat of enforcement of an overbroad law deters people from engaging in constitutionally protected speech, inhibiting the free exchange of ideas. On the other hand, invalidating a law that in some of its applications is perfectly constitutional—particularly a law directed at conduct so antisocial that it has been made criminal—has obvious harmful effects..."

I wonder what "aimed at conduct so anti-social it has been made criminal" really means, especially to these children.

The fact is that illegal conduct is engaged in whether directly on one's own children or if one knowingly allows them to become victims. It is the condoning and participation of the parents in a way of life that is illegal and harful to children when it pertains to "spiritually" marrying off pubescent girls to adults who subsequently have sex with them. It does not matter if that particular community feels it's acceptable, which apparently they do or if their religion is built around illegal behavior.

There are real victims there and laws being broken. The question remaining is how does the government prove it and prevent it, which it certianly has a responsibility to do.

Hear! Hear! These kids will be 10X more screwed up after a couple years in foster care than they ever would be at the Yearning For Zion Ranch.