[ad_1]
TSR politics: North Carolina is trying to get rid of the state name where adults can legally marry children.
Legislators in North Carolina voted unanimously on Tuesday to raise the state’s legal age for marriage from 14 to 16 years old. This move took the state one step further in restricting child marriage, but did not ban it. Wall Street Journal Report.
The bill was passed by the State Senate and House of Representatives last week on Tuesday, prohibiting children under the age of 16 from marrying and requiring minors (under 18) to marry them. Therefore, for example, a 16-year-old cannot legally marry a 20-year-old.
The bill is now handed over to North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper for signing. Governor’s spokesperson Mary Scott Winstead said: “Although the legislation does not raise the age of marriage to 18, the governor supports a step towards ending child marriage and more child protection in North Carolina.”
The bill initially called for more. The first draft of the bill prohibited anyone under the age of 18 from marrying, but it was later revised in a Senate committee because some lobbying groups believed that prohibiting minors from marrying could lead to more abortions among teenagers who are pregnant and unable to marry, said the state senator. Danny Elbritt, Jr., Republican and co-sponsor of the bill.
He added that legislators who support the bill want to avoid any obstacles that would stifle the legislation.
“I hope we can go further in the future,” Britt said in an interview before the law was passed on Tuesday.
North Carolina may be one of the states with the lowest age requirement for marriage, but it is not the only state that allows minors to marry. The age requirement for marriage varies across the country, but many states do require a person to be at least 18 years old to get married.
Alaska is the only state that allows children under the age of 14 to marry.
Want to drink tea directly in your text inbox?Contact us at 917-722-8057 or Click here to join!
[ad_2]
Source link
