Posted on Jun 28, 2015
When will the age of consent for marriage be reduced nationwide? Will it go lower than New Hampshire's age 13?
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Laws existing in one state have been used to expand the laws to other states sometimes based on inter-state commerce and others based on perceived or penumbral rights.
The age of consent for marriage in New Hampshire is 13. When I enlisted one of my platoon mates from Tennessee had been married at age 15 to a 14 year old back in the 1970's. There have been efforts to reduce the age of consent by libertarians with more noble intent and sometimes by NAMBLA (North American man/Boy Love Association) with most likely less-noble intent.
I expect the age of consent to be pushed down by litigants in several states this year as they attempt to capitalize on the overturning of DOMA by SCOTUS. I hope the age of consent does not go below age 13 and I hope it won't go that low any time soon.
6/28/2015 Update] Here is the quote from Justice Kennedy's majority opinion discuss in marriage age:
"The significance of state responsibilities for the definition and regulation of marriage dates to the Nation’s beginning; for “when the Constitution was adopted the common understanding was that the domestic relations of husband and wife and parent and child were matters reserved to the States.” Ohio ex rel. Popovici v. Agler, 280 U. S. 379, 383–384 (1930). Marriage laws vary in some respects from State to State. For example, the required minimum age is 16 in Vermont, but only 13 in New Hampshire. Compare Vt. Stat. Ann., Tit. 18, §5142 (2012), with N. H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §457:4 (West Supp. 2012). Likewise the permissible degree of consanguinity can vary (most States permit first cousins to marry, but a handful— such as Iowa and Washington, see Iowa Code §595.19 (2009); Wash. Rev. Code §26.04.020 (2012)—prohibit the practice). But these rules are in every event consistent within each State."
The age of consent for marriage in New Hampshire is 13. When I enlisted one of my platoon mates from Tennessee had been married at age 15 to a 14 year old back in the 1970's. There have been efforts to reduce the age of consent by libertarians with more noble intent and sometimes by NAMBLA (North American man/Boy Love Association) with most likely less-noble intent.
I expect the age of consent to be pushed down by litigants in several states this year as they attempt to capitalize on the overturning of DOMA by SCOTUS. I hope the age of consent does not go below age 13 and I hope it won't go that low any time soon.
6/28/2015 Update] Here is the quote from Justice Kennedy's majority opinion discuss in marriage age:
"The significance of state responsibilities for the definition and regulation of marriage dates to the Nation’s beginning; for “when the Constitution was adopted the common understanding was that the domestic relations of husband and wife and parent and child were matters reserved to the States.” Ohio ex rel. Popovici v. Agler, 280 U. S. 379, 383–384 (1930). Marriage laws vary in some respects from State to State. For example, the required minimum age is 16 in Vermont, but only 13 in New Hampshire. Compare Vt. Stat. Ann., Tit. 18, §5142 (2012), with N. H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §457:4 (West Supp. 2012). Likewise the permissible degree of consanguinity can vary (most States permit first cousins to marry, but a handful— such as Iowa and Washington, see Iowa Code §595.19 (2009); Wash. Rev. Code §26.04.020 (2012)—prohibit the practice). But these rules are in every event consistent within each State."
Edited 9 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
It seems to me that the only reason for someone to push to move age limitations down, thus making the age of consent for marriage, or sexual relations, would be either someone who wants to prey on children because a grown-up wouldn't put up with their behavior, or someone who thinks that they are going to be famous as the lawyer that helped pass this "ground breaking" legislation.
Either way, there is something wrong with the picture when an adult feels it necessary to take advantage of a child to live out their twisted "I'm attractive to a teenager, who looks just like the one I couldn't get when I was in high school" fantasy.
Either way, there is something wrong with the picture when an adult feels it necessary to take advantage of a child to live out their twisted "I'm attractive to a teenager, who looks just like the one I couldn't get when I was in high school" fantasy.
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LTC Stephen F.
If maturity plus mutual consent [hopefully limited to 2 for the time being] was a requirement for marriage then I think there might be a hope that the age would be raised SFC (Join to see). However I expect people to push for the other direction unfortunately.
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LTC Stephen F.
I concur PO1 John Miller, that would be a great trend if New Hampshire and Vermont would raise their legal marriage age to 18.
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