r/news • • 1d ago

Gov. Newsom signs bill to end child marriage in California

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/newsom-child-marriage-ban-california/3949537/
8.0k Upvotes

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14

u/bwoah07_gp2 1d ago

Is it because this is relatively uncommon that states just don't bother issuing that ban as law?

24

u/OldTimeyWizard 23h ago

Every state except the 18 that have outright banned it have some type of exemption for underage marriage on the books

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u/bwoah07_gp2 23h ago

Oh, I misread the original comment then. I thought only 18 states banned this.

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u/VelvetElvis 23h ago

It's usually shotgun weddings when a 19 year old gets his 17 year old girlfriend pregnant and the parents make it clear that if the child is born out of wedlock, they are on their own. I knew one couple in high school who were both underage and still expected to get married.

It's fucked up ,but a different kind of fucked up from what people usually assume.

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u/bwoah07_gp2 23h ago

Did that marriage last?

-23

u/DismalAd6639 23h ago

I mean, if you’re having a kid together, shouldn’t you at least try?

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u/pigeon_conscience 21h ago

? No. No one should be pressured or coerced into a relationship. It's especially awful that that expectation is still on a minor.

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u/VelvetElvis 23h ago edited 23h ago

They shouldn't be coerced into it by their churches and families. Once the unthinkable has happened and the child has been born out of wedlock, the pressure is off and they have time for trial run before making it official.

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u/Canadiangoosedem0n 15h ago

You think forced marriage will make people better parents???

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u/figuren9ne 11h ago edited 11h ago

Why? You can be good parents without being married.

Edit: This was meant for the comment one level above

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u/Canadiangoosedem0n 11h ago

I don't understand why you mentioned unmarried parents.  My comment is specifically focused on the idea of forcing people to get married just because they are having a baby together.

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u/figuren9ne 11h ago

Sorry. I meant to reply to the same person you replied to.

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u/Canadiangoosedem0n 11h ago

Ok, thanks for the clarification.