Lynda/WA
03-28-2001, 02:57 PM
Last night on talk radio I heard about a 15 yr old that got married in Nevada. She is 15 and he is 48. In that state (it varies by state) a judge can o.k. a marriage of a 15 yr old if a parent has given their o.k. In this case the mother signed a statement saying that she had never seen a couple more suited (paraphrased).
The girls parents aren't together and the father lives in San Fran. He found out after the marriage and in his words was horrified. He hadn't been notified by the girl, the mother or the courts. He petitioned to get the marriage overturned. The judge ruled that when the girl became married the fathers parental rights ended so he threw the case out of court.
The part about the father having no say really upset me as well as the rest. The talk show host mainly was upset over the inconsistancy of the laws. His complaint was that if the age of consent is one age why should a parent be able to change it just because they will be married? Some people called in and said if the drinking age is 21 and I have a letter from my mother can I go to a bar and drink at age 18? In Hawaii the age of consent is 14. I've read that the cortex in the brain isn't even fully developed until 18-20. My understanding is that has a big impact on decision making skills. It just seems to me we as a country are very mixed up on when we allow children to make various decisions.
In at least one state the age of consent is 14. In other states the age of consent or marriage with a guardians approval is also in the mid teens.
We let kids take control of the most deadly weapon (automobile) at age 16. In fact many kids get one for their birthday.
But you can't vote until you are 18. In most states you can't drink until you are 21.
What are your feelings on this marriage specifically? What age do you think someone should be able to get married? What age do you think should be the age of consent?
The girls parents aren't together and the father lives in San Fran. He found out after the marriage and in his words was horrified. He hadn't been notified by the girl, the mother or the courts. He petitioned to get the marriage overturned. The judge ruled that when the girl became married the fathers parental rights ended so he threw the case out of court.
The part about the father having no say really upset me as well as the rest. The talk show host mainly was upset over the inconsistancy of the laws. His complaint was that if the age of consent is one age why should a parent be able to change it just because they will be married? Some people called in and said if the drinking age is 21 and I have a letter from my mother can I go to a bar and drink at age 18? In Hawaii the age of consent is 14. I've read that the cortex in the brain isn't even fully developed until 18-20. My understanding is that has a big impact on decision making skills. It just seems to me we as a country are very mixed up on when we allow children to make various decisions.
In at least one state the age of consent is 14. In other states the age of consent or marriage with a guardians approval is also in the mid teens.
We let kids take control of the most deadly weapon (automobile) at age 16. In fact many kids get one for their birthday.
But you can't vote until you are 18. In most states you can't drink until you are 21.
What are your feelings on this marriage specifically? What age do you think someone should be able to get married? What age do you think should be the age of consent?