Toddlers can no longer marry in Arkansas.

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:13 am

Toddlers can no longer marry in Ark.; state repeals law that removed minimum marriage age

By ANDREW DeMILLO , Associated Press

Last update: April 3, 2008 - 7:46 AM

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas' marriage-age crisis is over. A law that mistakenly allowed anyone — even toddlers — to marry with parental permission was repealed by a measure signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Mike Beebe, ending months of embarrassment for the state and confusion for county clerks.

Lawmakers didn't realize until after the end of last year's regular session that a law they approved, intended to establish 18 as the minimum age for marriage, instead removed the minimum age to marry entirely. An extraneous "not" in the bill allowed anyone who was not pregnant to marry at any age with permission.

The bill read: "In order for a person who is younger than eighteen (18) years of age and who is not pregnant to obtain a marriage license, the person must provide the county clerk with evidence of parental consent to the marriage."

Some lawmakers called for a special session last year, saying the error would make it easy for pedophiles to take advantage of the law. Gov. Mike Beebe said he didn't see any imminent crisis and said the chances of children marrying under the law were slim.

Legislators, however, had the chance for a do-over this week when Beebe convened a special session to consider a hike in the state's severance tax on natural gas. They repealed the botched law, and reinstated 17 as the minimum age to marry for boys and 16 for girls.

Rep. Will Bond, the sponsor of the botched 2007 law and its correction, apologized for the error and asked his colleagues to "throw me a rope and bail me out here."

"I always thought if you put your name on a bill, you should be ready to take the blame if you're willing to accept the credit," Bond said Wednesday.

Bond, a Democrat, said there hadn't been any reports of young children attempting to marry under the 2007 law.

jennyswan · Post by **jennyswan** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:24 am

Why do people always take the pee out of Arkansas? Is it really that bad? I'm Irish and I've never been there but all the US redneck jokes seem to be about Arkansas.

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:17 am

jennyswan;831559 wrote: Why do people always take the pee out of Arkansas? Is it really that bad? I'm Irish and I've never been there but all the US redneck jokes seem to be about Arkansas.

Pretty much all of the southern states (and Kansas) :p get picked on....oh well, I love being a southerner.

:-6

Arkansas is a beautiful state!

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:48 am

Because they pronounce their name ARKANSAW

We know it should be pronounced Ar Kansas

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:19 am

jennyswan;831559 wrote: Why do people always take the pee out of Arkansas? Is it really that bad? I'm Irish and I've never been there but all the US redneck jokes seem to be about Arkansas.

Don't really need to make stuff up about them, they are plenty entertaining without that...

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:22 am

YZGI;831913 wrote: Because they pronounce their name ARKANSAW

We know it should be pronounced Ar Kansas

because Kansas and Arkansas are so alike?? :p :wah:

elixer · Post by **elixer** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:03 pm

Is that to protect them from Clinton, Spitzer, or Paterson? :wah:

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:19 pm

Aw...to be a southern democrat. What a life!:wah:

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:28 pm

Its threads about stories like this that make the outside world wonder sometimes about America.

elixer · Post by **elixer** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:35 pm

It's not just you, Galbally.

I suspect some of the laws we have are nothing more than the outcome of boredom. In Pennsylvania, it is against the law to sleep on top of a refrigerator... but only outdoors :wah:

http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/pennsylvania

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:52 pm

elixer;832414 wrote: It's not just you, Galbally.

I suspect some of the laws we have are nothing more the outcome of boredom. In Pennsylvania, it is against the law to sleep on top of a refrigerator... but only outdoors :wah:

http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/pennsylvania

OK, "Ministers are forbidden from performing marriages when either the bride or groom is drunk." makes perfect sense but "Any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop every mile and send up a rocket signal, wait 10 minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and continue." sounds like there a clearout long overdue and "You may not sing in the bathtub." is just plain silly.

California has to take the biscuit though :-

Sunshine is guaranteed to the masses.

Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship.

Bathhouses are against the law.

It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale.

Women may not drive in a house coat.

No vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour.

Although Texas drives it close :-

When two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing, each shall come to a full stop, and neither shall proceed until the other has gone.

A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.

Weird :wah:

elixer · Post by **elixer** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:55 pm

A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed. :wah: Don't mess with Texas! That must have been passed when Bush was Governor...:wah: