The testimony of several survivors of child marriages has helped galvanize the movement to close marriage-law loopholes.
But some legislators and religious groups have argued that the stricter marriage laws infringe on religious freedom and parents’ rights. Some have argued that in the case of a pregnancy, a teenage mother would benefit from being married. Last year,
Chris Christie, a Republican who was governor of New Jersey, conditionally vetoed a bill that would have banned marriage for children under 18, on the ground that it did not “comport with the sensibilities” or “religious customs” of some residents.
In addition to banning anyone under 16 from marrying, the bill pending in Missouri would prohibit 16- or 17-year-olds from marrying anyone over 21.
Girls are often wed to older men in marriages that are arranged by families.
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We always want to respect parental and religious rights, but we want to protect children,” said State Representative Jean Evans, a Republican from the St. Louis area who wrote the bill.