Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and legislative leaders talk about setting a minimum marriage age as if it will be a breeze next session. Maybe it will be, especially after those embarrassing national headlines about the couple who were able to marry in Kansas only to return home to Nebraska to see the 22-year-old groom charged with raping his 14-year-old bride. But when Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, calls for an “escape clause” in cases where, say, a pregnant girl “demonstrates maturity and understanding of the situation,” you have to wonder what lies ahead for this issue. Our editorial in Saturday’s Eagle calls on lawmakers to “do the right thing and ensure that child rape can’t continue to be legitimized in Kansas with a wedding.” What do you think?
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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