Family Values or What's the Matter With Kansas?

The AP reports on the latest evidence of the rise of 'family values' in Kansas:

Kansas may have seen the last of its child brides.

After a pregnant 14-year-old from Nebraska drove to Kansas last year to marry her 22-year-old boyfriend, now serving time for having sex with the minor, Kansas lawmakers decided it was time the set a minimum marriage age.

On Thursday, the Kansas House vote 119-0 to approve a bill that would prohibit anyone under the age of 15 from marrying in Kansas and would set strict limits for would-be brides or grooms under the age of 18. The Senate approved it a day earlier, 36-4.

Under the legislation, requested by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a 15-year-old could marry only if a district court judge decided it was in that person's best interest.

FIFTEEN!?!

When I was fifteen, I hadn't ever kissed a girl, let alone have any sort of understanding about what it means to be married to one. I'm going to be nearly 25 when I get married. The concept of celebrating my 10th anniversary (which is traditionally aluminum or tin?) is unfathomable. A fifteen year old just doesn't have the world experience to make decisions like that. Hell, they aren't even old enough to drive a car!

And who the hell were the four people that voted against this? The only possible reason would be that they thought 15 was to young, right? I mean, this is 'family values' Kansas, right? This isn't the middle ages anymore, folks, as much as you may wish it was...

Kansas Family Values Marriage