Polygamy: Legal or not?

[JollyRoger]

Please help me understand this statute:

(a) Polygamy in this state shall consist only of the union of one person and more than one person of the opposite gender.
(b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to polgamy.

Does this mean polygamy is legal or illegal?

 

[Sephiroth]

illeagal in US

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I think if a couple is married, the man (or woman) could hold a marriage ceremony with someone else and it is not illegal (just as marriages between members of the same gender aren't illegal). But they can't get legal benefits for the second marriage, just as with same-sex couples.

 

[skadistic]

I think "A" defines and "B" outlaws.

 

[El_Machinae]

Skadistic is correct. Statutes are often like that: (a) will tell you what the offense is and (b) will tell you whether the offense is allowed.

Interestingly, it looks like there is no polygamy if two men marry two women under that law.

 

[JollyRoger]

Does anybody agree with the argument that section (a) defines legal polygamy and section (b) makes illegal anything that is kind of like (a) but not precisely (a)?

For example one man/multiple women or one woman/multiple men would be legal, but multiple men/multiple women would be illegal?

 

[cegman]

lol so does that mean i have to marry the man too or can we both marry the women?

 

[skadistic]

I think the "similar" part is vague enough to include all multi-partner partnerships.

 

[El_Machinae]

Edit: nah - the 'similar' is probably tough enough to negate that idea.

 

[garric]

People who support gay marriage should support polygamy too.

 

[JollyRoger]

People who support gay marriage should support polygamy too.

Do you support either? I personally think government should not recognize any marriages - just leave it to the religious and other private institutions. People can contract for propety rights upon the termination of a private (non-government) marriage with a pre-nuptial or even post-nuptial agreement.

But, going to the thread topic, do you think the language in the statute in the original post would make polygamy legal or illegal in a jurisdiction that contained the statute in its laws?

 

[cegman]

garric why? and I don't understand why it was banned. Could be fear of a higherarchy system in america where the old guys get the girls and we end up with some kind of a feudalism but I don't know. I don't have a problem with it except that means less for me.

 

[garric]

Do you support either? I personally think government should not recognize any marriages - just leave it to the religious and other private institutions. People can contract for propety rights upon the termination of a private (non-government) marriage with a pre-nuptial or even post-nuptial agreement.

I do not support either. I support only REAL marriage.

However, supporting one alternate lifestyle and not another, especially if they are so similar (to the point that one could merely replace "gay marriage" with "polygamy", and still have the same argument), is largely hypocritical.

 

[El_Machinae]

Yeah, we all know that. Polygamy is easily on the 'slippery-slope' of gay marriage. It's obvious to all those who understand how the law works. It would be a bit tougher to legislate about, but not impossible.

Regardless: how would you interpret that statute?

 

[cegman]

Hmm... why are they similar one is between two people who love each other and want to marry

The other is between 3 people 2 who have sex with the 1 person and not each other. who may love this man/womanenough to get married

ok so they are similar but polygamy was probably partially put in there to stop abuse of the marriage benefits stuff.

 

[garric]

Yeah, we all know that. Polygamy is easily on the 'slippery-slope' of gay marriage. It's obvious to all those who understand how the law works. It would be a bit tougher to legislate about, but not impossible.

Regardless: how would you interpret that statute?

That statement in the OP? It's ambigious, like some crazed moonbat wrote it just to confuse people. Not to mention, I doubt that this statement is even legitemate, or if it even exists at all. But.. needless to say, the point is MOOT. Polygamy is illegal; the American forefathers didn't die to make this country a polygamist state.

 

[cegman]

The statute say a. this is polygamy b. this state will not allow polygamy or anything similar.

 

[cegman]

Garric you one crazy mofo

 

[skadistic]

I do not support either. I support only REAL marriage.

.

What is a "real" marrige?

 

[garric]

What is a "real" marrige?

You and I both know what REAL marriage is, but since you're patronizing me, I'll answer your "question".

Marriage is between a man and a woman.