Republican Opposition to Missouri Bill Ending Child Marriages

Several Republican members of the Missouri House of Representatives are facing backlash for their opposition to a bill that aims to end child marriages in the state. The bill, co-sponsored by Republican state senator Holly Thompson Rehder and Democratic state senator Lauren Arthur, seeks to prohibit marriage licenses from being granted to anyone under the age of 18 in Missouri.

Currently, 16 and 17-year-olds can get marriage licenses with parental consent, and marriages are banned between minors and anyone aged 21 and up. However, some Republicans in the Missouri House are pushing back against the bill, arguing that it would be detrimental to families where spouses married young and are still together.

One of the more vocal opponents of the bill is Rep. Dean VanSchoiak, who questions the government’s role in deciding whether teenagers should be allowed to marry with parental consent. He argues that if parents give their blessing for their 16 or 17-year-old children to marry, the government should not intervene.

Despite the efforts of bill supporters like Rep. Jim Murphy, who chairs the committee, the bill may not make it out of the committee as seven of the 14 members are on record opposing it. With the current legislative session set to adjourn on May 17, time is running out for the bill to pass both chambers and reach the governor’s desk.

Sen. Arthur, who is leading the charge for the legislation, expressed disappointment at the bill’s likely failure in the current session. She criticized the opposition as merely excuses to protect predators, emphasizing the importance of ending child marriages to protect vulnerable young individuals.

Thompson Rehder shared her own personal story of marrying her 21-year-old boyfriend at the age of 15 to escape an abusive home. Reflecting on her experience, she acknowledged that marrying young had negative consequences on her life and believes that prohibiting child marriages would lead to better outcomes for young individuals.

While some states like West Virginia have taken steps to restrict child marriages, Missouri’s Republican lawmakers are facing criticism for their resistance to ending the practice. The debate over the bill highlights the complex and emotional nature of the issue, as lawmakers grapple with balancing personal freedoms with the protection of vulnerable young individuals.