- Missouri State Sen. Mike Moon defended baby marriage on Tuesday, citing a pair he is aware of.
- Moon stated the couple married at age 12 and that they had been nonetheless collectively.
- He added that they had gotten pregnant and that their dad and mom consented to the wedding.
Missouri State Sen. Mike Moon defended baby marriage on Tuesday, touting the apparently profitable marriage of individuals he is aware of who bought married once they had been 12.
The Republican made the feedback throughout a debate on a invoice he launched that may ban gender-affirming look after transgender youth within the state.
Video of the change confirmed Democratic state Rep. Peter Meredith confronting Moon over previous feedback he made about dad and mom’ rights to make choices regarding their very own kids.
“You voted ‘no’ on making it unlawful for teenagers to be married to adults on the age of 12 if their dad and mom consented to it,” Meredith instructed Moon. “You stated truly that must be the legislation as a result of it is the dad and mom’ proper and the child’s proper to resolve what’s greatest for them. To be raped by an grownup.”
“Have you learnt any youngsters who’ve been married at age 12?” Moon requested in response.
“I need not,” Meredith stated.
“I do. And guess what? They’re nonetheless married,” Moon replied.
—philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 12, 2023
Moon didn’t instantly reply to Insider’s request for remark however defended his assertion on Twitter. He wrote that the “again story” was lacking, explaining “a 12-year-old impregnated a minor of comparable age.”
“With consent of the dad and mom, they married… and are nonetheless married in the present day,” he stated, adding, “their marriage is prospering.”
The Springfield Information-Chief reported that Moon has a documented historical past of supporting baby marriage with parental consent.
In 2018 the Missouri legislature handed a invoice elevating the state’s minimal marriage age from 15 to 16, with teenagers below 18 requiring parental consent. Moon voted towards the invoice, claiming he knew a pair who had been married since they had been 12, in line with the outlet.
