And up until Sept. 1, 2005 that was possible in Texas, with parental permission. The law was changed because the FLDS was known to be coming to Texas. Which I find passing strange, since so many, including the authorities, are maintaining that these people are not and were not getting legally married anyway, so why bother changing the law to prevent them from doing something they were not doing anyway. The laws regarding age of consent for sex, which would apply in the absence of legal marriage, including all Second or Third wives of a polygimist, were not changed. 17 is the age of consent, but there is an exeption if the ages of those getting and giving permission (it works both ways actually) differ by 3 years or less, and the younger is at least 14.
Because even with the laws in place currently, we have sophists making excuses for the FLDS. Making their behavior very clearly illegal makes the prosecution that much easier. If the law had not been changed, rest assured that there would be a legion of Freepers defending their right to marry 14 year olds "spiritually" as they could marry them legally with a marriage certificate and who needs the government anyway? Surely you can agree that that defense that would have been advanced if the law had not been changed. Yes?
Thanks for confirming what I thought I had read before, but couldn't find it again.