My own reaction to this story shocked me.
Removing issues of morality from the equation, what has happened here is a tremendous victory for all Americans. The state representatives discussed and debated the issue, a majority of those representatives voted in favor of the legislation, and the CEO of the state enacted the bill by signing into law.
Textbook representative republic in action.
My one concern is that the judicial branch could use this as some sort of precedent. I mean, they already look to Africa and beyond to find laws that fit their perspective on how things SHOULD be.
Is this concern of mine warranted?
Textbook representative republic in action.
Fine. Let's keep "removing issues of morality from the equation", and say the "state representatives discussed and debated" lowering the age of consensual sexual relations to three years old, and "a majority of those representatives voted in favor of the legislation, and the CEO of the state enacted the bill by signing into law." Would you still view that as "a tremendous victory for all Americans?" What if the issue were bestiality? Slavery? Cannibalism? It would certainly still be "textbook representative republic in action", wouldn't it?
Your initial reaction, while it may have surprised you, should have told you something. "Removing issues of morality from the equation", ANY equation, is just plain wrong.