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"I thought, that can't be true in California," said state Sen. Jerry Hill, a Democrat from San Mateo. "We found that it is true in California and true in many states throughout the country."But Hill's resulting proposal to bar juveniles from getting hitched has been watered down after it prompted strong objections from civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union.
As the emotional fight unfolds in Sacramento, there's no agreement even about a basic piece of information — how many minors get married each year in California. People who want to limit such marriages say the total is in the thousands, while those who oppose the bill say that's vastly inflated.
The state doesn't keep such numbers, and even efforts to change that are running into resistance.
Comment: Marriage is difficult enough for full-fledged adults. It cannot be fathomed how this 'institution' affects children forced to enter into such a relationship, often left to the mercy of one's legal spouse. Perhaps legislation should be given a second look.