A state lawmaker says it’s time to remove the threat of jail time for otherwise law-abiding polygamists.
FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2017, file photo, Kody Brown, left, from TV's reality show "Sister Wives," marches during a protest at the state Capitol, in Salt Lake City. Polygamists have lived in Utah since before it became a state, and 85 years after the practice was declared a felony they still number in the thousands. It's even been featured in the long-running reality TV show, "Sister Wives.
“The law is a failure. It hasn’t stopped polygamy at all and it’s actually enabled abuse to occur and remain unchecked,” said Sen. Deidre Henderson, a Republican. Her proposal to make bigamy an infraction rather than a felony has gathered significant support. It was unanimously approved by a legislative panel Monday, despite resistance from former members of polygamous groups who said it could embolden abusers.
Henderson argues that law, and the legacy of raids as recently as the 1950s, has created a culture of fear that empowers notorious abusers like the polygamous leader Warren Jeffs. His followers wear distinctive, historic-looking dresses, and he is now serving a life prison sentence in Texas for sexually assaulting girls he considered plural wives.
Others, though, say that easing restrictions on polygamous marriages won’t do much to help victims and could even make things worse. Melissa Ellis grew up in the polygamous Kingston group and said she worries that leaders could consider it a victory if the state lightened penalties.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Utah sends employees to Mexico for lower prescription pricesAnn Lovell had never owned a passport before last year. Now, the 62-year-old teacher is a frequent flier, traveling every few months to Tijuana, Mexico, to buy medication for rheumatoid arthritis — with tickets paid for by the state of Utah’s public insurer. Lovell is one of about 10 state workers
Les mer »
Utah sends employees to Mexico for lower prescription pricesUtah is paying public employees to travel to Mexico to fill their prescription medications in a program aimed at reducing the high cost of prescription drugs.
Les mer »
Trump tells Utah governor about Romney: 'You keep him. We don't want him.''How's Mitt Romney? You keep him. We don't want him,' President Trump told Gov. Herbert Herbert, who was at the White House for an event with the nation's governors, didn't respond to the dig, and asked the president a question about reducing the deficit
Les mer »
Angelenos are happy to pay for public transport, but loth to use itWhy LA’s lovely new trains have not lessened the time spent stuck in traffic
Les mer »
Why FICO's new scoring model may not mean much for consumersAlthough a new scoring model from FICO will be available at the three large credit-reporting firms by the end of the year, consumers shouldn't expect the score that lenders use to change anytime soon.
Les mer »
Bill Nye the Fashion Guy! Star Dances to Lizzo While Walking Runway at New York Fashion WeekBill Nye the fashion guy! Star dances to Lizzo while walking runway at New York Fashion Week
Les mer »