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.
Stop lying even your kids hate Polygamy
disgusting
Ridiculous—1 husband, 1 wife—not a harem. If they’re going to allow a man to have multiple wives, then it should go both ways—a woman should be allowed multiple husbands—but THAT will never happen—SEXIST
That's not a big surprise with mit
👎😖🙏
Utah is a beautiful state, but it’s goofy af
Funny how we take all the done shit tRUMP do and worry about something like this NO NO NO let get out in full force over this election i could care less about someone religion Hell I Got Mines
You're a controlling abusive weirdo. Not normal behavior. End of story.
🤨
Could not care less what happens between to consenting adults and also it's none of my business
Utah jails someone who didn’t file multiple marriage licenses.
I'm a bitch I'm a lover I'm a child I'm a mother I'm a sinner I'm a saint And I do not feel ashamed
Maybe not a felon but still a pig.
Well, Mitt the Schitt must want a new wife‼️ Better change the Utah, 1st.. Oh I forgot, DemoCraps and 🦏 can do and say any damn thing they want, with NO repercussions!! Sat, isn’t polygamy a Federal law⁉️
Polygamists generally group together and there is a lot that goes on in the background and people turn a blind eye, Utah needs to be concerned about the children of these relationships.
They already punish themselves.
Of course it’s the republicans that want this to be legal. Another example of the dangers of religion. Control by fear.
Shouldn’t a woman expect all of her husbands time and attention? Can he really support all of them. Insurance companies should not be expected to cover multiple wives and all his children? In no way should they be receiving financial support from the state or federal government.
Have multiple wives is punishment enough.
JanelleBrown117 I don’t understand how there isn’t law that can protect against ppl like Jeffs but make it ok 4 fams like realkodybrown Smart legislators, come up w/ law that protects non-consenters & minors but decriminalizes consenting adults like the Browns- seems kinda no brainer to me?
JanelleBrown117 AMEN
JanelleBrown117 Thank God!! It's about time!!!
Why a woman would decide to ‘share’ a man seems antithetical to common sense. As many men out there that will do anything for a woman this seems coercive or stupid.
Now ask them how old the girl must be to be marriageable
That’s gross!
Gross.
Oh please that guy is a total creep
Moving to Utah
Yes you are
I live for harsh_revenge not only from a son of bitch like idiot_Trump but also from the Zionists system in the world,we will take revenge
How about federal rules, polygamy is not right jesus didn't tell you to do it,it is wrong how those men feel if women are allowed to get multiple husbands,then you call them whores don't you it is aginst law & they must pay for it, yes anyone breaks the law is criminal.
The kick out the “extra “ young men, trade children as brides, and use pregnancy to trap women.
Only in Utah. Polygamy is an old trick in their religion, something that is unacceptable in modern terms. That they want to make it tolerable is a move backwards, without a doubt.
This guy is a world class grifter, one man's opinion.
Stop using the word felon
At this point, I don’t care how many people they marry. We have bigger problems.
A man will leave his mother and his father, and stick to his “wife”. The “two“ will become one. Stuff like this is why it bothers me.
If they willingly share cock, so be it! Freedom However, I would never share my husband like that! No thanks.
He forgot 'massive consumer of vitamin E'
Ewwww I wouldn’t give him a second glance. 15minutesoffame
Hmmm an interesting legal means of attempting to maintain a psyho-matrimonial unity
These people are eff'ed up.
He must be reallllllly good at putting down the toilet seat..
Who this lawmaker be supporting this if it was the women that had a handful of husbands?
As long as nobody is being wronged or hurt who cares
Before you dismiss this as harmless, consider the 'lost boys’...the young men thrown out of these family cults so the old men can have more wives. It creates unstable societies with human rejects.
One wife at a time please.
Thought to support the sister wives from jail
He’s also someone who shouldn’t be breeding.
I did not know that Sammy Hagar was a polygamist, but somehow I'm not surprised.
Hey sign guy, stop trying to change the definition of words.
Everyone needs 25 wives and 150 kids all millionaires. I agree leave them alone. Leave our freedom alone keep the pursuit of happiness going! No more bad Laws a war against the American people!
They don't deserve to go to jail.
It’s not my lifestyle but you do you.
As long as all parties are consenting adults then it shouldn’t be against the law.
freelove baby ✌️
No it's not.
All Though I Don't Agree With Them They Shouldn't Face Jail Time For It.
Trump would support this
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