Utah Gov. signs law aimed at polygamy

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

AP March 29, 2017, 11:01 PM



SALT LAKE CITY -- Under a new law signed late Tuesday night by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert over objections from plural families, polygamists would face harsher punishments if they are convicted of other crimes such as domestic abuse or fraud.

The measure passed by one vote in the final minutes of Utah’s legislative session following several dramatic hearings on the topic and a protest rally in which the family from the TV reality show “Sister Wives” and several hundred others spoke out against what they said were attempts to infringe on their rights to live plural marriages. 

Joe Darger, a Utah man who has three wives and helped organize the rally, said he and others are considering a legal challenge to a law that he says that only creates more fear among polygamists already wary of government officials. 

“This is clearly unconstitutional. This clearly targets one group of people,” said Darger. “It’s absurd that in this day and age that our speech, freedom of religion and ability to do what we want in our bedroom is being policed by the state of Utah.”

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/utah-gov-signs-law-aimed-at-polygamy/

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Oh my,

Gov Herbie just pissed off several thousand of his supporters. His Church has been trying for decades to make this go away.

[ProudLib72]

2. Salt Lake is a sanctuary city

for polygamy. For four years now they have been getting away with it because of a technicality (multiple marriage licenses). Where is Sessions?

[Matthew28]

3. Well, republicans pushing for more government

[IronLionZion]

4. They want to stop people from living together?

That could be a problem for many roommates who share housing, and hippies in communes. I suppose wealthy polygamists could have separate houses near each other.


This stuff sounds reasonable:

“If there is somebody under the guise of a polygamous marriage or a sham polygamous community who are engaged in sex trafficking and human trafficking.... we think that’s probably a higher grade felony,” Douglas said.

The law increased the maximum penalty to 15 years, up from five, for polygamists who are also convicted of fraud, sex abuse, domestic abuse, human trafficking or human smuggling.

Benefits fraud is one way they abuse the system, since many of them are legally single parents. I would hope they are not involved in human trafficking.

[Bradical79]

5. Human trafficing

That part could be targeting people like that polygamous mormon cult leader, and those who arrange marriages for children.