03-27-2013, 04:25 PM
Ombligo wrote:
[quote=Lemon Drop]
marriage should be between two adults of legal age, neither currently married to anyone else, not related by blood according to that state's laws.
Why should state's decide blood relationships? That has lead to discrepancies such as California allowing first cousins to marry, Michigan not allowing first cousins to marry and Texas making it a criminal offense for first cousins to marry. Is that much different than what was argued at SCOTUS yesterday?
That's a complex question - yes the laws are inconsistent around the country. If first cousins do marry they should get genetic testing done to make sure they aren't passing along something deadly (which is unlikely but more possible than for unrelated couples.) Otherwise I have no problem with it.
It is however a terrible mess if that couple divorces, because they share the same extended family.
Also - slippery slope problem. This is the same genetic relationship as uncle/niece. Should they be allowed to marry?