No one knows what Judy Garland would have made of it, but Kansas has introduced some tough new marriage laws which will mean a slight reduction in the number of child brides the state produces.

Last year a pregnant 14-year-old from Nebraska drove to Kansas last year to marry her 22-year-old boyfriend, (he's now serving time for having sex with the minor,) prompting the legal system to set a minimum marriage age.

Yesterday the Kansas House vote 119-0 to approve a bill prohibiting anyone under the age of 15 from marrying in Kansas unless it's to their cousin.

 Britney wasn't available for comment

Under the legislation, requested by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a 15-year-old could marry if it was to "keep it in the family."

For the over 15s who don't fancy their cousin, you've still got to wait till you're 18  to marry unless you meet strict criteria:

1) You got knocked up by the guy who runs the liqour store
2) Your landlord demands you have to leave your trailer if you *don't* marrty him.
3) Your parents are dead and no one gives a stuff about you.

Currently, Kansas has no minimum age for marriage if the minor has parental or judicial approval, irrespective of parental IQ levels.

The rednecks didn't care 'we're only interested in our cousins,' they told us.

Posted by damian at May 05, 2006 05:26 PM