Comments about ‘Polygamists at the Capitol proclaim: 'We're families, not felons!'’

It is a good idea that the polygamists are getting involved politically. Good for them. That said, there is only one problem. Polygamy is prohibited in the Utah State Constitution and has been since the 1890s as a condition for Utah becoming a state. Because of this, there is not much the state legislature could do about it, even if they wanted to.

I am not even sure the polygamists can legalize plural civil unions either. I may be mistaken, but I believe that there is an amendment to the Constitution that does not allow even single civil unions.

I suppose they could try to get rights without calling their contract anything.

Maybe Huntsman will allow the polygamists to have civil unions.

Newport Doc:

"Maybe Huntsman will allow the polygamists to have civil unions. "

Perhaps, but aren't equivalent marriage relationships unconstitutional in the state of Utah?

It seems to me that a double standard exists when discussing basic family structures. The nature of what is considered a family is changing. If 'civil unions' are allowable, why not polygamy? If 'gay marriage' is acceptable / allowable, why not polygamy? I am absolutely opposed to anything that would include underage persons, but if multiple adults choose to live together and be married, why not let them? If same sex marriage and adoption are legal why should polygamy be illegal? My personal beliefs are very traditional. Society is changing. Do we have the fortitude to deal with changing family structure on a level playing field?

Well, the way things are going anything goes. Everyone should be able to choose their own life style. Women should be allowed more than one husband. Maybe their would be less cheating going on with these gals who desire more than one spouse.

There is nothing wrong with polygmy. Those of age and sanity should be given freedom to practice it if that is what they choose and they accept it as God's commandmend then they should be granted religious freedom. They are much better people and less dangerours than the rich bankers who steal from us and wreck our enonomy.

"That isolation also allowed crimes against women and children to thrive, Shurtleff said, referring to his controversial polygamy prosecutions in recent years."

I disagree. It's the lack of enforcement of these laws that has allowed these crimes to thrive. There are known polygamist colonies, but how often are they cracked down on? According to the state constitution, not only are crimes against women and children against the law, polygamy itself is against the law.

Oh, golly gee, I would love to have a couple of spouses. The women in Africa who practice polygamy simply love it. What I have in mind for myself would be two fine brothers that I know. I know they both love me, so I'd like them both.

The government has no business invading people's personal lives. The only purpose of the government is to protect us from criminal and foreign countries.

Is Gov., Huntsman LDS? He seems to be acting irrational lately.

I only see evil coming to Utah.. Sodom & Gomorrah all over again. I saw it in my dreams.

Anonymous:

"It's the lack of enforcement of these laws that has allowed these crimes to thrive. "

How do you even enforce the polygamy laws anymore anyway? Seriously. Polygamy offers something of a legal paradox. Polygamy is against the Utah State Constitution, but polygamy is prosecuted based upon unlawful cohabitation (they don't legally marry their plural wives). If you cannot prosecute unlawful cohabitation by unwed mothers (and you can't anymore), then how can you prosecute unlawful cohabitation by legally unwed polygamists? Because of their religion?

The court decisions striking down cohabitation laws have seriously compromised the effort to eliminate polygamy. In fact, I'll bet that the polygamists are now beginning to awaken to the reality that laws against cohabitation by polygamists are teetering. Hence, we see them meeting openly at the capitol building. The only thing that is holding it back is a federal equal protection case. They are probably just biding their time.

The only way for you to fight polygamy is to contain and isolate it, not prosecute it. That is how you avoid opening the can of worms. Well, at least that is my perspective.

Utah has some serious issues and a lack of moral structure.

I agree, if same sex civil unions are allowed then so should multiple spouse unions be allowed.

Nothing but trash talk. Polygamists make me sick!

I want to have marital-equivalent rights with the second personality with which I live.

A federal law suit should be brought against Governor Huntsman and Utah's attorney general, Mr. Mark Shurtleff for not enforcing and upholding the laws of the constitution of Utah. Polygamy is unconstitutional and against the law. Perhaps even better they should both be impeached for treason.

The Legislature should Impeach them both for TREASON.

As far as I am concerned they are felons. One sideswiped My wife's car, but since there were 2 people in their's the later claimed it was my wife's fault after initially adimitting it was their fault. Even their insurance company knew they weren't telling the truth and made them fix their own car, but we had to pay the deductible on my wife's car instead of them paying for all of it as they would have if they had been honest.

Their whole life and system is based on lies. Period, end.

Yes we know that it's illegal, and it makes you sick, and all polygamists are liers, and maybe we should burn them at the stake. However,they have the God given right to state their case before society, and the government. There are many things that have been illegal, that have been changed, over the years... Interracial marriage laws, sex laws, even laws about pot use are changing. Whether I agree with them or not is another issue. But you have as much chance of stopping these people, as you do of holding back a tornado.

Just because one polygamist lies it doesn't mean that all polygamist lie. That is just like saying if one Mexican robs a bank then all Mexicans rob banks. That would also mean that if one monogomous man kills somebody then anybody that lives monogamy are evil people that are not to be associated with.