[pwim]

According to the article, more than half the states have no firm minimum age for marriage. For many states, it is below the age of consent. In some states, statutory rape is not considered such if the partners are married. It seems that the laws need an overhaul like you say, to bring in line with age of consent at least.

[dennisgorelik]

There is a reason why marriage age limits are frequently below the age of consent.

One of important reasons why society wants to push age of consent way above puberty age - is because society wants to prevent teenagers from having promiscuous sex and have pregnancies out of wedlock. Marriage helps to reduce both these risks. That is why marriage is allowed at a lower ages than age of consent.

[Svekax]

And?

[DanBC]

You said that rape is already illegal.

Children are being raped, and then pressured to marry their rapists. This means that the rapists can't always be prosecuted.