A Missouri lawmaker sparked backlash after claiming a bill to raise the state's minimum marriage age to 18 would lead to a spike in abortions, as the measure moved closer to becoming law.
Missouri currently allows 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent, provided their partner is under 21, KY3 reported. In 2018, the state raised its minimum marriage age from 15 to 16, but efforts to eliminate child marriage entirely have repeatedly stalled in the legislature.
