Should there be a MINIMUM Age to MARRY?

I was reading the news today and found a great debate. It ties in with yesterdays blog to; Internet Predators & Sex With Minors

This is what the headline read: KANSAS LAW MAKERS MAY DO AWAY WITH CHILD BRIDES
After a pregnant 14-year-old from Nebraska drove to Kansas last year to marry her 22-year-old boyfriend, now serving time for having sex with the minor, Kansas lawmakers decided it was time the set a minimum marriage age.

I guess on Thursday the lawmakers had taken a vote to eliminate anyone under the age of 15 to be wed. Young to-be-brides and grooms under 18 can still marry but restrictions will be made.

So the new laws will be as follows:
*a 15-year-old could marry only if a district court judge decided it was in that person's best interest

*Those who are 16 or 17 could marry if they met one of three conditions: permission from a parent or legal guardian and judicial consent; permission from both parents and any legal guardian; or permission from judge if the parents are dead and there is no legal guardian.

So my question is – Should there be laws pertaining to the age of marriage?

MY OPINION: this one’s tough. I definitely don’t think a 15 year old needs to be wed, period. I remember thinking I was going to marry every boyfriend I had at that age. It’s part of growing up. But there are some situations where it may be beneficial for a young couple to be wed. For example, if the bride-to-be is pregnant, and her fiancé has good medical insurance, but she doesn’t have any. Or, if one of the youngsters is in a bad living environment…
I mean, there are legit reasons but I don’t know if marriage is always the solution. It is hard to believe that a couple wed at 17 years of age will have a solid, life-long relationship. Most adults that get married at 30 can’t even do that. Then you add in the stress of bills and SCHOOL….
The thing that really interested me was the implication that some sick individuals only marry young women because they are sex offenders. This is a way of "legally" being a sex offender. That was one thing I had not thought of. I can see the problems all ready here.

I guess my opinion is that I dont know the answer!