If polygamy is illegal how do they get away with it - diplomatic immunity?

[merkur]

..

 

[Caomhanach]

oil

 

[Mr. Macaque]

because they're only visiting.

 

[Astan]

thats a good question and ive wondered this before. its probably diplomatic immunity.

 

[FidelCashflow]

It has nothing to do with diplomatic immunity.

If people get married overseas and want to get their marriages legally recognized in the USA, they have to get a US marriage licence on top of their marriage licence in whatever country they got married in. Naturally visitors don't bother to register their marriages if they're just coming to America on business or vacation, so as far as the US government is concerned these people aren't married in America to begin with. It's a non-issue.

The government can't argue that these people committed a crime by being married in a jurisdiction outside the USA because US law doesn't apply there.

 

[DNW]

It's a principle of international law that a nation's domestic law only applies to its citizens (anywhere), when its laws are violated within its territory, or when its national security is violated.

Diplomatic immunity only protects the official representatives of a State, while they're on official business.

 

[Percy Trimmer]

It may not be polygamy as such that is illegal in "all western countries" but taking a second (or subsequent) wife. If someone arrives in the UK with more than one wife - both marriages having been contracted in a jurisdiction where it is legal to do so - he does not necessarily fall foul of the law. Generally, state welfare benefits, for example, would be made available on the basis of need rather than marital status.

A more serious issue might arise if someone arrived in the country with a 'child bride' legally married in another jurisdiction.

 

[Journeyman]

Originally Posted by Percy Trimmer

It may not be polygamy as such that is illegal in "all western countries" but taking a second (or subsequent) wife. If someone arrives in the UK with more than one wife - both marriages having been contracted in a jurisdiction where it is legal to do so - he does not necessarily fall foul of the law. Generally, state welfare benefits, for example, would be made available on the basis of need rather than marital status.

A more serious issue might arise if someone arrived in the country with a 'child bride' legally married in another jurisdiction.

+ 1 on the above.

Australia essentially operates on the same premise - if you were legally married overseas then you can keep your wives if you move to Australia, but you can't marry any additional wives. Family payments are available to multiple wives, too, although from memory only one can get Parenting Payment but the other(s) can still get a variety of payments.

 

[Reggs]

I think in the UK they can transfer polygamous marriages when they immigrate and become citizens.

 

[robbie]

it is a non-issue


Something I don't understand is how it appears numerous public figures use marijuana and are obviously in possession of large ammounts of it, and make public statements or reference their posession and use of illicit drugs yet appear to go unpunished for a crime they've essentially admitted to commiting.

 

[Renault78law]

 

[FidelCashflow]

Originally Posted by robbie

Something I don't understand is how it appears numerous public figures use marijuana and are obviously in possession of large ammounts of it, and make public statements or reference their posession and use of illicit drugs yet appear to go unpunished for a crime they've essentially admitted to commiting.

What do you have against rappers?

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by FidelCashflow

What do you have against rappers?

The fact that they're conspicuously breaking the law and then making money by singing about it.

 

[FidelCashflow]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

The fact that they're conspicuously breaking the law and then making money by singing about it.

They're not singing under oath. If a D.A. wants to question them because their lyrics referenced breaking the law, they can argue it's just a fictional performance like an actor killing people in a movie.

 

[Jekyll]

Originally Posted by FidelCashflow

What do you have against rappers?

I thought he was talking about the last few presidents.