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Marry or get out, US town tells unwed parents

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Vasco, May 24, 2006.

  1. Vasco

    Vasco New Member

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    US Town says: Marry or get out

    A small American town is facing accusations of seeking to drive unmarried couples with children out of town on grounds they do not fit the local definition of a family.

    The brewing controversy in Black Jack, a town of 6,800 in the central state of Missouri, began unfolding earlier this year when Olivia Shelltrack and Fondray Loving were denied an occupancy permit after moving into a four-bedroom house they had purchased.

    Just an interesting note,towards the end of the article it says the town is predominantly Catholic, I once read that Missouri was something like 3/5 Catholic.
     
  2. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    Seems to me that they are related by blood - parents & children share.
     
  3. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    This is where a lawsuit should happen. It is not the town's business. They purchased the property, they should have occupancy. This is what happens when religion and government mingle. Looks to me like their civil rights were violated.
     
  4. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    As long as the ordinance is on the books , the city has the right to enforce it.
     
  5. gtbuzzarp

    gtbuzzarp New Member

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    But carpo it looks like they are going against their own ordinance.

    I thought the same thing as Daisy when I first heard this story months ago.

    I think we need the actual ordinance because how does an unmarried couple with children together make up 3 unrelated persons? Or can not more than 2 people in this town live together if any 2 are unrelated?
     
  6. Terry_Herrington

    Terry_Herrington New Member

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    Well, this law is destined to be struck down, thank God!
     
  7. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    The mother and father are unrelated and unmarried. Maybe they've adopted each other. ;)

    From a legal standpoint, it's a no brainer. They are in violation of the ordinance.
     
  8. gtbuzzarp

    gtbuzzarp New Member

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    "The town's planning and zoning commission proposed a change in the law, but the measure was rejected Tuesday (5/16) by the city council in a 5-3 vote.

    <snip>

    The current ordinance prohibits more than three people from living together unless they are related by "blood, marriage or adoption." The defeated measure would have changed the definition of a family to include unmarried couples with two or more children."


    LINK
     
  9. gtbuzzarp

    gtbuzzarp New Member

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  10. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    The ordinance says: "related by blood". Each parent and all siblings are related by blood to the kids. Hence, no violation.

    If you want to say that only one parent can occupy the house with the kids, which parent is more related by blood?
     
  11. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    The ordinance says: "related by blood". Each parent and all siblings are related by blood to the kids. Hence, no violation.

    If you want to say that only one parent can occupy the house with the kids, which parent is more related by blood?
    </font>[/QUOTE]Either parent could live in the house with the kids, but not both.

    I agreee it's poorly written and a stupid ordinance, but they are still in violation of it.
     
  12. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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  13. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    Which one? Why not both as they are both related to the kids?

    If the ordinance states that adult occupants must be related to each other, and so far I have not seen the wording of the ordinance, then you are right....Would that mean that unmarried cousins who have children together could live together in that town?

    I expect that if the town evicts them, that will cost it a bundle.
     
  14. gtbuzzarp

    gtbuzzarp New Member

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    Here are their ordinances

    Someone else can filter thru it and find where it talks about unrelated people living together. [​IMG]
     
  15. gtbuzzarp

    gtbuzzarp New Member

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    Under Appendix C, Section 030 they define family as:
    (27) Family: An individual or two (2) or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption, or a group of not more than three (3) persons who need not be related by blood, marriage or adoption, living together as a single non-profit housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit.
     
  16. Hope of Glory

    Hope of Glory New Member

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    As long as existing citizens are grandfathered in, why can a town not make whatever ordinances it wants?

    There's a town in FL (if I remember the location correctly) that is being built as a planned community. One of the regulations is that pharmacies cannot carry the abortion pill, and other things such as that.

    What's wrong with that? If you don't like it, don't move there!
     
  17. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    Which one? Why not both as they are both related to the kids?

    </font>[/QUOTE]Take your pick. Doesn't matter.

    Mother and father are unrelated and unmarried and connot live together in the house with their kids...according to the ordinance.
     
  18. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Only in America, the so-called defender of freedom. Invade a foreign country and force one's own form of government, then invade the homes of its own citizens. Shame! Shame!

    What is next? Cameras in every room.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  19. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    The US Constitution guarantees all citizens rights such as equal protection which localities are not at liberty to override.
     
  20. Scott J

    Scott J Active Member
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    This is also the problem of applying the Constitution beyond its intended bounds.

    I agree with your view if we are talking about the federal gov't. But the Constitution left the "states and people" with alot of power to control what happened in "their own neighborhood". Some states even adopted a state religion early on and had religious requirements for holding office. The Federal gov't didn't try to intervene as it was "state's business".
     
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