Lawmaker: First cousins should not marry
Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Maryland state legislator says it's time to ban marriages between first cousins and stop playing what he calls "genetic roulette" with their offspring.
Henry Heller, a Democratic delegate, or state representative, says he wants to bring Maryland "into the enlightened world of other states such as West Virginia and Arkansas" that already prohibit unions of first cousins.
Heller is a retired special education administrator. He says couples who are first cousins are at an increased risk of having a child with birth defects.
The bill would make an exception for people who are over age 65 or infertile. Heller says he has "no problem" with those couples if they want the companionship.
There are 24 states that prohibit marriage between first-cousins.
Its a little surprising thatonly half the states haven't done away with cousin marriage and that Arkansas is one of the ones that has. But I'm thinking Henry Heller is a little late to the show on this one. If you haven't outlawed cousin marriage by 2010 then its pretty pointless to start now. And outlawing cousin marriage isn't going to stop cousins from banging. There's always going to be a slow moment at a Maryland family reunion. You've just got to hope the well water and Mountain Dew makes the imbreds infertile.
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