# How is polygamy illegal?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 26, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984 "2009-11-26T01:41:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2009, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/21 "2009-11-28T05:04:34Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> More common than not. In other words, if it’s the only show about polygamy, it should be about the norm, not the best case scenario.
Why is that?
If it’s describing a situation that exists only 30% of the time, it’s still realistic for that 30%. Where do you get the idea that it is constrained to follow the norm in order to be called “realistic?” Isn’t a realistic show one that describes a real situation, not necessarily a “better than 50%” situation?
> [@](#):
>
> If we include brainwashed, I’d guess almost all. In any case where women must “escape” from a “compound” there’s serious issues.
I appreciate your willingness to guess. My own guess is “It’s not almost all.”
Does anyone have any actual GQ-like information on this question?
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2009, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/22 "2009-11-28T06:37:42Z")
> [@Markxxx](#):
>
> No it is not, money laundering is taking “dirty” (AKA Illegally obtained money or money obtained from illegal activities) and giving it a legitimate appearences.
>
> I can move all the money I want around as much as I want as long as it’s “honest money.” Or rather money earned within the bounds of the law.
>
> If I am selling you, an attorney, cocaine and you are billing me for legal services this is money laundering. You are pretending to give the man selling you cocaine legal services to make everything look legit.
Umm, no. If you _structure_ cash- even that from a 100% legal source- you can be in violation of Title 18 or 31 USC, and sections of the Patriot Act.
See “structuring” under T31 USC:
"_No person shall, for the purpose of evading the reporting requirements of section 5313 (a) or 5325 or any regulation prescribed under any such section, the reporting or record keeping requirements imposed by any order issued under section 5326, or the record keeping requirements imposed by any regulation prescribed under section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act or section 123 of Public Law 91–508— […] (3) structure or assist in structuring, or attempt to structure or assist in structuring, any transaction with one or more domestic financial institutions."_
In other words, even if the source of the cash is 100% legal, structuring said cash transactions (in order not to report them on a currency transaction report/CTR or similar form) is illegal. Now it’s true that most money laundering is done to conceal the illegal source of said funds. But for example, a attempt to conceal income (that is 100% legal) from the IRS, (in order not to pay taxes) by structuring said cash in small transactions- is a crime.
I’ll also point out that money laundering also concerns taking 100% legal funds, then structuring the cash in order to hide it’s end criminal use- such as terrorist financing.
[http://www.fincen.gov/statutes\_regs/bsa/](http://www.fincen.gov/statutes_regs/bsa/)
Note that I am a Certified Anti-Money Specialist, with ACAMs certification.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2009, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/23 "2009-11-28T06:48:00Z")
> [@Bricker](#):
>
> Why is that?
>
> If it’s describing a situation that exists only 30% of the time, it’s still realistic for that 30%. Where do you get the idea that it is constrained to follow the norm in order to be called “realistic?” Isn’t a realistic show one that describes a real situation, not necessarily a “better than 50%” situation?
>
> I appreciate your willingness to guess. My own guess is “It’s not almost all.”
>
> Does anyone have any actual GQ-like information on this question?
Well, because then it conceals the real nasty truth, the truth of brainwashing, child-sex, incest, forced brides, human trafficking, and welfare fraud.
Real GQ info? You’re a lawyer, right? Bigamy _is_ against the law, right? Most laws do have the purpose of protecting the public weal, right?
Why not call one of the DA’s involved in prosecuting one of those Polygamy sect cases? Talk to them lawyer to lawyer. See what they say. See if they say “Well, it’s really all right, no harm done, it’s just a technicality, no one is really harmed by these sort of things”. See what they say about the prevalence of incest, welfare fraud, child abuse and such. Then come back. Share it with us. Of course, we’re not expecting a press release or a quote from them, just what they say to you unofficially, then in your own words.
I have done so, myself. It’s worse than I have said here. But I’d like to see what your sources say.
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### Author:  [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/24 "2009-11-28T18:45:02Z")
[QUOTE=Utah Law]
(1) A person is guilty of bigamy when, knowing he has a husband or wife or knowing the other person has a husband or wife, the person purports to marry another person or cohabits with another person.
[/QUOTE]
So, if a man is separated from his wife (divorce hasn’t become final), and decides to move in with his new girlfriend, he is committing bigamy?
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### Author:  [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/25 "2009-11-28T20:00:12Z")
> [@jtgain](#):
>
> So, if a man is separated from his wife (divorce hasn’t become final), and decides to move in with his new girlfriend, he is committing bigamy?
You might find this thread helpful: [Does a common-law marriage ‘count’ twards a charge of bigamy?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=436843)
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### Author:  [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/26 "2009-11-28T20:08:00Z")
Here are some previous threads that touched on this topic:
[Plural marriage – what’s the crime?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=248004)
[How does U.S. law deal with polygamy in other countries?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=338109)
[Is Big Love-style polygyny actually illegal?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=375656)
[When is Polygamy NOT Polygamy?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=445018)
[Child brides aside, is a willingly polygamist lifestyle with adults illegal?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=466074)
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### Author:  [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/27 "2009-11-28T20:19:57Z")
> [@Gfactor](#):
>
> You might find this thread helpful: [Does a common-law marriage ‘count’ twards a charge of bigamy?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=43684)
Your link goes to a thread about a “Reflex tester”.
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### Author:  [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/28 "2009-11-28T20:21:45Z")
> [@Lamia](#):
>
> Your link goes to a thread about a “Reflex tester”.
Ooops. Ok. Let me see what I did there.
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### Author:  [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/29 "2009-11-28T20:24:37Z")
I fixed the link. I managed to cut off the last character of the URL when I copied and pasted.
Here is the correct link for those who don’t feel like scrolling up: [Does a common-law marriage ‘count’ twards a charge of bigamy?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=436843)
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### Author:  [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/30 "2009-11-29T02:10:50Z")
I find Big Love (or what I’ve seen of it) weird because each of his wives lives separately and they “time share” the husband. That’s like Raise the Red Lantern. Just weird. If they all lived happily together, I’d find it more agreeable.
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### Author:  [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/31 "2009-11-29T03:09:54Z")
The real problem is that if dudes were allowed to marry more than one chick, than all us guys who feel panicked about getting _one_ girl will have to watch the captain of the football team and the sleazy pre-law trust fund frat douche from college take away even more of our chances to get the girl.
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### Author:  [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/32 "2009-11-29T03:16:10Z")
> [@Eonwe](#):
>
> The real problem is that if dudes were allowed to marry more than one chick, than all us guys who feel panicked about getting _one_ girl will have to watch the captain of the football team and the sleazy pre-law trust fund frat douche from college take away even more of our chances to get the girl.
Oh yeah! Whenever someone says polygamy “hurts women,” I just roll my eyes. Oh no, they have to share some rich dude. Who it hurts is men, who are forced into a life of loneliness.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/33 "2009-11-29T06:10:06Z")
> [@Alex\_Dubinsky](#):
>
> Oh no, they have to share some rich dude.
Look at those Polygamous Husbands in those cults- often they live in trailers, \*eating off food stamps. \*It’s not the Playboy Mansion and “Hef’s Girls” it is young women who are forced or brainwashed into a life of drudgery and constant childbearing.
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### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/34 "2009-11-29T12:49:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> Look at those Polygamous Husbands in those cults- often they live in trailers, \*eating off food stamps. \*It’s not the Playboy Mansion and “Hef’s Girls” it is young women who are forced or brainwashed into a life of drudgery and constant childbearing.
I doubt it would be like that if it were legal. That’s like someone during Prohibition saying that if booze were legal, you’d have bathtub gin being sold in Mob-owned speakeasies all across the country.
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### Author:  [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/35 "2009-11-29T17:38:08Z")
> [@Derleth](#):
>
> I doubt it would be like that if it were legal. That’s like someone during Prohibition saying that if booze were legal, you’d have bathtub gin being sold in Mob-owned speakeasies all across the country.
Well said.
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### Author:  [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/36 "2009-11-29T17:48:31Z")
> [@Derleth](#):
>
> I doubt it would be like that if it were legal. That’s like someone during Prohibition saying that if booze were legal, you’d have bathtub gin being sold in Mob-owned speakeasies all across the country.
Right, in societies that allow polygyny it’s usually only high-status wealthy men who have more that one wife. The overwhelming majority of marriages remain monogamus.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/37 "2009-11-29T17:56:58Z")
> [@Derleth](#):
>
> I doubt it would be like that if it were legal. That’s like someone during Prohibition saying that if booze were legal, you’d have bathtub gin being sold in Mob-owned speakeasies all across the country.
Ah, so those scum just would decide not to have their little harem of underaged relatives sleeping with them and serving them hand and foot? That the religious cult would up and disappear?
You do know that back before it was illegal, the old Mormon Church had polygamy like that, right?
The cult brainwashes the women into believing it’s the only way to do things, and of course for those few men that get to become patriarchs, they wish to continue the system.
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### Author:  [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/38 "2009-11-29T18:33:46Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> You do know that back before it was illegal, the old Mormon Church had polygamy like that, right?
So you’re saying they had trailers and food stamps back then?
What exactly are you trying to say? Had it like what? If their partners were what you consider underage and close relatives, then what does that have to do with polygamy? Is having sex with young relatives only fun if there’s more than one?
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/39 "2009-11-29T18:36:37Z")
> [@Alex\_Dubinsky](#):
>
> What exactly are you trying to say? Had it like what? If their partners were what you consider underage and close relatives, then what does that have to do with polygamy? Is having sex with young relatives only fun if there’s more than one?
Like maybe what I said “harem of underaged relatives sleeping with them and serving them hand and foot” caused by religious brainwashing?
Your questions are specious and nonsensical.
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### Author:  [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-polygamy-illegal/518984/40 "2009-11-29T19:04:15Z")
Jesus, you are nonsensical. You can sleep with young girls and have them bring you sandwiches, even if you do this only with one at a time. What does polygamy have to do with it? Does it necessarily conclude with wives being young, related, and subservient? You’re completely mixing issues.
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