'We are not going to allow adults to legalize what is statutory rape': Missouri governor signs law banning marriage of children under 16

Missouri Gov Mike Parson signed a bill banning marriage of 15-year-olds Friday

The state has long been is among the top 10 in the country for child marriages

The new law raised the legal age to 16, whereas there was no minimum before

It also prohibits the marriage of people age 21 or older from marrying those younger than 17

Earlier this year Missouri was named the easiest state for teen couples to wed in because there was no minimum age and only one parent's approval was needed, even if the other objected.

The investigation revealed some of those teens were married off to men age 21 or older, even though a 21-year-old having sex with someone under the age of 17 constitutes statutory rape under Missouri law.

[link to www.dailymail.co.uk]