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Okla. lawmaker suggests eliminating all marriages to prevent gay marriages

Okla. lawmaker suggests eliminating all marriages to prevent gay marriages

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — An Oklahoma lawmaker, fearful that a federal judge’s ruling that struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage might be upheld by an appeals court, says his conservative colleagues would consider throwing out all marriages in Oklahoma as a way around the ruling.

The idea stems from a shell bill filed last week by Rep. Mike Turner (R-Edmond), reports KWTV.

The shell bill currently contains no substantial language, but can be changed at almost any time to react to upcoming rulings on Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage ban.

Turner says it’s an attempt to keep same-sex marriage illegal in Oklahoma while satisfying the U.S. Constitution. Critics are calling it a political stunt while supporters say it’s what Oklahomans want.

“[My constituents are] willing to have that discussion about whether marriage needs to be regulated by the state at all,” Turner said.

KWTV has more:

Turner has also introduced a bill that would call for a second vote to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to again ban same-sex marriage.

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