Adultery Illegal in Minnesota (for Women)

(CBS)  If Tiger Woods lived in Minnesota (and was a woman) his alleged extramarital affairs may have landed him in even bigger trouble than he's already in.

There are apparently laws on the books dating back more than 150 years, when the Gopher State was just the Gopher Territory, making it illegal for a married woman to cheat on her husband, reports CBS station WCCO-TV in Minneapolis.

Another statute prohibits single women from having sex at all.

The law against married women is a gross misdemeanor and carries a prison sentence of one year, plus a possible fine of up to $3,000.

"It's completely obsolete and should be repealed," State Senator Ellen Anderson told WCCO.

Neither law is enforced, but not everyone thinks they're outdated.

"We think they're important. They send a message," said Tom Prichard of the Minnesota Family Council, who thinks the laws should actually be strengthened to apply to men as well.

"When you are dealing with a marriage, it's not just a private activity or a private institution. It's a very public institution. It has enormous consequences for the rest of society," Prichard said.

Anderson said most lawmakers won't bite on trying to repeal the sex laws - because they're not enforced, it may not be worth spending the political capital.

"Anything that has to do with sex for some reason becomes a political football around the Capitol."

[cyclingpete]

I think DIVORCE SHOULD BE ILLEGAL. After all, with the controversy against same sex marriage and these bible thumpers screaming "it will be detramental to traditional family values", if people really believe in the "sacred rites" and the "sanctity of marrage" should be bound by the laws of marriage. FOR BETTER OR WORSE. Doesn't this mean what it says? This means "for better or when things are just too much for me to handle so Ill go have an affair" or "for better or even when my husband physically assaults me"

[sean56v]

Women commit adultery, fornicate, and perform acts of prostitution all the time. Who cares if ho'mosexuals object to it? There is no reason to refer to a law written by chattering apes in Minnesota.

[amerilatino]

No news, to a typical, nosy, loinsniffing biblethumper like Prichard other folks marriages WOULD be public institutions, thank God most prosecutors know better, those who don't quickly get shot down in appeals court and make fools of themselves.

[Funky-President]

Texas accidently enacted a law to ban Gay marraige but the law states : Anything resembling Marriage (including marriage) is illeagal in Texas.

[dragon8me]

I think Marrage should be illegal.

[Mortarman-29]

Well, good luck with that.

[jsainwi]

In the Old Testament, most of the elders had multiple wives.
Does that mean we men, today, should take up with multiple wives too?
Or would that just multiple our problems?

[inketolstoy]

If you are married, you know the answer to that question. If your not, see how many married men are pushing for polygamy.

[Mortarman-29]

There is a problem with adultery being illegal?

[proudmilvet]

Comedian Gilbert Goddfried told this joke: "Some researchers have said that Masturbation can lead to a life of crime. Little did i know that by the time i was 14 years old, i was as dangerous as Al Capone!"

[proudmilvet]

What if you get caught in Minnesota having sex...by yourself?

[DManPhx]

Until 1976, it was legal to Murder a Mormon in the state of Missouri just for being a Mormon. It was known as Executive order 44. We have a lot of bigoted laws. It is funny to see how men were excluded from this law as if they were too stupid to form intent. The men who wrote these laws insulted themselves.