Inside Bountiful: Polygamy Investigation

Inside Bountiful: Polygamy Investigation

2012, Sexuality  -   52 Comments
6.66
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Ratings: 6.66/10 from 59 users.

Is this man breaking the law, or following his faith? The leader of Canada's most famous polygamist community - Winston Blackmore - opens his doors to what life is really like in Bountiful, BC.

Polygamous marriages in the religious commune of Bountiful, B.C. are once again under the scrutiny of the RCMP, following two decades of similar investigations that have so far failed to lead to a single conviction.

The Mounties have investigated plural marriages in Bountiful since the early 1990s, but persistent questions about the constitutionality of the law and a successful legal challenge three years ago have meant only two people have ever been charged and no one has been convicted.

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Gr8wrtr
Gr8wrtr
6 years ago

+papilo_Ulysses_ulysses .....I think you mean impede, not impinge. If you did mean "impinge", then you don't have say " impinge in a bad way"; as that is the definition of the word. Its like saying have a bad/negative effect in a bad/negative effect way. U r saying the same thing TWICE.

E. Mo
E. Mo
6 years ago

The law definitely should be upheld, not because the government ought to be able to persecute people based on their religious beliefs, but to stop people from being able to legally exploit others based on religion. If it were to become legal, I don't even want to imagine how vulnerable the women and children would be in terms of support and custody rights. I can see the first wife and her children getting preferential treatment. Tax loopholes where families are used to dodge paying their fair share of the commons is also a danger. A guy like the one in this doc would take as much advantage as he could of the legalization of this farce, would manipulate it and get away with it. He's a scared weak little person who wouldn't know what to do if he couldn't control a remote community of brainwashed women and children.

E. Mo
E. Mo
6 years ago

"Child trafficking? Nah. It's got nothin' to do with me." "Just because you have a fifteen year old in your life doesn't mean your're gonna touch 'em." He calls women "his ladies". He's an arrogant pimp who has serious control issues and a rehearsed bulls**t answer for everything. Just because his community wears clothes from this century doesn't make him any better than that POS Warren Jeffs.

Steph
Steph
8 years ago

Did anyone notice how he liked to hug and kiss.... the young girls on lips, at sunday service...I would not send up my daughter to have him bless them.

Alfred Silva
Alfred Silva
9 years ago

Most adults everywhere are in a polygamous relationship at some time. For convenience they call these relationships "Affairs". The women "Mistresses".

We made fun of and demonized the Muslims for the same reason they legitimately like the Mormons have more than one wife at the same time. At least the Muslims limit themselves to 4 at any one time. Why do we always see the women as victims in such situations? In Brazil I have relatives (women) who want to get into such situations and will do anything to be part of a gang of women with one man.

We do not admit it is the desire of everyman and woman to have more than one ritual stroking of the cat (what's another name for cat?).

Given the opportunity and the willingness of women to participate in the ritual stroking of their cat and sausage trapping into their tunnels, with the ritual stroking of another womans cat in the presence of another woman is fantasy that is heavenly and beyond what one could imagine.

Its better than coke, smack and ice combined.
If someone wants to engage in this (and it is gender neutral by the way) as long as it is consensual let them be.

Odile Cohen
Odile Cohen
10 years ago

What anybody realizes is that this guy is a psychopath as well as the guy that went to jail, they call themselves prophets and do whatever they want based on religious bullshit. Of course he seems to be charming and smart because he is a psychopath as well as every one, and those women are so blind, naive, and do whatever he ask them to, because are his followers. The way religion works.

Hux Leary McShulgin
Hux Leary McShulgin
10 years ago

I see nothing wrong with polygamy as long as:

1.) The women aren't being brainwashed/controlled (or forced to marry at 13 like the Warren Jeffs thing).

2. The children aren't being neglected due to having so many siblings. It's humanly impossible to connect with 130 kids every day like a good parent should. People should be having fewer kids, not more.

3.) They aren't doing shady things to make/save money, such as living in half-built houses to cut down on property taxes (which happens a lot apparently).

No consensual relationship between adults should be illegal. Law enforcement and our government have MUCH bigger fish to fry.

JC O'handley
JC O'handley
11 years ago

i am so disgusted with this it's not funny...What is wrong with this ****: PUT THEM IN JAIL the ****** child molesters

JC O'handley
JC O'handley
11 years ago

OOG My all I can say is this guy and any other man who has many wife's are pure PIGS and the women are totally ******..." please read the comment policy" (moderator)

Brittney Kroiss
Brittney Kroiss
11 years ago

First of all, this film claims to be looking into polygamy but it's really just focusing on polygyny (one husband, multiple wives) without touching upon polyandry (one wife, multiple husbands). If all polygamy was legal in Canada, in my opinion, it would be easier to track where the problems (abuse, underage forced marriage, etc) lie because it could bring them out of their secluded communities as it would be seen as a valid marriage. Which, again in my opinion, it should be if consensual and respectful to all involved.

Panama Brokerage
Panama Brokerage
11 years ago

Women are so dumb

Tom Boy
Tom Boy
11 years ago

The guy is definitely an alpha male. When you're attractive to women, you can get them to do many things for love. I can understand him and his wifes and I respect their lifestyle. The canadian government is doing a good job being tolerant while still investigating this family (or should I say community). I think they're right to be suspicious about possible deviances...

Beata Filipiak
Beata Filipiak
11 years ago

The guy comes over as a formidable and magnetic personality and some women seem to be drawn to such men: men who would insulate them from the dog-eat-dog world. And when it comes to parenting, you can’t really be a doting daddy if you have 150 kids.

On the other hand, I’m a strong advocate of not meddling in other people’s affairs. As long as they don’t mind being a co-wife and (highlight =>) as long as no one gets hurt, it's fine. I’m exasperated by those who believe that being within the mainstream equals “normalcy” and all other ways of life are deviant.

CukeGoddess
CukeGoddess
11 years ago

Honestly, I think other than wives not getting enough time and he thinking they don't need to have more time with him, and the shipping off girls for marriage, if you can take care of that many children and women and not be on assistance the man should be left alone. I'm sure he has some control issues, but there are hundreds of thousands of monogamous relatio ships that do too.

Also, he brings up a good point. Cheating on spouses is pretty common in today's society, so technically many so called monogamous relationships are in fact practicing polygamy..... Very interesting little clip. As a female I wouldn't mind having 2 men to be honest, for when the other is too into their video games you still have someone to go to the park with or cuddle. :) I agree that one woman and one man is also in fact religious thinking, so it really is up to the individual people involved in the relationship what they are comfortable with.

Aldo Solari
Aldo Solari
11 years ago

Well, 15 wives, 130 (!) kids ... THAT MAN IS A CHAMPION!! he and his wives should be given some kind of "Nativity Medal of Honor" - not the least, a champion for the social security system and tax income office !

yahoo user
yahoo user
11 years ago

i dunno why religion even is involved... 1 man and 1 woman marriage is a religious ideology as well

PaulGloor
PaulGloor
11 years ago

Its all about population control and giving us geeks a fair chance :P

I would have to say that if the law remains against, any future occurrences should be investigated and charged but those already in plural marriages should not be held accountable for their religions ignorance to the common law, at the same time, they should also not be permitted to expand their existing family.

Simon Johnston
Simon Johnston
11 years ago

At lest they aren't aiming for a theocratic Canada or America, like the right wing fundamentalist 'Christians' are.

chard01
chard01
11 years ago

all the single ladies all the single ladies and no booze.i think i'll stay catholic and livin with me mum.

cdnski12
cdnski12
11 years ago

I'd like to see some facts about these people collecting welfare. Certainly some did so in past years. Also Winston has paid minimal Income taxes in some past years ... claiming he is a "Church" and is thereby tax exempt. Incredible that he can own, service and fly an expensive air plane, but can not pay his taxes?

Imightberiding
Imightberiding
11 years ago

As the brilliant Dr. Sam Harris once said: "Mormonism is a lot like Christianity only considerably more stupid." That is of course a loose quote but close enough to the point.

It's my understanding that if someone gets married in Canada & are at the same time already married the subsequent marriage is considered non binding & void. I don't care much if these women are stupid enough to follow & submit to a man like this, what I find truly disgusting & completely unnecessary is that on average each of those women have had more than 8 children. One man, over 130 children? I don't think I need to elaborate on how absurd this is in today's world. It is obvious however that this results in an established slave trade with in his family & religion. At very least cheap labour & established child trafficking.

Illegal? I don't know? Unethical? Perhaps. Inappropriately over populating the planet? Definitely. Big greedy, selfish smile on Blackmore's face? Without question!

DigiWongaDude
DigiWongaDude
11 years ago

monogamous swans we are not. Leave it oQ though and the washing up will never get done.

oQ
oQ
11 years ago

These polygamy "marriages" are always for the benefit of the man. As in polyandry (women with more than one man) wives are most of the time shared between brothers, fathers and sons, in other words, these women have multiple partners for the convenience of men.
Polyamory on the other hand includes the true consent of everyone included...at least the word describes that...not sure how true it can last.
But afterall even monogamy hardly ever last anymore.
I say get rid of mariage all together!
1i

barbara sherman
barbara sherman
11 years ago

The picture on the interface of this video speaks volumes about these conservative women's "independence" and "bravado" at speaking out - and - speaking up for themselves. Yea right, where do I sign up for one of those tailor made dresses made out of floral feed cloth, and the latest polygamist hairstyle? Give me a break, if they hadn't been brainwashed from early childhood and indoctrinated into that narrow culture there is no way they would willingly choose to live that way, unless it would mean being taken care of financially and not having to actually struggle for survival. Trading safety and security for freedom. Not a very good trade off in my opinion.

Is there any real truth in the adage that ignorance is bliss? Maybe it's not exactly bliss, but never knowing there are options in life, beautiful options that would bring joy, exploration, education, travel, the freedom to think for oneself and make one's own decisions, the real possibility of having a mutually passionate and jealous love that would of necessity exclude all others...then, ignorance, whether blissful or not, would at least prevent one from longing for such a life.

My guess is, that now, since the advent of the Internet, travel, and communications more open and free, more and more women are going to be hitting the trail and escaping fat, ugly, heavy breathing old men and their "felt needs".

Kateye70
Kateye70
11 years ago

"...It all comes down to numbers: 1 man...15 wives, and more than 130 children." (That's an average of almost 9 children per wife.)

What's appalling to me is not the polygamy as such (no problem with what *consenting* *adults* do), but how in the world is this man a real parent to more than 130 children? Or able to have a real, loving, adult relationship with 15 different women?

How can anyone have *meaningful* relationships with almost 150 different people? One can be close to a few people, but when one's time is stretched that thin, one cannot be an effective parent, teacher, lover, or even just friend.

Personally, I don't think I even have 150 actual acquaintances. There's certainly only a handful of people I interact with daily in a meaningful, loving way.

Also, the 'daddy' in this video never did explain exactly what happens to all his sons once they're grown...maybe they're not 'lost,' but how many of them can live like daddy?

As the reporter pointed out, the numbers just don't add up.

LaBetta
LaBetta
11 years ago

Mormon sounds a lot like more men, which is ironic since there are less men. I don't care how many wives these men have as long as the women are actually women and not under age girls. I can assure these men (speaking from the experience of having once been a teenage girl) that no young girl would willingly marry some old-fat-hairy dude if given any kind of REAL choice. I could be wrong, but I say offer these girls, let's say Justin Bieber up against said old dude and see which one they choose. Not forgetting the possible religious brain washing these girls may be subject to I still think they would all go to the Bieber camp. I guess what I would like to be able to say to the people of this religion is stop marrying young girls off to old dudes and the rest of the world might just say "Oh! more than one wife that's a little different but, ya know..live and let live."

Papilo_Ulysses_Ulysses
Papilo_Ulysses_Ulysses
11 years ago

It always mystifies me as to who said you could only marry one person... I kind of think as long as people over age and are happy to enter these kinds of marriages then whats the problem. As long as they all support each (including the husband) other and help each other out then whats the problem. As long as the husband doesnt touch the children then whats the problem. As long as they raise those children happy with good decent morals and values then whats the problem. As long as everyone has a choice then whats the problem.

We will always have bad people in this world, we will always have control freaks, cults, etc etc, that will never change.

If you are happy doing what you are doing then wheres the crime? If you arent happy then make the changes! As long as you arent murdering raping pilliaging and scamming others and as long as your life doesnt impinge on others in a bad way, then enjoy your lifes journey. I always think when my children are making decisions I dont agree with is "its their journey the universe has something to teach them", no one can take that from anyone. Most of all I wouldnt want anyone taking my choices from me.

Actually come to think of it I wouldnt mind more than one husband lol now that would be handy, Id keep em all busy lol

gert2222
gert2222
11 years ago

who cares, it's just creepy and greedy. leave some for the rest of us you greedy creep