If marriage is a civil "RIGHT", why do you need a license to get married?

To keep an official record because it is against the law to marry more than one person at a time.

By this logic, gun-ownership is not a right either.

The regulations of most of our civil rights are there to be sure they are availed to ALL CITIZENS EQUALLY.

The 'basic civil right" is a "civil contract of civil marriage" is why. The parties have the "basic civil right" to enter into the "civil contract of civil marriage". That civil contract has laws that govern the conduct of the parties within that contract, since it has attached to it basic rights, privileges, benefits and responsibilities.

Actually, we do need and ID to register to vote and voting has an age limitation too. We are able to speak against the government because of our constitutions demand for free speech. But our rights to be able to smoke are indeed limited by age in most states as is the right to partake of alcohol.

When it comes to the "basic civil right" to the "civil contract of civil marriage" we are allowed to marry when we reach a certain age of consent. Within the "civil contract of civil marriage" we are bonded to the other party by the laws under our US Constitution which demands in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendments requirements of the laws to be treated of those parties in an equal and unfettered manner as dictated by those Amendments.

It really is quite simple.

Rogue. You missed the point entirely.

So Have a fun day.

Whether marriage is a "civil right", is open to interpretation, based on some amendments to the Constitution.

If you wanted it to be legally recognized. There are laws dictating who can marry legally; I don't have the "right" if I'm already married. It could be considered a civil right's issue if one is prevented from marrying based simply on race, gender, or religion.

Many Americans consider owning guns an inalienable right, but in most cases, you need to acquire a license to prove you have legal right to own one.

Because the government has their hand out for the cost of the license. Just like a fishing license, hunting license, drivers license, etc.

That still require a license fee be paid to the government. Just answering the question, IMO, as it was written...."If marriage is a civil "RIGHT", why do you need a license to get married?" My answer is "because the government wants it's cut."
If you prefer, here is what it was used for in early times: "The requirement for a marriage license was used as a mechanism to prohibit whites from marrying blacks, mulattos, Japanese, Chinese, Native Americans, Mongolians, Malays or Filipinos. By the 1920s, 38 states used the mechanism, however it is rare for the licensing process to be used in this manner today."

Do you contend that it is a privilage, and not a right to bear arms?

there are in fact no CIVIL rights. everyone has the same CONSTITUTIONAL rights. But everything else is a privilege AND tere is not any Constitutional right which is ABSOLUTE

Marriage is not a civil right. I believe in equal rights AND privileges.

It's essentially a contract with surviving benefits and rights.

Bottom line it is based on silly superstitions found in religions

just to have in on record to say you are married bygamy is a big thing now

Good point!

By this logic, owning a gun is not a right either.

It helps control venereal diseases, syphilis in particular. I believe it relates to bigamy and inbreeding as well, not to mention verification of lawful age. Which raises the question whether sodomists applying for a license should likewise be tested for AIDS et al.

Not an Either / Or False Dilemma

That civil rights overlap with contracts and other formalities in some cases does not preclude the civil right part.

Equality under the law is
For instance driving is not a civil right, and you need a license to drive HOWEVER
it would be a violation of civil rights to say only whites can get a drivers license
Plenty of things require licenses, but can you name another that you are disqualified for said license purely for who you are?

OK, so then the same would go for Driving, Fishing, Restaurant Management, etc. etc. etc.
None of which you can deny someone a license for because of sexual preference, race, gender, etc.

Your right Marriage is not a right, but equality is

But heterosexuals have the privilage, and homosexuals do not. Equality would say that the same rights and privilages are dispersed equally, without regard for sexual orientation.

Marriage is an institution. Allowing a straight couple to get married but not allowing a gay couple to get married is discrimination. No matter if you look at it as a right or a privilege.

Besides, if we really want to split hairs over rights vs privileges.....

If owning a gun is a right, then why do you have to have a license to carry one and in some states a license to own one?

You didn't and I never said you did. I simply wrote an opinion.

Because it is not a right, it is a privilege granted by states

by this logic, so is gun-ownership.

Nope, gun-ownership is a right guaranteed by the Constitution. Marriage is not mentioned

But gun-ownership also requires a license.

Only one I have is concealed carry - I can walk down the street with my weapon strapped on my hip if I chose to. Not all states require gun license.

Be that as it may, in the states that do, it is a privilage, not a right, by your logic. Also, it would be very easy to make the case that marriage falls under the heading of "liberty and the pursuit of happiness" (albeit probably the wrong direction of said pursuit)