New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has conditionally vetoed legislation that would have established an absolute bar to marriage for anyone under the age of 18, instead proposing tiered restrictions based on age.

Christie issued his veto to the bill, A-3091, on Thursday, saying the ban would be too draconian, out of conformity with standard practices throughout the rest of the country, and run counter to some religious customs.

Advocates of the ban argued before legislative committees earlier this year that at least 170,000 children nationwide between 2000 and 2010 were forced into arranged marriages—primarily between younger girls and older men—and that many of the relationships involved physical and mental abuse.