Sex and the Louisiana Legislature

There is a interesting article on the "sex" related bills that our dear leaders are considering down in Baton Rouge at Sex and the Session.

A few thoughts on two of the proposals.
Morality and sexuality collide on House Concurrent Resolution 4, which urges the state to amend the Louisiana State Plumbing Code to require privacy partitions between urinals in male restrooms. Rep. Mickey James Guillory, a Democrat from Eunice, notes that his measure only seeks to implement what is already in the International Plumbing Code, but adds the primary concern is homosexual behavior, some of which is “being directed at 8-year-olds and 9-year-olds” and not just adults, he says. Guillory says the idea for the resolution came from Paul Marx, founder of KBON 101.1 FM, the “Louisiana Proud” 25,000-watt Eunice radio station. “This was a topic that was on the radio show, and people called in pretty heavy to share stories and talk about what’s going on. This is a pretty serious problem,” Guillory says. “And that station is on the Internet, so there were people calling in from all over the world.”

Goodness I guess I needto listen to KBON to see what else they are proposing. I really think this is overblown a tad. However note it is just a "Resolution" that just urges this change. Which tells me perhaps that many legislators think it is not such a serious problem to make it mandated

There are also a slew of bills that target sexual predators, online and otherwise. For instance, Sen. Nick Gautreaux, a Democrat from Abbeville, has filed legislation that would ban sex offenders from taking part in Halloween. His Senate Bill 143 would prohibit the violators from “wearing a mask, hood or disguise during holiday events and from distributing candy or other gifts on Halloween to persons under 18 years of age.”

People might be shocked by this but there are no real increases in acts by sexual predators on Halloween. I know a DA in Shreveport that handled the sex crimes division and dealt with this proposed subject on a local level when it was brought up. Basically he said it was a waste of time and if people were really worried about prevention and deterrence they would arrest teenagers that go and harass sexual offenders.

However it is a piece of feel good legislation that people will love.

Elsewhere
There are still lingering questions — even in Louisiana — about how current laws are being applied to prostitution violations. Rep. Lowell C. Hazel, a freshman Republican from Pineville, wants the Louisiana Legislature to go into greater detail regarding illegal activities between a hooker and a john. Right now, state law generally refers to “sexual intercourse,” with only brief illustrations. Hazel’s House Bill 40 would clarify that “sexual intercourse includes oral, anal or vaginal intercourse.” Hazel, a former prosecutor, says he has long been concerned about the Clintonesque definition now on the books, which is vague enough to allow some wiggle room, albeit minimal, under certain conditions. “I’m just worried that someone skilled enough could find a way around the current law,” Hazel says. “This would close that loophole.”

Anyway more at the article.