Louisiana Conservatives Attempt to Block Anti-Bestiality Law

You would think that conservatives would not only applaud but help push through legislation that strengthens laws prohibiting people from having sex with animals. And if you’re in Louisiana, you’d have thought wrong. Conservatives in the state are attempting to block a new anti-bestiality law that would make it illegal to traffic animals online for sexual purposes.

Their reason for opposing the bill is because they believe that it is the Democrats’ underhanded way of doing away with the state’s anti-sodomy laws. According to RNS:

“This bill was written because the far left wants to undermine our other laws that protect family and traditional values that the people of Louisiana hold dear,” said Sen. Ryan Gatti, a Republican who was one of 10 senators to vote against the bill. “That was our concern, that it most likely will be used as a Trojan horse to delete the sodomy law,” he said.

Except for one thing: anti-sodomy laws are unenforceable. In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that anti-sodomy laws violate the Fourth Amendment. For another thing, state Senator J.P. Morrell, who authored the anti-bestiality bill, “urged fellow lawmakers to vote against an amendment that sought to strike the anti-sodomy law because it would ensure his bill’s failure.”

Morrell then turned to his fellow lawmakers and said, “God forbid you vote against this bill — good luck explaining it.”

To be clear, Morrell is opposed to laws that prohibit consenting adults from engaging in sexual activities with each other. In other words, it’s true that he’s no ally to family and traditional values and that he’s not willing to submit to God’s parameters for sexuality. But, conservatives should be able to separate his failings on the one hand and, on the other hand, support a bill that is obviously in line with family and traditional values.

The Bible makes it clear that humans having sex with animals is forbidden and unholy. Senator Morrell is correct to want to strengthen his state’s laws prohibiting bestiality. In fact, in doing so, whether he intends to or not, he’s working for Biblical justice and righteousness. On the flipside, the conservatives who are opposed to the bill are working against Biblical justice and righteousness.

It seems like the conservative senators who are opposed to the bill are being contentious for the sake of contentious partisanship. As Morrell said, considering all of the facts, those senators are going to have a hard time explaining their opposition. At best, they look overly partisan. At worst, they look like they’re soft on bestiality.