Louisiana passes law legalizing castration

On August 1, Louisiana passed several controversial latest laws, including a groundbreaking and controversial bill that permits castration as a punishment for certain child sex crimes.

According to the Associated Press, Louisiana’s political system made it possible to pursue conservative policies have a virtually seamless path to entry into force, even in the event that they are morally or constitutionally questionable.

While several states have laws that allow chemical castration as a punishment for child rapists, Louisiana is the primary state to permit judges to impose actual castration. Although the punishment isn’t mandatory and is left to judges’ discretion, critics say the brand new law could violate constitutional protections against cruel and strange punishment.

According to Gwynneth O’Neill, a New Orleans criminal defense attorney and member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the law is “draconian.”

“It’s very confusing, besides being absolutely unprecedented and draconian and excessive,” O’Neill told NPR in July. “Surgical castration is generally considered, or has been considered, to be sort of the epitome of cruel and unusual punishment because it’s a form of physical mutilation. It’s barbaric.”

O’Neill continued: “I think whenever you have that vague terminology, you’re not going to find the most qualified people to make that decision. Practically speaking, I think it puts defenders in a very difficult position.”

He also fears that the law, just like the death penalty, will probably be applied in a racially discriminatory way.

In addition to the brand new castration law, Louisiana has passed several other controversial measures, including one which limits the variety of times an individual can fill out, witness or deliver absentee ballots. Critics are particularly concerned that the law could impose significant barriers for voters, especially among the many state’s older population.

The election of Gov. Jeff Landry allowed for the passage of anti-transgender youth laws that former Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards was in a position to keep in check along with his veto power. The laws, which Edwards had previously blocked, now they’ve turn into law under LandryOne such law prohibits teachers from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation in schools, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” policy, much like a policy pushed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Louisiana police will now have additional protection in the shape of a “buffer zone” that may allow anyone who gets inside 25 feet of an officer to pay a effective of as much as $500, 60 days in jail, or each. According to the AP, the law applies to someone who “knowingly or intentionally” approaches an officer who’s “lawfully performing his or her official duties” and who has been warned by the officer to “discontinue or retreat.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana is among the many law’s critics, arguing that the law could impact the general public’s First Amendment rights in its eagerness to guard police from being filmed. It must be noted that bystander footage is the one reason evidence of police misconduct or violence at their hands is disseminated to the general public and prompts broader discussions about how police should not being transparent with the general public about their actions.

Louisiana also joined 27 other states in passing a state law July 4 allowing people 18 and older to hold concealed firearms with no permit. New Orleans, which already had the same law but with additional restrictions, had to attend until its city ordinance expired on Aug. 1 for the state law to enter effect.

As a result, Reese Harper, director of communications for the New Orleans Police Department, issued a press release to the AP explaining the change. “The city is no longer allowed to have stricter than state laws regarding the carrying of firearms without a permit.”

The concealed carry law has been a subject of debate. Supporters of the law say Louisiana should join other Republican-led states in expanding gun laws, saying the law expands the Second Amendment right to bear arms, while opponents fear that the shortage of coaching requirements for gun owners to hold firearms, combined with more people carrying concealed firearms, said guns could lead on to more gun violence.