The 10 most inhumane laws courtesy of Southern Republicans

[Janelle2002 3,865]

1. Mississippi Anti-Abortion Law 1390

When it comes to reproductive freedom, the Deep South abuses women on multiple fronts. First, Republicans and the Christian Right have plagued southern schools with failed abstinence-only sex education programs, which lead to unwanted pregnancies. Then they attack healthcare reform, thus making access to contraception more difficult. And when unwanted pregnancies occur, their solution is to restrict abortion. Mississippi Republican Gov. Phil Bryant has been quite open about his desire to make Mississippi an abortion-free state. The entire state of Mississippi has only one abortion clinic left (in Jackson), and in 2012, Bryant happily signed into law Mississippi House Bill 1390, which requires any doctor who performs abortions in that state to obtain admitting privileges in a local hospital. The goal is clear: Bryant and his Christian fundamentalist allies want to see that Jackson clinic shut down. In July, a federal appeals court ruled that Bill 1390 was unconstitutionaland a violation of Roe v. Wade.

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2. Tennessee Law SB 1391: The Tennessee Pregnancy Criminalization Law

In April, Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law a bill that allows women in that state to be prosecuted for assault if they use some type of narcotic while pregnant. But Tennessee Law SB 1391—or as the law’s critics call it, the Tennessee Pregnancy Criminalization Law—could actually have the effect of harming fetuses because it discourages pregnant women with substance abuse problems from seeking treatment. Opponents of 1391have ranged from the Drug Policy Alliance to the American Civil Liberties Union. In July, Tennessee resident Mallory Loyola, 26, became the first woman arrested under the law: two days after giving birth to her daughter, who tested positive for methamphetamine, the 26-year-old Loyola was charged with assault.

3. Bill 2566: Tennessee’s “Turn Away the Gays” Bill

Marriage licenses for same-sex couples are now being issued in around 20 states, including all the New England states and every Pacific state except Alaska. With courts striking down bans on gay marriage in many parts of the U.S., states prohibiting gay marriage will soon be a minority. Those facts are not lost on the Christian Right, which reasons that if they cannot stop gay rights from advancing in New England or the Pacific Northwest, they can fight them in the Bible Belt. In Tennessee, State Sen. Mike Bell (a Republican) sponsored Bill 2566, which would have allowed businesses to refuse to serve gay couples on religious grounds. Under 2566 (which gay activists called the Turn Away the Gays Bill), businesses that refused to serve same-sex couples would have been protected from lawsuits. The bill was withdrawn, but the fact that Bell introduced it in the first place shows how quick southern Republicans can be to pander to the Christian fundamentalist fringe.

4. Alabama and Louisiana Admitting Privileges Laws

In 2013, Alabama Republican Gov. Robert J. Bentley signed into law a bill similar to Mississippi’s Law 1390: the Alabama law states that any doctor performing abortions in that state must have admitting privileges in a local hospital. Alabama has more abortion clinics than Mississippi (five altogether), but when the ACLU filed a suit against the law, it asserted it would have the effect of forcing clinics in Mobile, Birmingham and Montgomery to close and leave only the clinics in Tuscaloosa and Huntsville open. In May, the Louisiana State Legislature passed an admitting-privileges bill of its own (which Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law into June). Planned Parenthood fears the law could result in three of Louisiana’s abortion clinics having to close.

5. North Carolina Voter ID Law

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, North Carolina was reliably Republican in presidential elections. But in 2008, Barack Obama accomplished the unthinkable: he narrowly won the state’s 15 electoral votes, and in 2012, Obama lost North Carolina to Republican candidate Mitt Romney by a mere 2%. The fact that North Carolina is now considered a battleground state in presidential elections worries the state’s Republicans, who crafted a voter ID bill that Republican Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law in 2013. The law does away with same-day voter registration, states that 16- and 17-year-olds can no longer pre-register for voting, reduces early voting from 17 to 10 days, and ends a state-sponsored voter registration drive. It is clearly designed to discourage people who are more likely to lean Democrat (younger voters, people of color, among others) from voting. The ACLU and the NAACP both filed lawsuits against the law last year, and this summer, the Justice Department sued North Carolina over the law.

6. Fetal Heartbeat Bills in Alabama and Arkansas

In Alabama, Republicans have not only supported the state’s admitting privileges law, they have also supported a bill that would outlaw abortions in that state the minute a fetal heartbeat is detected. The bill, which was passed by the Alabama House of Representatives in March, makes no exception for rape or incest. Similar fetal heartbeat bills were introduced by Republicans in Mississippi and Kentucky in 2013, and that same year, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe (a Democrat) vetoed a fetal heartbeat bill that was passed by that state’s Republican-dominated legislature. The Arkansas bill, as envisioned by Republican State Sen. Jason Rapert, was especiallydraconian: Rapert wanted to make it a Class D felony, punishable by up to six years in prison, for doctors to perform an abortion after a heartbeat was detected. So much for the Republican belief in “small, limited government.”

7. The Religious Viewpoints Anti-Discrimination Act, Tennessee

The Christian Right is very good at using language like “anti-discrimination” and “pro-civil liberties” to push a far-right fundamentalist agenda. In April, Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law Tennessee’s Religious Viewpoints Anti-Discrimination Act, which says that students in public schools can express their views in a classroom setting and organize prayer groups on campus. But Hedy Weinberg, director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, has opposed the law and argued that it “crosses the line from protecting religious freedom into creating systematic imposition of some students’ personal religious viewpoints on other students.” Gay activists fear that the law will make it easier for Christian fundamentalist groups to bully gay students in Tennessee’s public schools.

8. “Reparative Therapy” For Gays, Texas-Style

Many Texans deeply resent being called southerners: they consider themselves westerners, not part of the South. But when it comes to embracing the agenda of the Christian Right, Texas Republicans can be every bit as authoritarian as their counterparts in the Deep South. During its annual convention in June, the Texas Republican Party added some blatantly anti-gay languageto its official platform and endorsed so-called “reparative therapy” for gays. The Texas GOP now officially supports “reparative therapy and treatment for those patients seeking healing and wholeness from their homosexual lifestyle.”

9. Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act

In April of this year, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law the Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was enthusiastically supported by Family Research Council leader Tony Perkins and allows businesses to discriminate against gay couples in the name of religion. Gay activists in Mississippi have accurately characterized the law as state-sanctioned discrimination, arguing that Mississippi Republicans aren’t promoting religious freedom, they’re promoting blatant homophobia.

10. Obscene Device Laws in Alabama and Sandy Springs, Georgia

The sale of sex toys is legal in most of the U.S.: any local politician who tried to outlaw the sale of vibrators in Seattle, Philadelphia or Los Angeles would be laughed out of office. But parts of the Bible Belt still have so-called “obscene device” laws, including Alabama (where the sale of sex toys was outlawed in 1998 and Christian fundamentalists continue to defend that law). Texas had a ban on the sale of sex toys, but it was rendered unenforceable when a 5th Circuit ruling declared the law unconstitutional in 2008. In Sandy Springs, Georgia, a city ordinance has stated, in effect, that one needs a doctor’s prescription to acquire a sex toy. In May, a local woman named Melissa Davenport filed a lawsuit against the city of Sandy Springs on the grounds that the law was unconstitutional.

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/26/the_10_most_inhumane_laws_courtesy_of_southern_republicans/

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Let's hear it for those freedom loving Republicans.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Let's hear it for those freedom loving Republicans.

I'm sure we will just get some pictures that are absolutely meaningless.

[decocker 7,198]

I'm sure we will just get some pictures that are absolutely meaningless.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

:rofl:

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Looking just at the first one, the Republicans did not lose any time... The took control of the Mississippi house at the end of 2011 and within two months this bill was introduced.. Sailed through both house and was law a few months after that (before being struck down as unconstitutional) - THough it should be noted that the majority of Democrats also voted for this bill on the Senate side, I could not find party breakdown for the house (but I would guess *not* on that side)

When I read this I don't think "Those ####### Republicans!" I mean i do - but only as much as they are doing anything to please their base at the expense of anything else.. I do scream "####### religions!"

[decocker 7,198]

Looking just at the first one, the Republicans did not lose any time... The took control of the Mississippi house at the end of 2011 and within two months this bill was introduced.. Sailed through both house and was law a few months after that (before being struck down as unconstitutional) - THough it should be noted that the majority of Democrats also voted for this bill on the Senate side, I could not find party breakdown for the house (but I would guess *not* on that side)

When I read this I don't think "Those ####### Republicans!" I mean i do - but only as much as they are doing anything to please their base at the expense of anything else.. I do scream "####### religions!"

with all the real issues and problems our country is facing i find it absolutely disgusting that certain republicans stay on their knees for that very tiny sliver of the american population that still insists abortion is an imperative societal issue and not a personal matter. and they only think it is so important because of the right to life propaganda that many southern churches peddle every chance they get.

seriously, the sector that certain republicans are pandering to see nothing wrong with showing children as young as 3-4 images of aborted fetuses on the big screen. and then these little minds are told how they must save the babies, because no one else will. how manipulative is that?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Looking just at the first one, the Republicans did not lose any time... The took control of the Mississippi house at the end of 2011 and within two months this bill was introduced.. Sailed through both house and was law a few months after that (before being struck down as unconstitutional) - THough it should be noted that the majority of Democrats also voted for this bill on the Senate side, I could not find party breakdown for the house (but I would guess *not* on that side)

When I read this I don't think "Those ####### Republicans!" I mean i do - but only as much as they are doing anything to please their base at the expense of anything else.. I do scream "####### religions!"

No education on sex, no protection and they don't want them having abortions. Something has to give.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

with all the real issues and problems our country is facing i find it absolutely disgusting that certain republicans stay on their knees for that very tiny sliver of the american population that still insists abortion is an imperative societal issue and not a personal matter. and they only think it is so important because of the right to life propaganda that many southern churches peddle every chance they get.

seriously, the sector that certain republicans are pandering to see nothing wrong with showing children as young as 3-4 images of aborted fetuses on the big screen. and then these little minds are told how they must save the babies, because no one else will. how manipulative is that?

No argument here.. The religious right and the republicans pandering to them and spending time on these same issues over and over again kills me.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

No education on sex, no protection and they don't want them having abortions. Something has to give.

babies!

[Janelle2002 3,865]

with all the real issues and problems our country is facing i find it absolutely disgusting that certain republicans stay on their knees for that very tiny sliver of the american population that still insists abortion is an imperative societal issue and not a personal matter. and they only think it is so important because of the right to life propaganda that many southern churches peddle every chance they get.

seriously, the sector that certain republicans are pandering to see nothing wrong with showing children as young as 3-4 images of aborted fetuses on the big screen. and then these little minds are told how they must save the babies, because no one else will. how manipulative is that?

Exactly! If someone wants an abortion, give it to them.

Like Sara Palin and her mess. Her daughter was underage and pregnant, while Palin on stage talking about abstinence.

[decocker 7,198]

Like Sara Palin and her mess. Her daughter was underage and pregnant, while Palin on stage talking about abstinence.

the important difference with palin's daughter is that she had the full support - both emotionally and financially - of her family those first few crucial years. that makes a huge difference. i wouldn't be where i am today and neither would my son, if it hadn't been for my parents watching my son for free while i worked. not to mention the times where i was sick or really stretched thin, i had them to count on. so many young mothers have nothing of the sort. but we sure do love to chastise them in the media if they make a mistake or fail to maintain the home/work life balance incorrectly. the poor woman who left her children in the car to go to a job interview comes to mind.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

the important difference with palin's daughter is that she had the full support - both emotionally and financially - of her family those first few crucial years. that makes a huge difference. i wouldn't be where i am today and neither would my son, if it hadn't been for my parents watching my son for free while i worked. not to mention the times where i was sick or really stretched thin, i had them to count on. so many young mothers have nothing of the sort. but we sure do love to chastise them in the media if they make a mistake or fail to maintain the home/work life balance incorrectly. the poor woman who left her children in the car to go to a job interview comes to mind.

But babies having babies only happen in households with no father and a mother on welfare. How could this have happened?

[JohnR! 5,495]

To take your point one step further there are those who oppose any sort of help to any family in any way, shape or form. There is a sadistic side to many who want to see single mothers fail, and miserably so, so they can feel smug and enjoy a rush of happiness while they watch Dr. Phil form the comfort of their mobile homes.

The rationale - and I used the term loosely - is that life is sacred, but only while it's in the womb and only if the mother is contemplating terminating a pregnancy. In all other cases, you better be prepared to raise your kid alone - unless you do have support from your family - because by George I'aint paying for no stinking daycare center for no child who ain't mine. Therefore, while we listen to the bs about the sanctity of life and how we need to pass laws to deny women the right to choose, don't even think of questioning the sanctity of life when a 13-yo shoots and kills his 6-yo sibling. Not a peep. Nothing. No comments on how to keep the 2nd amendment from becoming a bigger mockery of what it already is. It also should be mentioned that the concept of sanctity of life means those who are alive and in pristine health, because we as a nation we should encourage people to buy new things and spend money on a big screen TVs at WalMart, rather than remind them they should be concerned about health insurance. And to top it all off, if you shoot someone because you felt depressed, never you mind - a lawyer will be appointed to you at no cost, but if you dare need medical care to prevent your depression in the first place, you're completely out of luck - again, it ain't none of my business.

the important difference with palin's daughter is that she had the full support - both emotionally and financially - of her family those first few crucial years. that makes a huge difference. i wouldn't be where i am today and neither would my son, if it hadn't been for my parents watching my son for free while i worked. not to mention the times where i was sick or really stretched thin, i had them to count on. so many young mothers have nothing of the sort. but we sure do love to chastise them in the media if they make a mistake or fail to maintain the home/work life balance incorrectly. the poor woman who left her children in the car to go to a job interview comes to mind.

[decocker 7,198]

To take your point one step further there are those who oppose any sort of help to any family in any way, shape or form. There is a sadistic side to many who want to see single mothers fail, and miserably so, so they can feel smug and enjoy a rush of happiness while they watch Dr. Phil form the comfort of their mobile homes.

The rationale - and I used the term loosely - is that life is sacred, but only while it's in the womb and only if the mother is contemplating terminating a pregnancy. In all other cases, you better be prepared to raise your kid alone - unless you do have support from your family - because by George I'aint paying for no stinking daycare center for no child who ain't mine. Therefore, while we listen to the bs about the sanctity of life and how we need to pass laws to deny women the right to choose, don't even think of questioning the sanctity of life when a 13-yo shoots and kills his 6-yo sibling. Not a peep. Nothing. No comments on how to keep the 2nd amendment from becoming a bigger mockery of what it already is. It also should be mentioned that the concept of sanctity of life means those who are alive and in pristine health, because we as a nation we should encourage people to buy new things and spend money on a big screen TVs at WalMart, rather than remind them they should be concerned about health insurance. And to top it all off, if you shoot someone because you felt depressed, never you mind - a lawyer will be appointed to you at no cost, but if you dare need medical care to prevent your depression in the first place, you're completely out of luck - again, it ain't none of my business.

what adds insult to injury is that they call this much needed support system "socialism".