Missouri senator introduces measure on `hotel sex bash' in St. Louis County

St Louis Post-Dispatch ^

[cardinal4]

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- As promised, a state senator on Tuesday called for an investigation into whether an upcoming sex workshop on bondage, domination and sadomasochism is legal and safe.

The resolution by Sen. John Loudon, R-Ballwin, calls for the state health department and attorney general to investigate the safety and legality of such events.

[cardinal4]

A rehash of an earlier post. I think the idea of a sex workshop like this is probably immoral, but the idea of a government trying to regulate morality has problems,too. Remember the Volstead act?

[FreedominJesusChrist]

The government can regulate obscenity.

[cardinal4]

More evidence of the decline of Western Civilization,and the governments attempt to forstall it legislatively.

[cardinal4]

I agree the workshop is obscene,but leave it to the people to choose what should be regulated based on Morality.Based on Boycotts,etc. Im pointing out the problems created by attempting to legislate based one's view of whats right and wrong. I havent completely lost faith in society yet.I think they will know whats right and wrong and make choices not to participate,endorse,support things they dont agree with.

[Dave S]

I agree. The state of Missouri has enough problems right now that going after this "Beat Me in St. Louis" is a ridiculous waste of time and resources.

Loudon ought to quit giving it free publicity. Maybe if he was a little more focused he could have gotten his application in on time to run for County Executive of St. Louis county. The fool waited till the last day and then failed to file when his pregnant wife went into labor.

[jboot]

leave it to the people to choose what should be regulated based on Morality

This is a recipe for anarchy if there ever was one. I am sure that many muderers consider killing to be a moral act. If we leave it "up to them", we will be in a very dangerous place indeed.

The government regulates morality all of the time. That is the purpose of things called "laws".

[MeekOneGOP]

"Beat Me in St. Louis". LOL!

[FreeTally]

The resolution also condemns the Howard Johnson hotel chain for allowing the event to be held at a St. Louis facility.

Ooooohhhh, scary. Tax money at work. Thanks, you idiots.

Bottom line: Howard Johnson's wants to allow it. Government could not convince them not too. Government tries to find anything in the (specious)law to say they can't, and then spends money to "pass a resolution" condemning a private property owner. Just another example of government out of control.

[cardinal4]

I think you are misunderstanding what Im saying.S&M is not illegal,what you want to do in private is noones buisness.But if they want to make it public,I believe society is capable of choosing to patronize someone or thing based on ones own personal convictions,not a legislators moral point of view. Im not talking about things already illegal like murder.

[workamania]

To all you people that say that the government shouldn't legislate morals, every law they pass is based on morals. Think about it.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Government legislates morality all the time.

[billbears]

Are you suggesting the states don't have the right to legislate morality within their borders? The Volstead Act or Prohibition was at the federal level, this is at the state level. Well within his Constitutional grounds to do so and I for one applaud him for doing it

[cardinal4]

Heres an example of what Im saying; Gay groups think its immoral to discriminate against them because of their sexual preference,right? What if one these groups was able to enact legislation against people,who for moral reasons, dont feel homosexuality is a good thing? Say,like the Boy Scouts? How do you explain to your son he cant go to the Jamboree because the government doesnt agree with BSA's stance on Sodomy?

[Phantom Lord]

Every law? Every Law?

[KC_Conspirator]

More state intrigue.

[moderation_is_not_a_bad_thing]

To all you people that say that the government shouldn't legislate morals, every law they pass is based on morals. Think about it.

Actually, I think laws should be based on protecting rights and not imposing morality. Think about it; you could say that killing someone is immoral and get into all sorts of arguments about self-defense, the death penalty, abortion, etc., or you can just say that a person has a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that killing them violates that right.

The bottom line is that gov't should not be intrusive and tell us how to live, but should be there to protect our rights only. If consenting adults are into whatever sexual antics turn them on, it's only my business if it violates my rights, which in this case is not an issue.

[cardinal4]

Cmon,people,I find this workshop as abhorrent as you do;but that is based on upbringing and conviction,not some state legslators opinion.If we cant decide whats right or wrong on our own,and Im talking moral issues here,not felonies,we're already doomed. I cant believe the opposition Im getting over this!

[jboot]

S&M is not illegal,what you want to do in private is noones buisness

I do understand what you are saying. Yet many things that are done in private are already illegal because of their negative impact on the individual and on society. You can't operate a bomb factory, even if you aren't selling your product and are only using it for your own personal enjoyment. The same goes for a meth lab. Or, much more appropriately in this case, a bawdy house. A sex convention is little more than a temporary brothel. I am sure that there are existing laws against this sort of activity in the jurisdiction in question. They should be enforced.

[Phantom Lord]

You are free to boycott any organization or business for any reason you want. You are free to attend or not attend any gathering or convention that you please.

But this convention is none of the legislatures business since it is occuring on PRIVATE property. If they were trying to rent out government property for the convention, then the legislature would then have at least a minimal right to determine who can and who can not use the facilities.