NEW ORLEANS — It’s a bill moving through the state legislature - with bipartisan support - filed by Representative Delisha Boyd of New Orleans.
The original bill would have required vasectomies, but it was amended to leave it up to a judge.
HB166 now says, in part: “In addition to any other penalties provided by law, any person who is convicted of a sex offense… may be subject to a vasectomy procedure.”
Let’s take you to the committee hearing. There was some opposition and questioning of constitutionality, including from Bruce Reilly, the Deputy Director of VOTE.
“I’m not standing up here in support of someone who done something really heinous,” he testified at the committee hearing. “I’m standing up here saying, to what end are we going to physically impact people’s bodies in terms of punishment? You know, are we going to start chopping off the hands of thieves?”
Representative Vincent Cox, of Gretna, said, “I just wonder about the constitutionality of targeting one gender here.”
But Louisiana’s near-absolute abortion ban exclusively targets women. And current law leaves them no exceptions for rape or incest.
“I find it very hypocritical that we desire to preserve men, however we love to regulate women and women’s bodies,” said Representative Joy Walters in the hearing.
In Louisiana, chemical castration of some sex offenders is already legal. There’s another bill on the table – SB371 - that would allow for *surgical castration of offenders when the victim is younger than 13.
“Men are sensitive about certain things and I hope that this is a deterrent,” said Representative Delisha Boyd about her bill.
Boy’s bill passed without opposition and the Louisiana House will take a look for closer debate.
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