California lawyer seeks to put "shoot the gays" proposal on 2016 ballot

[TheIrishman]

California lawyer seeks to put "shoot the gays" proposal on 2016 ballot

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/23/california-lawyer-shoot-the-gays-proposal-2016-ballot

<< A California lawyer says he wants to legalize the execution of gay people, and there may be nothing the state's attorney general can do to stop the proposal from moving forward.

Matt McLaughlin, an attorney in Huntington Beach, California, filed paperwork to bring his proposal, which would sanction the killing of gay and lesbian residents on the basis of their sexuality, before voters in November 2016.

The initiative, named the "Sodomite Suppression Act", is awaiting further review by the office of the state attorney general, Kamala Harris, who does not appear to have the authority to block it. However, the measure is unlikely to reach voters, as the California supreme court can intervene to prevent measures that violate the state constitution from reaching the ballot.

The so-called "shoot the gays" proposal would mandate "any person who willingly touches another person of the same gender for purposes of sexual gratification be put to death by bullets to the head, or by any other convenient method". McLaughlin, a lawyer since 1998, declared in his proposal that it is "better that offenders should die rather than that all of us should be killed by God's just wrath". >>

[TheIrishman]

Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris seeks court order to stop anti-gay initiative

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-kamala-harris-antigay-initiative-20150325-story.html

<< Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris sought a court order Wednesday to keep her from having to provide an official title and summary for what she called an "utterly reprehensible" proposed ballot measure that would authorize killing gays and lesbians in California, her office announced.

The action by the state's top prosecutor was designed to stop the so-called Sodomite Suppression Act that was proposed by Huntington Beach attorney Matthew McLaughlin. The ballot initative would authorize the killing of gays and lesbians by "bullets to the head" - or by "any other convenient method".

Although considered an incredible long-shot to pass even if it ended up on a ballot, McLaughlin's move tests the limits of the state's normally liberal attitude toward placing even the most extreme ideas on a ballot if enough signatures are collected, experts say. For a fee of $200, McLaughlin submitted the act to the state attorney general's office, which must then give it a ballot-worthy name, summarize its effects and set the clock running for gathering signatures. >>

[Vod]

"better that offenders should die rather than that all of us should be killed by God's just wrath". >>

[Hamuki]

"better that offenders should die rather than that all of us should be killed by God's just wrath". >>

Im gonna steal that pic if you dont mind.
Its brilliant! xD

[galdur]

Let this insane and impossible proposal go to a state-wide referendum, it will be the most one sided vote in American history I´m sure.

[Vod]

Im gonna steal that pic if you dont mind.
Its brilliant! xD

No problem!

Gives new meaning to the phrase "I love the virgin mary!"   

[Lethn]

Let this insane and impossible proposal go to a state-wide referendum, it will be the most one sided vote in American history I´m sure.

Don't be so sure, haven't you seen the state of the courts lately? There are many assholes like this guy all over the place and they're the reason that they're trying to stop marriage altogether despite it being approved. As I've said before, religious people like this even though they claim to care about freedom of speech and expression will always attempt to subvert the law for their own ends.

[BADecker]

Even if such a measure succeeds, the only way it can be upheld in the courts regarding individual people is through the peoples' acceptance of the court decisions.

Karl Lentz shows us that if we don't hurt anyone or damage his property, there is no crime. In addition, in court, hte hurt one must get on the stand under oath or affirmation, show his hurt or damage, show how the accused did the harm or damage, prove it with witnesses and evidence.

The State can't get up on the stand, can't be hurt (except by contractual breach), and can't win except that the people let it.

[galdur]

Let this insane and impossible proposal go to a state-wide referendum, it will be the most one sided vote in American history I´m sure.

Don't be so sure, haven't you seen the state of the courts lately? There are many assholes like this guy all over the place and they're the reason that they're trying to stop marriage altogether despite it being approved. As I've said before, religious people like this even though they claim to care about freedom of speech and expression will always attempt to subvert the law for their own ends.

He is probably aware that heterosexuals can and do engage in "sodomy" too. It´s kind of interesting that he specifically refers to it between same sex couples. Perhaps there's something Freudian going on here.

[waterpile]

That lawyer is pretty fucked up to propose such idea. Gay people didn't chose to be what they're..

[Snail2]

Someone should propose a Lawyer and politician Suppression Act...

[Balthazar]

Someone should propose a Lawyer and politician Suppression Act...

Clown Suppression Act.

[jaysabi]

However, the measure is unlikely to reach voters, as the California supreme court can intervene to prevent measures that violate the state constitution from reaching the ballot.

...

Once a sponsor has paid the required fee, the attorney general is directed under California law to prepare a circulating title and 100-word summary of the initiative before sending it to the secretary of state’s office for the signature-gathering period. The proposal would then need to collect at least 356,000 valid signatures within 180 days to qualify for the ballot, which is no easy task. It’s at that point that the supreme court can step in and keep the measure from appearing on the 2016 ballot.

Here's the most important part of the article. I find it unlikely 356,000 people will put their name down in the public record as being so openly murderous. On the off chance there are that many horrible people, I would fully expect the California Supreme Court to step in and block this on the very obvious grounds that murder is unquestionably unconstitutional.

Lara, along with members of the legislature’s LGBT caucus, filed a formal complaint with the state bar against McLaughlin on the grounds that attorneys are supposed to demonstrate “good moral character”.

But some good may come out of this in that this attorney is disbarred. 

[SomeBoy]

He is probably aware that heterosexuals can and do engage in "sodomy" too. It´s kind of interesting that he specifically refers to it between same sex couples. Perhaps there's something Freudian going on here.

My guess is he was dumped by his boyfriend and went nuts.

Now seriously, in most western countries I know something like this would be considered hate speech or incitation to violence and he would be getting jail time for apology for murder.