Legislation that regulates sexually-oriented businesses and adds restrictions to abortion shows respect for women, Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O'Fallon says in her latest report:
Every session there is at least one bad bill that passes, and I drive home feeling like a volley ball player right after someone spiked the ball over the net. However, this year we had two great accomplishments that will benefit women in our state: one is a pro-life bill and the other a pro-decency bill. When you think about it, both have a common thread: treating women with the dignity.
Ever since I was on the O’Fallon board of Aldermen I have had an interest in protecting our community from unscrupulous businesses seeking to make a profit off of shady practices that hurt our families, depreciate our property values and increase crime. When we had a “smut-promoting” business come to our city, I began studying how we could curtail this industry. After significant grassroots support and about six months of public debate over the issue, the new city ordinance passed with a 5-3 vote and is still in effect today. Just having this on the books is a steel girder in making O’Fallon one of the nicest places to live. However, even in the midst of this odyssey, I knew we were relying heavily on whatever help the state would allow. Now that I am in my last session in the Missouri House, seeing the passage of this bill that I co-sponsored is one of my greatest accomplishments. Even if you like sexually oriented businesses, I don’t know anyone who wants one right next to their home or business.
Last I checked all the representatives were either Republicans or Democrats. Imagine my surprise when all those who were against the bill suddenly turned into Libertarians! The Republican Party has historically been the party that supported morality, decency, promoted family strengthening policies and fought slavery.
The sexually oriented business industry is another type of slavery. Slavery was rooted in the belief that some people are commodities to be used, not human beings made in the image of God to be respected. This industry exploits women by creating and legitimizing an industry that encourages the degradation of women. The men who patronize this industry do not love and honor these women. They are using them and abusing them. This is degrading to everybody. The same legislators who are against abortion and prostitution should be against this for the same reasons. This hurts all of us.
A few years ago my family went on a vacation. My husband was tired and asked me to drive while he took a nap. When the gas tank was getting low, I pulled off the highway in Fort Wayne, Indiana and noticed that the gas station was next to a sexually oriented business. When I took into account our surroundings, I pulled back onto the highway and decided to buy my gas elsewhere rather than to support a city that encourages sexual perversion. With all the focus on relieving our budget shortfall, why would we want to harm our tourism industry by making it easier for these types of businesses that are tarnishing our public image?
We ought to consider our perception of women. Having women compromise their dignity is harmful to our gender. Women deserve to be treated with respect. Women are human beings and should not be used like playthings or animals. We must consider the message sent to all the women in Missouri when siding with an industry where women are harmed far more than men. When the legislators vote to protect us, it elevates our entire state.
Clearly Ms. Davis hates freedom. Perhaps she should move somewhere where freedom is treated with the lack of respect she seems to think it is due.
ReplyDeleteCynthia Davis, some of us were born at night, but we weren't born last night.
ReplyDeletePretending to hold our hands when we make the decision to terminate a pregnancy when it's nothing but transparent intimidation is an insult.
Many of us are smarter than you. Hold on to your own "dignity" and go away now.
-paintedpine