MISSISSIPPI: Here Come The Sex Police?

Via Jackson’s ABC affiliate:

Legal experts said Wednesday that a new Mississippi religious objection law is so broad it reaches beyond gay couples to anyone who has had premarital sex. A key section of the legislation lets government and business employees refuse service based on their religious beliefs. Opponents have said that it sanctions discrimination against same-sex couples and transgender residents, but legal experts said it could also affect anyone who has had premarital sex. Critics said the measure could arm private citizens to become the sex police.

“You know it doesn’t say that they have to just have premarital sex with the person or the person they’re with, but if it’s a married couple and the fellow learns that the husband and wife had previously shacked up with somebody and had a sexual relationship with somebody, that would be protected under the section of this act,” Matt Steffey, a professor at Mississippi College School of Law, said.

Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Ed Pittman said the law will be hard to enforce. “Practically speaking, it’s not practicable. You can’t enforce it. The Constitution of the United States won’t let you enforce it, firstly. Secondly, how can you prove all this?” Pittman said.