Magna Carta News
Friday, June 27, 2003
Oklahoma House of Representatives
June 26, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: State Rep. Bill Graves
Capitol: (405) 557-7348
Oklahoma City: (405) 235-5811
OKLAHOMA CITY -- State Rep. Bill Graves condemned Thursday's U.S.
Supreme Court decision that overturned Texas' anti-sodomy statute as an
unconstitutional violation of privacy. The ruling "makes a mockery of
morality and constitutional law," the Oklahoma City Republican declared.
"The decision elevates sodomy, which has always been viewed as a
sexual perversion, to the status of a constitutional right," Graves
said. "At the same time," he continued, "the Court has utilized the
so-called right of privacy as it did in 'Roe v. Wade', the abortion
case, to create a new constitutional right."
A right to privacy "is not expressly mentioned in the
Constitution," Graves noted, "but the Court found it in penumbras,
formed by emanations from the Bill of Rights."
Thursday's 6-3 ruling, Graves said, "Is once again proof that we no
longer live in a constitutional republic. We are instead subject to the
whims and personal preferences of unelected judges who ignore the
Constitution they are sworn to uphold."
Oklahoma's own anti-subject sodomy statute characterizes sodomy as
"the detestable and abominable crime against nature," Graves related.
Thursday's ruling reversed a 1986 high court ruling that upheld state
anti-sodomy laws.
The Supreme Court's ruling "is itself an abomination," Graves
asserted. "The Court has held that the Texas statute violates the right
of privacy despite the fact that it held just 17 years ago that
Georgia's anti-sodomy statute did not violate the right of privacy.
"What perversion," Graves wondered, "will be upheld next as being a
part of the right of privacy? Will we now have incest, pedophilia and
other such activities declared to be constitutional rights if performed
in the privacy of one's home?"
Graves said Congress should, in accordance with Article 3 of the
U.S. Constitution, strip the Supreme Court of its power to make rulings
like it did in the Texas sodomy case. He said Congress, by majority
vote, could remove the power of federal courts to consider such cases.
"It is high time the states be allowed to govern themselves without the
interference of liberal, unelected judges."
-30-
June 26, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: State Rep. Bill Graves
Capitol: (405) 557-7348
Oklahoma City: (405) 235-5811
OKLAHOMA CITY -- State Rep. Bill Graves condemned Thursday's U.S.
Supreme Court decision that overturned Texas' anti-sodomy statute as an
unconstitutional violation of privacy. The ruling "makes a mockery of
morality and constitutional law," the Oklahoma City Republican declared.
"The decision elevates sodomy, which has always been viewed as a
sexual perversion, to the status of a constitutional right," Graves
said. "At the same time," he continued, "the Court has utilized the
so-called right of privacy as it did in 'Roe v. Wade', the abortion
case, to create a new constitutional right."
A right to privacy "is not expressly mentioned in the
Constitution," Graves noted, "but the Court found it in penumbras,
formed by emanations from the Bill of Rights."
Thursday's 6-3 ruling, Graves said, "Is once again proof that we no
longer live in a constitutional republic. We are instead subject to the
whims and personal preferences of unelected judges who ignore the
Constitution they are sworn to uphold."
Oklahoma's own anti-subject sodomy statute characterizes sodomy as
"the detestable and abominable crime against nature," Graves related.
Thursday's ruling reversed a 1986 high court ruling that upheld state
anti-sodomy laws.
The Supreme Court's ruling "is itself an abomination," Graves
asserted. "The Court has held that the Texas statute violates the right
of privacy despite the fact that it held just 17 years ago that
Georgia's anti-sodomy statute did not violate the right of privacy.
"What perversion," Graves wondered, "will be upheld next as being a
part of the right of privacy? Will we now have incest, pedophilia and
other such activities declared to be constitutional rights if performed
in the privacy of one's home?"
Graves said Congress should, in accordance with Article 3 of the
U.S. Constitution, strip the Supreme Court of its power to make rulings
like it did in the Texas sodomy case. He said Congress, by majority
vote, could remove the power of federal courts to consider such cases.
"It is high time the states be allowed to govern themselves without the
interference of liberal, unelected judges."
-30-
