An Alabama lawmaker has proposed a bill for the 2014 legislative session that require convicted sex offenders over the age of 21 whose victims were 12 or younger to be surgically castrated.
Republican Rep. Steve Hurst’s bill would also require the offender to finance their own castration, a local television station reported.
He told Fox 10 he began pushing for tougher sex offender laws after he heard of father sexually abusing his one-year-old son.
“I know I have people that say that this is inhumane,” he said. “The way I look at this is — what is inhumane is to molest a child, especially an infant. That’s inhumane.”
Under the proposal, female sex offenders would also have to undergo surgery.
Mr. Hurst said he tried to pass the same bill last year but feels he’s secured more support this time around, Fox 10 reported.
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Texas is currently the only state with a similar law, while nine other states allow chemical castration, the station said.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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