by Patricia Anthone, America Outloud:

“You can’t legislate morality,” we often hear people say of the endless disregard for the rights of others. This common lament can even be heard from ostensible conservatives about the callous disregard for even the most defenseless human beings that is shown by a fast-growing portion of society.     

But the assertion that we don’t legislate morality is utter poppycock, of course!   

ALL consequential morality consists of respect for the equal standing of others’ lives and rights.

The purpose of law is to provide codified defense for the equal standing of each person’s life and rights. Our nation’s framers would today and DID in 1776 argue that enforcing a practical regard for the rights of others (morality) is the ONLY LEGITIMATE pursuit of governmental force (law).