On September 30, 2022 a couple were arrested at Cedar Point for charges of "public indecency" for engaging in a sexual act in public as they were waiting to enter a haunted house, the Fairground Freakshow. A 17-year girl waiting in line capture the incident on video.
Do such sexual acts cause harm to anyone? If not, should such actions be illegal?
On March 2, 2023 Bill Lee, Governor of Tennessee, signed a bill banning drag shows in public spaces, a law that more than likely will force drag shows to go underground in the state. Other states are also considering similar measures. In arguing for the justification for this law, State Rep. Jack Johnson, a Republican and co-sponsor of the bill claimed: "We're protecting kids and families and parents who want to be able to take their kids to public places. We're not attacking anyone or targeting anyone."
Is this law justified according to Mill's views -- or any other view we have examined? Examine at least one justification for legal coercion and argue whether this law is justified under that principle.
According to a new study from the CDC (Center for Disease Control), the United States is experiencing a surge in alcoholic-related deaths (both direct deaths such as cirrhosis of the liver and indirect deaths such as from accidents). The study shows a 29% increase in alcholic deaths from 2016-2021 that culminated in 178, 307 deaths in 20201 (approximately 500 a day). This number is about 70, 000 more than from drug overdoses that same year (according to NIDA, the National Institue on Drug Abuse).
Faced with these sobering statistices, Keith Humphreys, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Studies at Stanford University (and a PBS contributor) argues the government needs to make alcohol more expensive. In particular he argues for increasing the tax on alcohol and indexing it to the cost of living so it doesn't become cheaper over time.
Is Prof. Humphreys correct? Is a sin tax on alcoholo even justified? What would Mill -- or Dworkin say about all this?
Two years ago (2022) Gov. DeWine signed Senate Bill 215 into law. The law permits anyone 21 years or older in Ohio to legally possess a handgun to be carried and concealed without a license or firearms training. The bill would also reduce penalties if a gun owner does not properly notify law enforcement that they have a firearm in their possession.
