Welcome back to the legislative priorities of the state that is at the bottom in just about every quality of life metric, and is rapidly losing population as people who don’t have to live in the Dollar Store Gilead are getting the hell out of Dodge.

I wrote earlier about The West Virginia Women’s Equal Rights bill, which turned out to be a nasty anti-trans people bill hiding under a noble title. And now we have a new codification of scare tactics and stupidity in an update to the state’s obscenity law

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to remove schools, museums, and public libraries from the exemption which protects these types of entities from prosecution for distribution and display to minor of an obscene matter.

Delegate Brandon Steele is the creator of this nonsense.

Here’s his perfectly rational and calm reasoning for the need to exempt those institutions from protection:

“If it’s a crime in the parking lot, it’s a crime in the building. Period. I hope the chilling effect chills the pedophiles and lets them know we’re not going to create a safe space for them. We’re not going to create a cave they can hide in. We’re going to protect our children. Regardless of what your title is at your job, you do not get to show pornography to minors.”

I don’t know about you, but when I see a wingnut freaking out over something imaginary and insisting it’s a real problem that the authorities must address, I can’t help but think they are confessing to the crime they profess to hate.

Don’t worry—even though this is a heavy-handed solution to a completely made up problem, there were local fascists at the public hearing ready to legislate their own nonsensical beliefs:

While teachers union representatives who spoke said this is not a known concern or priority among teachers and schools, one retired Kanawha County librarian, Carol Miley, said she did have issues with some of the books that were on the shelves – not so much in school libraries – but readily available as e-books in public libraries.

“I urge you to pass this bill. This is not about banning books. It’s about protecting our minor students from being abused,” Miley said. “I call it mind rape or word pornography.”

I call it “projecting my need to control others”, but that’s just me.

It’s beyond frustrating. These legislators are buffoons, and they lack the self-awareness to see it.

If you like my musical last word, check in again tomorrow for some more Sergio Mendes from me.