Kentucky will have achieved a new low if our state legislature passes — or even considers — a bill pre-filed by Rep. C. Wesley Morgan, R-Madison County.

In any other universe it would seem insane that a bill would contain language saying motorists “may not be held criminally or civilly liable for causing injury or death to a person” who is blocking traffic during an unpermitted protest. Meanwhile, the bill states, in said protest, anyone who impedes the flow of traffic is liable to a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail.

Is the driver supposed to stop, check with someone about a permit and if he finds the protesters have none, proceed, without fear of prosecution, to clear the street with his vehicle?

We certainly don’t encourage protesters to break the law, but to even entertain the notion that it’s OK to hit — even kill — them with impunity if they slow a vehicle on its way to wherever, is just insane. Or, as Rep. Kelly Flood, D-Lexington, said, “It’s absolutely immoral.”

Flood added: “. and we all know it.” However, apparently, we don’t, or the gentleman from Madison County wouldn’t have put pen to paper — or fingers to keyboard — to execute such a thing as this ridiculous bill.

It seems, too, that legislators in at least a half-dozen other states filed so-called “right-to-drive” bills with a similar intent in mind: to protect motorists from prosecution if protesters happen to inconvenience them on their rounds. As testimony to some remaining sanity, none has become law.

In a person vs. vehicle scenario, the one that weighs a couple of tons always wins!

If this bill gets passed, we need to redouble our soul-searching and the words, likely espoused by the penner of thing, to “love thy neighbor as thyself” . even if you don’t agree with him.

The State Journal of Frankfort