A Democratic senator from Kentucky finds themselves on the receiving end of withering criticism today after suggesting that pedophiles could be dissuaded from engaging in child abuse if it remains permissible for them to possess sex dolls resembling minors
During a committee hearing last week in Frankfort, Bluegrass State lawmakers discussed House Bill 207, which aims to outlaw the possession of said dolls.
The bill from Rep. Stephanie Dietz (R-Edgewood) would make it a felony to possess, import or promote silicone dolls resembling minors. Offenders would receive sentences of between one to 10 years. It would also criminalize the distribution of computer-generated images of child abuse.
State Senator Karen Berg (D-Louisville) offered an unexpected defense of sexual predators during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Berg began by saying that she was “completely unfamiliar” with the hearing's subject matter until the night before when she reluctantly conducted an internet search. The Lexington Herald-Leader explained how the comments resulted in nationwide attention and condemnation:
But Berg raised a point that drew sharp objections, in suggesting that keeping child sex dolls legal may benefit pedophiles and decrease their likelihood to abuse children: “… for people who are attracted to minors, these dolls actually decrease their proclivity to go out and attack children. That it actually gives them a release that makes them less likely to go outside of their home,” Berg said.
Jeremy Murrell, deputy commissioner for Counter Exploitation under Attorney General Russell Coleman, said in his line of work, he has intercepted many of these dolls.
“When you come across one of these child sex dolls, there is no doubt why it was created and what it's used for,” he told senators.
But under current Kentucky law, the mere existence of one of these dolls does not give law enforcement probable cause to investigate further. This bill would change that.
“The limited amount of research that's done on these dolls, guys, suggests that they actually – for people who are attracted to minors – that these dolls actually decrease their proclivity to go out and attack children,” Berg told her visibly shocked and disgusted colleagues.
Berg referred to the studies as “conclusive” despite their lack of comprehensiveness.
She promptly realized her error and reversed course by voting in favor of the legislation. The rest of the committee unanimously did the same.
The Louisville Democrat has issued a statement to provide further explanation on her previous remarks.
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