Sen. Sampson Statement on Proposed Measures to ‘Protect Maximum Freedom for All Individuals’

State Sen. Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott) issued the following statement in response to a March 6 Hearst Media inquiry regarding his package of legislative proposals to protect the freedom of individuals.

Of his proposals as a whole, he said, “Each of these items is a question of freedom of expression and the only proper solution in each case is protect maximum freedom for all individuals, limiting it only when it conflicts with another individual’s freedom. I have tried to use this principle when crafting legislation to address some of the stickier issues of today.”

The individual measures, and his related responses, are:

467 – AN ACT CONCERNING GENDER-SPECIFIC FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES IN PRIVATE BUSINESSES

“The legislation acknowledges that some individuals identify with different genders. That much is understood. This bill is to restore the right of an individual business to determine their policies regarding gender-specific access to facilities and activities in their establishments. This is vital for protecting the rights of business owners and customers alike. Private businesses should have the freedom to set their own policies and regulations, and customers should be able to choose whether or not to patronize these businesses based on their own personal beliefs and preferences. This principle goes both ways. I believe that private entities, regardless of the business’s philosophy, have the right to operate as they see fit under the law.”

544 – AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF A NONBINARY MARKER ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES

“This legislation is intended only to reverse a law passed several years ago that would allow individuals to change their indicated sex on their birth certificate later in life. In my opinion, that policy was offered and passed only to cater to political interests, and not because it was good or sensible policy.

“Individuals should certainly have a right to identify themselves as they like. As in the first instance, the rub comes when you demand other free citizens with their own opinions to have to acknowledge those terms. If we are completely objective, as we should be, in the crafting of laws that govern our whole society, then we must acknowledge that science and chromosomes are the ultimate determinant of what sex and individual is. That objective identification is necessary for practical purpose on identifying government documents.”

468–AN ACT CONCERNING CIVIL IMMUNITY FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SANCTIONING BODIES OF PRIVATE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS

“This measure reflects the right of these organizations to adopt their own policies and establish their own rules for athletic competitions. Sanctioning bodies should be able to establish parameters based on biological sex or they may choose to recognize how people identify. That is their choice. After all, it is their organization. They should have the power to govern themselves and determine their own rules. This proposal would simply protect them from civil liability for exercising their own freedom to make their own policies.”