Do "Morals" make good laws?

Question

It's a simple question, but I expect some complicated answers...

Answer 1

There are some things that are immoral but not illegal, and I think the law, while it has room for improvement, more or less has it right in the things they interfere in and the things they don't. I have the human right to make my own good, or according to some people, bad choices based on what I think is right. There has to be room for people to make up thier own minds about those areas of morality where people just don't agree.

Answer 2

One example are the ridiculous laws concerning sex and teens. People are so morally correct and there are no ends to the evils of teens having sex. It is so very morally correct to implement laws that put teens in jail for many years if they have had sex with persons only a few years younger than themselves. In addition to that punishment they will be put on a sexual offenders list FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, which means that they practically can`t live anywhere. Morals don`t necessarily make good laws. In this case it makes very bad laws.

Answer 3

The basis behind every law is reflected by the moral values of the society that created them. Good morals create good laws, for example, it's immoral to steal, hurt people or murder. Bad morals create punishments that are beyond the crimes committed, for example stoning a woman for adultery.

Answer 4

No, because in Western society we don't legislate morals but public safety and national security. Other than that, the government has no business in our affairs on the private level. At least it should be that way. Morals and customs are viewed as the same in non-Western societies and so there is a desire to legislate them, since often, people view religious tradition as the basis of law. We are backtracking by allowing Jewish, Islamic and other forms of religious law to be used in our courts, whether civil, liturgical or clerical. It goes against peace, progress, prosperity, secularism and direct democracy. It violates the bases of civil and criminal law.

Answer 5

They make a good bases for laws. Morals alone can't be applied to all laws, especially in respect to some laws dealing with civil freedoms.

Answer 6

It is according to who's morals you are speaking of....

There are some people who I vehemently disagree with, who consider themselves very moral. Their morality says...it is immoral to draw any lines...to not say all definitions of marriage is valid...that to put any restraints on someones opinion is wrong...

Well, my morality says, there are some lines that should not be crossed....that not everyone who chooses to call themselves "married" should be allowed to do so legally....that some speech is hateful...and although you have the right to do it....you should have the common decency to refrain from it..

my morality says, you should respect the law....your elders....and our President...not always agree...but disagree respectfully...not obscenely

Answer 7

The thing is, not everyone has the same moral compasses so there is too much room for debate. Laws are debatable but not easily changed. Hmmmm, that's the only way I can explain it.

Answer 8

Moral things like you should not steal, should not lie, should not sleep with your neighbors wife, should not kill, etc. Those are examples of good moral laws. What other types of laws are you asking about?

Answer 9

Morality is difficult to regulate in society by creating laws.

Answer 10

You have to understand that we are born with morality. It becomes corrupted when you let holy books decide our morals for us. The only morally good laws are the ones we use reason to come up with. No more than that are needed.