Black lawmakers take particular offense at the corporal punishment proposal. None of the 32 black House members voted for it. State Senator John Horn, the former director of State Tourism, says the bill amounts to 'Shooting ourselves in the foot. I think that this is racist legislation. People are not gonna be deterred by this.
Supporters deny any racial intent and say steps can be taken to diffuse any racial fallout.
When asked how it might look to have a white guard beating a black youth, or whether passions would be inflamed at the sight of a black guard beating a white prisoner, Representative Cameron said, 'No problem, we'll just have a native American do all the whippings,' end quote. Because they're the ones that are living out there, they're living in a life of fear. They're living locked in their homes. This is slavery going on today, and it's time to free these people from this life of crime. People have called me from all over the United States saying, 'Hooray for Mississippi.