Good essay, refuting the slogan/lie that you "cannot legislate morality", a myth I've had to refute even here on FR!
Like you, I've had trouble even understanding the refutation! The problem is that what's implied and inferred are often entirely different things. Assuredly, we can't legislate a state of, the condition of, morality any more than we can legislate honesty or chastity or cleanliness. We most certainly can (and do) legislate punishment for a breach of some aspect of morality. Or at least we used to . . .