Posted on 05/24/2012 7:39:16 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Senate approves bill striking word 'lunatic' from federal law By Pete Kasperowicz - 05/23/12 11:33 PM ET
The Senate on Wednesday quickly approved legislation that would remove the word "lunatic" everywhere it appears in the federal code.
The Senate approved S. 2367 by unanimous consent, giving the House a chance to act if it wishes, although no House member has introduced a similar bill.
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) introduced the bill back in late April with Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). Conrad said the bill was the result of a conversation with a constituent, who said current law casts a stigma on people with mental disabilities. "Sen. Crapo and I agree that federal law should reflect the 21st-century understanding of mental illness and disease, and that the continued use of this pejorative term has no place in the U.S. Code," Conrad said in April.
The word "lunatic" appears in the U.S. Code in Title 1, Chapter 1, which covers rules of construction. Chapter 1 holds that when determining the meaning of any law, "the words 'insane' and 'insane person' and 'lunatic' shall include every idiot, lunatic, insane person, and person non compos mentis."
According to Conrad's bill, it also appears in laws related to banking that deal with the authority to take receivership of estates.
In April, several health groups supported Conrad's decision to introduce the bill.
That's still insensitive.
I suggest "DRA," for Differently Rationally Abled.
“Exaggerated sensitiveness is an expression of the feeling of inferiority.” Alfred Adler
Interesting. The scene from “Back to the Future” popped into my my mind where Marty McFly is holding the picture of his brother and sister and they are starting to fade out. So, will removing “lunatic” be like changing the future in the movie resulting in eliminating/fading themselves out from reality? Seeing how most of them probably qualify as lunatics of sorts...
That's crazy talk!
Terrorists and lunatics no longer exist, the world is safe now.
“Terrorists and lunatics no longer exist...”
Only if disaster were to strike the Capitol Building during a Joint Session might that become possible.
The stuff of dreams..... ;>)
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