Sen. Creighton: Castrate rapists, throw in prison for 'a very long time'

Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, answers question from Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, during a discussion of Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 25 during their regular session, Monday, March 20, 2017. The bill would prevent people from suing their doctor if their baby was born with a disability. Abortion rights supporters say this would allow doctors to lie to pregnant women about whether their unborn baby has a disability. Creighton is the author of the bill. less Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, answers question from Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, during a discussion of Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 25 during their regular session, Monday, March 20, 2017. The ... more Photo: JERRY LARA Photo: JERRY LARA Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Sen. Creighton: Castrate rapists, throw in prison for 'a very long time' 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — An emotional debate on abortion insurance took an unexpected turn into crime and punishment Wednesday in the Texas Senate.

State Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Conroe Republican, was debating an amendment to his bill that would prohibit insurance coverage for elective abortions. The amendment dealt with victims of rape.

Creighton, who had spent two hours turning aside amendments from Democrats that were designed to allow for exceptions, bristled at any suggestion that me did not sympathize with victims.

Rapists "should be castrated and thrown in prison for a very long time," he responded, before urging that yet another amendment to his bill should be turned aside.

It was.

No vote was taken on the castration idea, which was proposed by lawmakers during the late 1980s for sex predators, but was never passed due to issues over whether it was a legally viable policy.