Mississippi Passes Religious Freedom Law

[JamesSavik]

Gov. Bryant signs religious-practices bill

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill Thursday that supporters say will assure unfettered practice of religion without government interference but that opponents worry could lead to state-sanctioned discrimination against gays and lesbians.

The bill, called the Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act, will become law July 1. It also will add "In God We Trust" to the state seal.

An early version of the bill, considered weeks ago, was similar to one Arizona's Republican governor, Jan Brewer, vetoed after business groups said it could hurt that state's economy. Supporters say the final Mississippi bill bears little resemblance to the failed Arizona measure.

Outside the state Capitol on Thursday, more than 75 gay-rights supporters protested against the bill. Jeff White of Waveland, a founder of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Lesbian and Gay Community Center, said as someone who is gay and Jewish, he worries such a new law could make him more vulnerable to unfair treatment.

"It's the first time in my life that I've actually considered moving out of Mississippi," said White, 32. "It made me physically ill the past few days, realizing what they're trying to do."

Bryant signed the measure within hours of receiving it Thursday, during a private ceremony. The bill says government cannot put a substantial burden on the practice of religion. Though the bill is vaguely worded, supporters said an example of would be a zoning law to limit the location of a church, mosque or synagogue but not limiting the location of a secular business.

The small signing ceremony was attended by a few elected officials, lobbyists for the state's influential Southern Baptist Convention and Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council. The council, a conservative Washington-based group, has pushed states to enact laws that mirror the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act that President Bill Clinton signed in 1993.

Perkins said Mississippi becomes the 19th state to enact its own religious-practices law since 1996.

"Those who understand the importance and cherish the historic understanding of religious freedom are grateful for leaders who respond to fact and not fictitious claims of those who are trying to quarantine faith within the walls of our churches or homes," Perkins said in a statement.

http://www.clarionledger.com/comments/article/20140403/NEWS010504/304030023/Gov-Bryant-signs-religious-practices-bill

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My comment to the local paper:

Whenever you pass a law like this, you have to be mindful of the law of unintended consequences.

Prayer in the schools and the right to discriminate based on your own majority religion seem all well and good.

This WILL turn around and bite us as the country is flooded by Muslim immigration and they avail themselves of these laws.

15 or 20 years down the line your school children will be learning about the 5 pillars of Islam, celebrating Ramadan and pork will be banned from cafeterias. You may find yourself turned away from businesses because you refuse to submit to Sharia law.

Congratulations- our brilliant leaders have just created the legal framework for cultural suicide. The consequences of their grandstanding for bigotry will fall on our children

-James Savik

[Cole Parker]

I love that, James. You're absolutely right -- they pass these laws looking to promote a single idea, and the consequences mushroom in all directions.

C

[DesDownunder]

What Cole said.

James, I'd be surprised if your comment to the local paper is printed.

[The Pecman]

I love it when new laws with the word "Freedom" in the title are really anything but...

[Chris James]

I understand the next bill up for consideration in the state is the name change to Jesusissippi. Considering how poor the state is I hope they start saving their pennies because the legal challenges to this law are going to become quite expensive.

[Cole Parker]

And federal laws of antidiscrimination still apply. It's more show than anything.

C

[Steven Adamson]

They put 'In God We Trust' all over the federal money in the fifities because of the fight against godless commies.

That worked so well that 'atheists/no-religion' is the fastest growing segment of the US population now.

These laws are the last gasps of a terrified group of people who are stuck in an old world view and will largely be of no consequence. Freedom's been moving through Mississippi for 200 years. It's not always been fast, but it's also never been reversed.

[JamesSavik]

What Cole said.

James, I'd be surprised if your comment to the local paper is printed.

It did show up in the paper today!

I grant that it made some of the very people most in favor of those laws slap their foreheads and say DOH!

[DesDownunder]

No doubt James, but congratulations on your comment being published. Every exposure to comments, such as yours, is a contribution to rational thought.

[JamesSavik]

[colinian]

I wonder what the feedback to your letter from others who write to the editors of your newspaper is going to be like.

Colin