Friday, February 20, 2004
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Friday, February 20, 2004 |
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10 Commandments legislation introduced By JOHN THOMPSON and By J. FRANK LYNCH Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Sharpsburg) introduced legislation this week that would allow the 10 Commandments to be placed in local and state government offices. The legislation would also allow the Declaration of Independence and Mayflower Compact to be posted in the offices because of their historic impact. In a press release outlining his position on the issue, Westmoreland said America is a nation founded on religious principles. “The 10 Commandments is a vital part of that living legacy — a legacy whose influence can be seen in documents such as the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence,” he said. Westmoreland said 70 percent of the people support placement of the 10 Commandments in public buildings, according to recent surveys. Under Westmoreland’s bill, the three documents — the Ten Commandments, the Mayflower Compact and Declaration of Independence, would be considered official state-sanctioned icons, like the Georgia flag or state seal, and would be held by the Secretary of State’s office. Because of that status, said Westmoreland, the state Attorney General would be required to defend any challenge to the display. An official prototype of the display is in the works. Any goverment or jurisdiction that wants to display the documents would obtain them from the state. Westmoreland said the current legislation would put the state, not local governments, in the position of defending the inevitable court challenge. “This bill is a critical first step in the process of fighting judicial activism. It provides a vehicle for discussion and ultimately all members of the General Assembly should be allowed to decide for themselves whether or not they believe it is important to protect local government’s right to display these historical documents. It’s time to make our voice heard in a way that ensures success,” he said. Recent challenges to displays of the Commandments in public places have included Barrow, Franklin, Habersham and Jackson counties all in Northeast Georgia. The conservative lobby group Southeast Legal Foundation helped draft the bill, Westmoreland said. “It’s not a perfect bill,” he admitted Wednesday. “It’s basically a reminder of the Founding Fathers and the documents they used when founding this country.” Westmoreland recalled a speech Sen. Zell Miller gave to both houses of the legislature during his final term as governor, in which he declared, “This nation was founded on a moral law” that’s worth defending. “There have been so many attacks on the institution of family and faith,” said Westmoreland.
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