Some Alabama lawmakers want the Ten Commandments displayed in schools. A pre-filed bill would require schools to display the Ten Commandments in common areas.
社区黑料 spoke with State Rep. Mark Gidley on Friday. He says this bill, HB 178, isn鈥檛 about forcing beliefs on anyone but about restoring things to how they used to be. Others disagree.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not like we鈥檙e trying to force or push something. It鈥檚 simply an opportunity to return the moral compass that guided our nation for almost 200 years,鈥 said Gidley.
HB 178 follows Gov. Kay Ivey鈥檚 call in her State of the State address to include "key historical documents" - such as the Ten Commandments - in classrooms.
鈥淭his is not about forcing anybody. We live in a free country. People can make their own decisions and have the right to do so. But our form of government and the foundation of who we are were built on these principles, and it鈥檚 a part of who we are historically,鈥 Gidley added.
The bill also comes amid ongoing legal battles over religion and government鈥攕omething former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is familiar with.
鈥淚 posted a display of the Ten Commandments at the Supreme Court of Alabama, and I was removed for that action by a judicial inquiry commission,鈥 said Moore.
Moore and Gidley believe the Ten Commandments deserve a place in schools.
But others, like State Rep. Laura Hall, say it鈥檚 unnecessary.
鈥淚 just think we have so many issues to deal with. I don鈥檛 know that this is something I see as necessary. We've gone down this path before鈥攖his isn鈥檛 the first time. I just don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 needed,鈥 Hall said.
Gidley clarifies the commandments won鈥檛 be in every classroom. Instead, local school boards will decide where and how they鈥檙e displayed, as long as they鈥檙e placed in a public space like a library or hallway and measure at least 11 by 14 inches.
He also says the cost won鈥檛 fall on schools.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no fiscal responsibility for the school itself. These are to be paid for with private donations, so this will not create any financial burden on any school system,鈥 Gidley explained.
The bill also allows school boards to display other historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Mayflower Compact, and the Magna Carta.
鈥淧eople want America鈥檚 blessings, they want America鈥檚 prosperity, they want America鈥檚 freedoms, but they don鈥檛 always want the things that make America this great country. And you can鈥檛 have both,鈥 Gidley said.
The next step is for the bill to go before the education policy committee.
Gidley says that won鈥檛 happen within the next week, but he urges people to keep an eye on it.
Legal battles are likely to follow.
