Thursday, the Alabama House of Representative passed legislation allowing the Ten Commandments to be displayed in government buildings, including schools, as part of a historical display.
Senate Bill 181 was as sponsored by state Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville.
SB181 was carried on the floor of the House by State Representative Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs.
Mooney said that the Ten Commandments would have to be part of a historical display with other exhibits.
State Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, said on social media, “With all the violence we have been seeing recently in our schools I think this bill is a positive one. Here is the vote tally for the Ten Commandments bill which restates rulings already decided by our Unites States Supreme Court. The display is legal in a historical context with other historical articles.”
State Representative Barbara Boyd, D-Anniston, charged that Republicans just wanted to bring back Roy Moore’s Ten Commandments monument out of storage.
Mooney denied that allegation.
State Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, said that he believed that the state would be sued and would be forced to spend money defending this legislation.
State Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, predicted that the state would be sued and it would cost money to defend the statute.
Mooney said that a private group, like Liberty Counsel, would pay for the defense.
State Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, said he looked forward to a day when people could just practice their faith without worrying about being sued.
State Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, said what good is displaying the Ten Commandments if you don’t put them into practice.
The bill is a constitutional amendment, thus the voters have to decide in a referendum whether to pass this into law or not.
Black suggested that the Republican super majority was putting this amendment on the ballot for political reasons.
SB181 passed on a 69-18 vote.
The bill has already passed the Senate. It now goes to the voters in November.
