http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2013/Bills/House/PDF/H494v0.pdf

Quote :

"SECTION 1. The North Carolina General Assembly asserts that the Constitution of the United States of America does not prohibit states or their subsidiaries from making laws respecting an establishment of religion. SECTION 2. The North Carolina General Assembly does not recognize federal court rulings which prohibit and otherwise regulate the State of North Carolina, its public schools, or any political subdivisions of the State from making laws respecting an establishment of religion. Apr 1, 2013 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly of North Carolina Session 2013 SECTION 3. This resolution is effective upon ratification"

I'm just hoping given the date that this is an April fools prank.

4/2/2013 2:24:38 PM

Its probably a knee-jerk reaction to the lawsuit filed by the ACLU.
http://www.wbtv.com/story/21609943/aclu-lawsuit-rowan-county-prayer-before-meeting-jesus-christ?page=1&N=F

The Rowan County Board of Commissioners opens almost every meeting with a prayer to Jesus, and the ACLU has filed a lawsuit to ask them to stop since it violates the rights of any nonchristians.

4/2/2013 2:37:57 PM

HOLY. SHIT.

4/2/2013 2:40:52 PM

^^ That was my initial reaction as well. But I can't exactly call it "knee jerk" considering the length of the resolution. Seems more likely this is one of those resolutions/bills that has been in draft form for a while just waiting for the right circumstances before being introduced. It's an interesting constitutional argument though, but not one that has any chance of succeeding in my opinion.

I called Rep. Ford's office and inquired about the necessity of the resolution, but they were unable to provide any information at this time and asked that I put my request in writing.

[Edited on April 2, 2013 at 2:42 PM. Reason : .....]

4/2/2013 2:42:41 PM

has this been validated yet?

4/2/2013 2:50:44 PM

What do you mean by "validated?"

4/2/2013 2:54:20 PM

i mean is this for real or a April fools joke? i see the link and read the bill but I it's hard to believe.

4/2/2013 2:56:30 PM

This is both blatant and extreme even by the standards of this General Assembly...

4/2/2013 3:05:59 PM

Yeah. I don't want to overreact or anything, but this is ridiculous and scary.

4/2/2013 3:06:57 PM

From the NC constitution:

Quote :

"Sec. 13. Religious liberty. All persons have a natural and inalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences, and no human authority shall, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience."

[Edited on April 2, 2013 at 3:14 PM. Reason : there is no way this does anything but serve as a reminder of how stupid our GA is]

4/2/2013 3:14:01 PM

wow. going to dismantle this state in a hurry.

4/2/2013 3:22:04 PM

Does anyone here even understand that there are essentially no minimum requirements [other than calendar deadlines for bills/resolutions to be entered by] for a draft bill or resolution to receive a stamp and be referred to a committee other than it must be provided to the Clerk by either a member of the House or Senate? I don't want to rain on anyone's paranoia parade, but any Representative can basically enter a bill saying anything they want - that doesn't mean it's going to get voted on by the Governor. For example, last year during the 2011/2012 Session, a total of 2,195 bills/resolutions were introduced - only a small percentage, around 15-20% make it to the Governor's desk.

[Edited on April 2, 2013 at 3:29 PM. Reason : .....]

4/2/2013 3:27:57 PM

i think the issue is that it was drafted in the first place is mind boggling

4/2/2013 3:29:41 PM

Quote :

"For example, last year during the 2011/2012 Session, a total of 2,195 bills/resolutions were introduced - only a small percentage, around 15-20% make it to the Governor's desk."

That is a shit ton of bills that made it to the governor's desk

4/2/2013 3:41:17 PM

^^^ it's an issue that someone drafted it

4/2/2013 3:59:57 PM

Quote :

"I don't want to rain on anyone's paranoia parade, but any Representative can basically enter a bill saying anything they want"

and it's a bit terrifying that we have Representatives proposing these types of bills.

4/2/2013 4:00:36 PM

Quote :

"and it's a bit terrifying that we have Representatives proposing these types of bills."

When you live in an urban center, it's easy to forget about the types of people that make up the rest of the state.

4/2/2013 4:25:13 PM

the only silver lining is we can use this as a litmus test for just how nutz individual representatives are in the GA.


- If this bill doesn't make it out of committee, or otherwise gets swept under the rug, then no biggie, I can write it off as just one or two crazies that thought it was a good idea

- If the bill does make it to debate on the floor, then it would likely split the republicans and we can begin to distinguish between the reasonable ones and the "true believers"

- If it somehow gets to Pat!'s desk, we get to see if Pat! actually has a backbone or not.

4/2/2013 4:26:36 PM

There's religion not doing any harm to our world some more! Yay!

4/2/2013 4:37:13 PM

Quote :

"When you live in an urban center, it's easy to forget about the types of people that make up the rest of the state"

It's not too easy if you read the comments on the WRAL stories, which i do (for some stupid reason). However, it's hard to believe that somehow these morons can climb the political ranks and become state representatives.

Two Co-Sponsors (both of Rowan County)
Representative Carl Ford: http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=H&nUserID=644
Representative Harry Warrenhttp://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/membersByDistrict.pl?sChamber=H&nDistrict=77

[Edited on April 2, 2013 at 4:39 PM. Reason : ]

4/2/2013 4:38:20 PM

Re: We don't know what the 14th Amendment and Incorporation are so we can do whatever the fuck we want.

4/2/2013 4:38:30 PM

I had a nagging question regarding gay marriage bans, of "how is this consistent with the First Amendment?"

So I guess it all makes sense now.

4/2/2013 4:43:16 PM

Quote :

"Does anyone here even understand that there are essentially no minimum requirements [other than calendar deadlines for bills/resolutions to be entered by] for a draft bill or resolution to receive a stamp and be referred to a committee other than it must be provided to the Clerk by either a member of the House or Senate? I don't want to rain on anyone's paranoia parade, but any Representative can basically enter a bill saying anything they want - that doesn't mean it's going to get voted on by the Governor. For example, last year during the 2011/2012 Session, a total of 2,195 bills/resolutions were introduced - only a small percentage, around 15-20% make it to the Governor's desk."

http://www.wral.com/proposal-would-allow-state-religion-in-north-carolina/12296876/

Quote :

"Eleven House Republicans have signed on to sponsor the resolution, including Majority Leader Edgar Starnes, R-Caldwell, and Budget Chair Justin Burr, R-Stanly. "

4/2/2013 11:05:05 PM

So conservatives only care about the constitution when it pertains to something they agree with. Seems legit.

4/2/2013 11:29:35 PM

*wants freedom and liberty*

*only for his own views*

4/3/2013 12:05:17 AM

SEE THERE IS NO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY UNLESS THE STATE KEEPS CHRISTIANITY FREE OF CRITICISM

4/3/2013 6:02:44 AM

^ Where in the resolution does it say that some form of Christianity would be the state religion established?

Thanks for pointing out there are now 11 House members signed on as sponsors or co-sponsors, including majority leader Starnes. Please post again when there's a companion Senate resolution with the same, or similar, language.

4/3/2013 7:22:03 AM

I guess polytheism can go fuck itself (themselves?)

4/3/2013 7:25:53 AM

Quote :

"^ Where in the resolution does it say that some form of Christianity would be the state religion established?"

You're right! Being from Rowan County they are surely Muslim.

4/3/2013 7:47:18 AM

Quote :

"When you live in an urban center, it's easy to forget about the types of people that make up the rest of the state."

This.

These bills are introduced because legislators know they can go back to bumfuck and show their ignorant constituents they "tried."

4/3/2013 7:53:22 AM

^and that's a wrap folks.

4/3/2013 8:04:53 AM

Best WRAL comment:

Welcome to Tarheelistan where Christianity is mandatory, your boobs must be covered, divorce is illegal, corporations pay no taxes, and public schools & universities are closed!

Thank you, Republican voters. It's an American Taliban dream world.

4/3/2013 8:56:25 AM

i'm surprised to see so many GOLOers up in arms over this. thought it would have overwhelming support.

4/3/2013 8:57:10 AM

Quote :

"So conservatives politicians only care about the constitution when it pertains to something they agree with. Seems legit. "

Surely even the most religious of christian conservatives can see the danger in allowing the government the power to declare Satanism the state religion.

Or for that matter, the danger in challenging the concept of incorporation so soon after having a major political victory won o n the grounds of incorporation (Heller)

[Edited on April 3, 2013 at 9:06 AM. Reason : Sdjjjsiioa]

4/3/2013 9:04:34 AM

^ But, but, we're a majority Christian nation founded on Christian values and things never ever ever ever change!

4/3/2013 11:07:47 AM

Don't care long as they claim my taxes are going down. They could ban voting for Democrats all I care.

4/3/2013 11:24:49 AM

What good are lower taxes if they ban all the vices you can spend your saved money on?

4/3/2013 12:14:03 PM

well the bill establishing the religion will mandate 30% to the church coffers, geez.

4/3/2013 12:28:53 PM

i'm giving the republicans a little more credit here than most. i think they are well-aware the bill is going absolutely nowhere, and are either trying to make some sort of statement or shift attention away from other bills they actually want pushed through.

4/3/2013 12:34:27 PM

MAYBE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE SHARIA LAW THAT FOX NEWS KEEPS TELLING ME ABOUT!!

4/3/2013 12:41:46 PM

^^ It could be a troll bill I suppose. A distraction while they do things like roll back renewable energy plans and slash education etc.

4/3/2013 12:52:36 PM

what is GOLO?

4/3/2013 1:05:17 PM

Maybe a troll bill, but a troll bill that will waste time and taxpayers' $s.

4/3/2013 1:31:13 PM

^^ GOLO refers to comments on WRAL articles. I guess they are the provider for people to comment there.

4/3/2013 1:32:46 PM

They used to have a sort of message board on wral called GOLO (I think it stood for Go Local. It was disbanded, but people still refer to the comment sections as GOLO. B/c it's a lot of the same retarded people)

4/3/2013 1:37:27 PM

if you guys don't know about GOLO you are missing out, GOLO posters make geniusxboy look like a genius

4/3/2013 2:24:45 PM

^ They are fun to troll as well.

4/3/2013 2:26:10 PM

I got kicked off for calling out retards, and I was usually pretty tame.

Here's some samples: message_topic.aspx?topic=611990

4/3/2013 2:40:20 PM

I get it! They thought NC Amendment One overwrote the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution!

4/3/2013 3:29:45 PM

Yep....WRAL sets the bar for awe inspiring comments therefore earning their contributors
the nickname of "GOLOTards":
message_topic.aspx?topic=611990&page=7
Here is an example of one of their more intelligent posters:


[Edited on April 3, 2013 at 3:31 PM. Reason : clarity ]

4/3/2013 3:30:37 PM