FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 2, 2015
On Thursday Family Council issued a statement applauding the Arkansas General Assembly and Governor Asa Hutchinson for passing Senate Bill 975, The Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “We still maintain House Bill 1228, the original religious freedom law passed by more than two-thirds of both the Arkansas House and Arkansas Senate, was an excellent bill. However, Senate Bill 975 is also an excellent bill. As we keep saying, the original religious freedom bill, H.B. 1228, was the Rolls Royce of religious freedom laws, but S.B. 975, the replacement bill, is still a Cadillac.”
Cox said he appreciates the time and effort put into these bills by Arkansas’ legislators. “Being a lawmaker is not easy. I know many representatives and senators worked hard on these bills, particularly Representative Bob Ballinger and Senator Bart Hester. I believe Arkansans should be proud of their lawmakers for taking a stand for religious liberty and proud of Governor Hutchinson for signing a good bill into law.”
Cox said the Religious Freedom Restoration Act will protect religious liberty in Arkansas. “This law simply guards the free exercise of religion from government infringement. If the government tries to force you to act against your deeply-held convictions, this law helps guarantee your day in court to defend yourself for obeying your religious beliefs. That’s something everyone ought to be able to support.”
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