Jackson Free Press

"It is our First Amendment right to worship the God we want to worship. We need a well-reasoned bill that protects our religious freedom."

—State Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, on the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which opponents of the bill said could lead to legalized discrimination.

Why it stinks:  The U.S. Constitution indeed protects the right to practice the religion of one's choosing. It does not, however, allow individuals or businesses to discriminate in the execution of that right. The First Amendment guarantees both the "free exercise" of religion and prohibits the government from establishing one religion over others—which includes passing laws that favor one religion over another religion, or the lack of one.

In fact, we've been through this with legally segregated houses of worship, and we chose, as a society, to change that. Why go back to the dark ages, Rep. Gipson? You can surely find a way to worship without encouraging citizens to discriminate against others and their decisions and beliefs.