TEN COMMANDMENTS
Monument at Capitol would just be divisive
Notwithstanding the serious constitutional issues posed by a Ten Commandments monument at the state Capitol, Rep. Greg Morris’ column reflects a profound misunderstanding of religious liberty in America (“Monument reflects our religious liberty,” Opinion, March 27). He says his support for House Bill 702 is based in part on Georgia’s “long Judeo-Christian tradition.” Religious freedom in Georgia, however, is for all citizens regardless of faith tradition.
And which version of the commandments should be displayed? The commandments’ texts and ordering in the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faiths are different; and indeed, they are at the center of historical tensions between Christians and Jews.
HB702 will only serve to divide Georgians along religious lines by conveying a message of exclusion to anyone not from the Judeo-Christian tradition or from faiths whose version of the commandments is not chosen. Surely, that was never the Founding Fathers’ intent. For this reason alone, the governor should veto the bill.
SHELLEY ROSE, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE
SECOND AMENDMENT
In gun bill, Georgia puts trust in citizens
I have a Georgia weapons license. I am a veteran, a military contractor, and one step away from becoming a criminal — whenever I carry to sign my kids out of school; attend a local college; help carry bags into the airport; hang out with friends at a sports bar as a designated driver; attend church; attend a town hall meeting; pay my vehicle tags; renew my driver’s license, or renew my GWL license.
“Why don’t you leave the gun at home?” you ask. I do, but why should I, when I have a license to carry? Fingerprints, registration, license fees — the privilege of carrying a concealed weapon requires I trust Georgia with my information. My GWL is supposed to be the state returning that trust, but it’s not.
House Bill 60 restores some trust between Georgia and me. It trusts private businesses, schools, and churches to choose whether they want me on their property, instead of Georgia saying I’m not welcome. In those places where I’m still not welcome, it mandates warnings instead of incarceration and gives me a chance to leave on my own instead of in handcuffs. This is not an extreme “Guns Everywhere” bill. This is common sense.
MARKUS LAUMANN, BAXLEY
MILITARY
Justice ill served in sex misconduct case
Regarding “General spared jail in misconduct case” (News, March 21) Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair’s reaction upon hearing his sentence was, “The system worked.” How sadly true. Once again, a military court has demonstrated a total lack of ability to mete out justice in any case involving sexual misconduct within its ranks. Sinclair’s conduct epitomized the rampant sexual misconduct, which seems to be embedded within the military culture. A military court accepted his guilty plea for sexual misconduct, adultery and misuse of funds in the commission of these acts, then winked at his behavior and gave him a slap on the wrist.
Sinclair abused his authority and engaged in conduct that was unprofessional, inappropriate and criminal. The Pentagon is clearly either unwilling or unable to crack down on this issue. Perhaps the time has come for these cases to be moves out of military courts and into civilian courts. I believe this case clearly demonstrates the reason we need Sen. Gillibrand’s Military Justice Improvement Act.
KARYN HUDSON, ATLANTA
