“This bill merely reinforces the rights which currently exist to the exercise of religious freedom as stated in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
—Phil Bryant in his “full statement” on HB 1523 on Twitter
Why it stinks: First of all, the First Amendment doesn’t need any reinforcement. Religious freedom is a guaranteed right of every U.S. citizen—to practice any religion, and even Gov. Bryant is acknowledging that parts of this law are redundant and not necessary because of those rights. Secondly, he fails to see the parts of the bill legal scholars are calling unconstitutional: The religious belief that defines marriage as being between “one man and one woman” and reserves sexual relations for that marriage favors Christianity, which is likely not legal because the First Amendment also says that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
