Proposed law sparks First Amendment debate
Under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, people cannot be prosecuted simply for their beliefs. People may be offended or upset about beliefs that are untrue or based on false stereotypes. Still, expressing offensive beliefs or joining others who share such views is not a crime.
However, the town of Summerville is proposing a Hate Intimidating Law and desires to enact a new section of its code of ordinances to protect its residents and visitors and deter crimes motivated by bias or hate toward any person or persons, in whole or in part, because of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or national origin of any person, and provide separate appropriate penalties in addition to the punishment for the underlying violation of the ordinances of the town.
But wait, under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, people cannot be prosecuted simply for their beliefs. So why is our town council desiring to violate our freedom of speech?
Once elected, the members of the Summerville Town Council swore to God an oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the constitutions of this state and the United States.
Suppose the town of Summerville allows the town council members to violate their oaths of office and our constitutions. What is the next God-given constitutional right our town council will outlaw?
Please attend the town council meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 11, and let your voice be heard. We want our elected officials to obey the law and not adopt an unconstitutional ordinance.
Joe Cali
Summerville
