var addthis_config = {“data_track_addressbar”:true};
A few days ago, one of the three Republican Arizona state lawmakers who signed a letter to Gov. Jan Brewer admitted that they had “made a mistake” in voting for SB-1062. The bill, which would allow anyone in the Grand Canyon State to refuse service to to anyone for any “religious” reason, has captivated the nation’s conversation this week, but something that lawmaker said went largely unnoticed.
He told a reporter that Gov. Brewer had vetoed the bill last year, and they figured why not try again, since no one seemed to mind the wording of the legislation last year.
And that’s the problem.
LOOK: This One Picture Perfectly Explains The Hypocrisy Of Arizona’s Anti-Gay Bill
Lawmakers who have no training, no understanding of the law, are pushing canned bills created by outside interest groups and lobbyists.
These anti-gay bills in particular have a shared problem: unintended consequences.
Like the wording of SB-1062, which could easily allow an Arizona citizen to call their bank and say they will no longer pay the interest on their mortgage, car loan, or student loan, because doing so would violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.
Exodus 22:22 (25): “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.”
And let’s all take a moment to remember, the Bible prohibits cutting your hair, eating shellfish, having sex outside of marriage, wearing poly-cotton blends, and many other things.
SB-1062 will allow anyone to pick and choose which violate their “sincerely-held religious beliefs,” and not do business — or serve — anyone who has transgressed.
As for the moneylenders, well, you’re on notice — especially since more than 80 major corporations that do business in Arizona have already condemned this anti-gay legislation — but these three banks have not.
Makes you wonder what they’re waiting for…
Image by Scott Wooledge/Memeographs