Category Archives: Radio Commentaries

May 13, 2016 Radio Commentary

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Why Deal Vetoed RFRA

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 13, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

On March 28, 2016, Governor Nathan Deal explained his veto of H.B. 757 that was introduced as the Pastor Protection Act, and became an issue to him when it was amended into the more comprehensive religious liberty bill that passed.

In the complete transcript of his explanation about the veto, Governor Deal referred to cases in other states. Concerning the New Mexico photographer who refused to photograph a same-sex wedding, the governor explained that New Mexico’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act was NOT used in that decision, because it did not apply to the case.

However, New Mexico’s Human Rights Act was used to determine the outcome of the photographer’s case. But, Georgia has NO Human Rights Act that could require a business to compromise religious beliefs to satisfy customers.

Then he cited the bakery case in Colorado where Colorado’s Public Accommodation Act prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. Georgia has NO public accommodations act prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. We dodged THAT bullet this year, when H.B. 849 whimpered and died in committee, but the issue is far from dead. Continue reading →

May 6, 2016 Radio Commentary

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Campus Carry Loopholes Closed by Veto

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 6, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

In the 40 days following the session, Governor Deal vetoed a total of 16 bills – four Senate bills and twelve House bills – and explained exactly why they should not become law.

To explain his Day 40 veto of the Campus Carry Bill, he reached back to a 2008 Supreme Court case to quote Justice Scalia, whose opinion included the most complete explanation of the Second Amendment ever contained in a Supreme Court opinion. Justice Scalia said, “Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is NOT unlimited. From Blackstone through the 19th century cases, commentators and courts routinely explained that the right was not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose … nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on … laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings…”

Then, Governor Deal went further back to the October 4, 1824 minutes of the Board of Visitors of the newly created University of Virginia. Present at that meeting were Thomas Jefferson and James Madison – one was principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the other, principal author of the U.S. Constitution. This is their rule concerning students and firearms, “No student shall, within the precincts of the University, introduce, keep or use any spirituous or venomous liquors, keep or use weapons or arms of any kind….” Continue reading →

April 29, 2016 Radio Commentary

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Governor Deal: Please Veto H.B. 1058

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, April 29, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Last month I explained that, once again, parents are losing control over their own children and reminded you of the specific time that became SO obvious in Georgia.

In the late 1960s parents should’ve said, “No, you have no right to tell my kids it’s okay to have sex before marriage. You have no right to treat MY children for diseases without MY knowledge and you have NO right to declare MY children emancipated if they become sexually active. MY children are NOT your children and NO government agency will protect MY children like I will.”

If that sounds over the top to you, I’m sorry, but that’s exactly what parents should have said when the Georgia General Assembly passed the Family Planning Act 50 years ago. But, let me back up and say this. The Georgia General Assembly should NEVER have passed a law allowing government agencies to, arbitrarily, consider sexually active children to be emancipated. Because indulging in sexual activity does NOT mean a child is mature and self-supporting. It, simply, means the child is on the wrong track. You would think what’s happened since the law passed 50 years ago would be a lesson learned, but not so, and here we go again.

H.B. 1058 passed on March 22nd, but now, I’m asking Governor Deal to veto it. Continue reading →

April 22, 2016 Radio Commentary

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Foreign Law or U.S. Law

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, April 22, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Please answer this question: Would you rather be judged by laws passed in the United States or by laws used in foreign countries? Your answer is important, because it’s been an issue in several states, including Georgia, for several years, and still hasn’t been settled in Georgia!

In 2011 almost 20 states, including Georgia, had legislation banning the use of foreign law in their judicial systems. Since then, ten states passed their bills into law, but during the same five years, the Georgia legislature refused to mandate exclusive use of U.S. and Georgia law in court cases.

Currently, twenty-two states have almost-passed American Laws for American Courts (ALAC), or may be considering it. Georgia is one of those 22 states. Georgia’s bill introduced in 2011 had two sections – a prohibition against the use of foreign law and another section allowing trial venues to be moved into local counties. That bill died in committee. Continue reading →