Category Archives: Radio Commentaries

February 6, 2015 Radio Commentary

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Hate Crime Legislation

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 6, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

S.B. 47, introduced January 26th by Senator Fort, would change the law and drastically change culture. Currently, every citizen has equal protection under the law, regardless of race, religion, sex or national origin. Race is a characteristic of birth; national origin reflects the country of birth; religion is a spiritual choice; and sex defines natural identity. However, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation reflect aberrant sexual behavior, some of which have been prohibited for thousands of years under moral law, as well as civil law.

Gender is not a synonym for the word “sex,” which depicts male or female biological identity, while gender, gender identity and sexual orientation indicate the preferred sexual behavior or lifestyle of the individual.

S.B. 47 would enhance penalties for certain crimes, according to the REAL or PERCEIVED lifestyle of the victim. For example: upon conviction, an assault of a heterosexual (straight) individual on another heterosexual (straight) individual would be punishable as a misdemeanor, that might result in a “slap-on-the-wrist” or months in the county jail. Continue reading →

January 30, 2015 Radio Commentary

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Horse-Racing: Where the Money Goes

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 30, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Over the years bill after bill has been introduced to legalize horse racing and pari-mutuel betting in Georgia. Thankfully, none of them passed. But here we go again! On November 17th, Representative Harry Geisinger pre-filed H.R. 1 for consideration in the 2015 legislative session. It would add horse-racing and pari-mutuel betting to the lottery section of the State Constitution and nullify current constitutional language that prevents pari-mutuel betting and casino gambling in Georgia.

If H.R. 1 were to pass, legislation would be needed to regulate the races and race tracks, the horses, satellite feeds, the veterinarians, and whatever staff deemed necessary to create and maintain another gambling industry in Georgia. That’s where H.B. 2 comes in. On November 17th, the same day he pre-filed H.R. 1, Representative Geisinger introduced H.B. 2 as a regulatory bill for H.R. 1. Those regulations would provide oversight, administration, funding and distribution of whatever proceeds are left after gamblers collect their winnings and over-head expenses are paid.

If H.R. 1 passes the General Assembly, voters would be asked on the next General Election ballot whether they want a licensed racetrack and pari-mutuel betting in their county or municipality. In locations where a majority of voters say, “Not in my back yard (NIMBY),” proponents of horse-racing and pari-mutuel betting could depart and look for greener pastures (no pun intended). So, ultimately, voters could decide whether horse tracks and gambling descend upon their community. However, the same ballot question mentions that a percentage of the proceeds would be used for higher education, voluntary pre-kindergarten programs and funding of certain medical services. Continue reading →

January 23, 2015 Radio Commentary

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Organ Donor ID Cards

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 23, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

In 1994 Georgia passed a bill allowing applicants to pay half-price for a driver’s license if they agreed to become organ donors.  If they said YES, their decision was indicated on the back of their driver’s license.  That was an opt-in plan, as it should have been, but fourteen years later, it was quietly changed to opt-out.  That change meant all drivers became “presumptive” organ donors, if they didn’t leave a “refusal document” or had not told two witnesses to prevent the harvesting of their organs.

The bill that changed the process 14 years later was S.B. 405 that passed in 2008 and was signed by the governor on May 12th that year.  S.B. 405 of 2008 is still online, if you’d like to read it for yourself.  In 2008, when I mentioned that the process had been changed from opt-in to opt-out, an official, said, “Well, I guess they weren’t getting enough organs donated.”

S.B. 405, that remains current law, lists ten different groups that may allow a decedent’s organs to be harvested.  Relatives are seventh on the list and the ninth category allows “any person having the authority to dispose of the decedent’s body” to agree to harvesting, indicating that medical examiners, funeral directors or crematorium personnel may initiate the process.  The tenth category allows a court to decide and parents may over-ride the decision of a deceased 18-year-old son or daughter.  Continue reading →

January 16, 2015 Radio Commentary

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Ralston said, “We’re Going to ‘Move’ on [Marijuana]!”

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 16, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Representative Allen Peake’s January 9th press release explained how he and the governor had “been in intense conversations over the last several days about [Peake’s marijuana bill, H.B. 1].” After those talks, he decided to rewrite his bill and file it with the Clerk’s office today.

Some say the bill has been gutted because the new version will not allow marijuana to be grown in Georgia. However, “individuals with certain medical conditions” could go to another state to legally obtain cannabis oil with a three to five percent THC level and bring it back to Georgia, without fear of prosecution.

During the marijuana study committee meeting in Gwinnett County, where law enforcement officials were asked to express their opinion, committee member Representative Margaret Kaiser revealed that cultivation of marijuana is the heart of their plan. After hearing each law enforcement official urge them NOT to allow cultivation, she said, “We don’t think we can do this without cultivation. It’s a big point to take cultivation off the table.” Last Saturday morning I was reminded of her comment when someone called WSB radio and asked Walter Reeves to tell him how to grow marijuana. Continue reading →