JACKSON, Miss. Lawmakers in Mississippi passed a religious freedom bill on Tuesday that allows for residents of faith to legally challenge state actions that place a substantial burden on their free exercise of religion.

State action or an action by any person based on state action shall not burden a persons right to exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, SB 2681, reads, adding that the only exception is if the action has a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering the interest.

The free exercise of religion is defined in the bill as the ability to act or the refusal to act in amanner that is substantially motivated by ones sincerely heldreligious belief, whether or not the exercise is compulsory orcentral to a larger system of religious belief.

The measure was introduced by Senator Phillip Gandy (R-Waynesboro), who also serves as senior pastor of Liberty Baptist Church. Itpassed both the House and Senate on the same day79-43 in the House and 37-14 in the Senatebut not after debate among lawmakers who disagreed about whether the proposal could result in discrimination against homosexuals.

If you dont think this bill does what I know it does, you go make a fool out of somebody else, Senator Kenny Wayne Jones (D-Canton) argued on the floor.

There is nothing in this bill that authorizes discrimination against anybody, Senator Gary Jackson (R-French Camp) refuted. This protects the Buddhist, the Christian, the Muslim against government interference.

Gandy also told OneNewsNow this week that the bill has nothing to do with discrimination.

Theres one of two things [about people who say that]: One, either they havent read the bill or two, theyre just trying to frighten people, and theres some people who do that really well, he stated. When they dont have a good argument, they attack. And certainly weve seen a lot of that.

The Mississippi bill, which is modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), is stated to be similar to a measure that was vetoed last month by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.

This is a victory for the First Amendment and the right to live and work according to ones conscience, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, wrote in a statement following the bills passage. This commonsense measure was a no-brainer for freedom, and like the federal [Religious Freedom Restoration Act], it simply bars government discrimination against religious exercise. The legislature gave strong approval to a bill that declares that individuals do not have to trade their religious freedom for entrance into public commerce.

Original post:

Mississippi Lawmakers Pass Religious Freedom Restoration Act