Tennessee landed a vote of 19-8 with the majority in favor to make the bible its official state book. If approved by Gov. Bill Haslam, Tennessee would be the first state to recognize the bible as its state book.
It just took about 30 minutes for the State Senate to decide on the measure sponsored by Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown. After the vote, the legislation is expected to be passed to Gov. Bill Haslam's desk for approval. Despite the endorsement of the lawmakers to make the bible its official state book, the opposition argued that the bill underestimates the things that they regard sacred, according to 9 News. Haslam and Attorney General Herbert Slatery have expressed their argument to make the bible its official state book. They question the constitutionality of the legislation.
"The Holy Bible is a history book," Southerland said. He defended that his legislation was based on the cultural and historical impact of the bible to the state, Tennessean reports.
Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, claimed that the legislation to make the bible the official book of the state degrades the Holy Scriptures. He argued that although the bible is a book of history, it is not a history book to be placed on the shelves. Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, on the other hand said that he understood that it was really hard to decide on the bill given that it's torn between the constitution and the church. The vote was one of the state's most interesting 2016 sessions after it almost equally divided the chamber's Democrats and Republicans.
"This book has done more to bring us to where we are today than any other book in the history of mankind," Roberts concluded.
As Wreg reports, the bible bill session comes a matter of days before the candidates filed their candidacy. Before the bible was approved in the Senate that day, they have approved a bill to include the.50-caliber Barrett sniper rifle as the state's official symbols. Republican supporter, Ronnie Barrett, who's running the company supplies the rifle to private citizens, law enforcement agencies, and more than 70 militaries around the world.
After the lawmakers have approved the bible legislation, it is uncertain whether the opposition would make an appeal if ever Haslam signs the measure. A strong opponent of the bible bill, Hedy Weinberg, the executive director of the ACLU of Tennessee, has expressed her wish for the governor to veto the bill. Haslam is known to seldom use his veto power.
