Letters on Christian discrimination, religious freedom law, gun discrimination, best solutions

Entitled to own beliefs, opinions

I am in favor of Senate Bill 175 and its campaign to “prevent the state’s public universities and community colleges from penalizing religious groups that require members to adhere to the group’s ‘sincerely held religious beliefs’” (March 31 Eagle).

Campus organizations, specifically religious organizations, should not be penalized because a student is excluded from their membership due to differing religious beliefs or opinions. The whole point of an organized group is to have a safe environment to discuss one’s feelings and beliefs.

In testifying against this legislation, some faith leaders from Kansas expressed their opinion that the passing of this bill would only add to the discrimination that is currently seen on college campuses in Kansas and in America today. They spoke of “intolerance” and “mean-spiritedness” against groups such as the gay community, and they see this legislation as something that would allow this to continue.

What no one mentions is that Christians – specifically those who believe what the Bible teaches about subjects such as homosexuality being a sin – are often the ones who are facing the most intense discrimination. When these students express their beliefs about sin or the authority and inerrancy of Scripture, society is outraged, calling them “intolerant” or “discriminatory.”

This is exactly the type of discrimination that this bill is trying to protect students from.

Each student organization is entitled to its own beliefs and opinions. That is what religious freedom is – the choice to believe what one believes without being discriminated against or hated for it.

Eliminate law

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a revised version of the religious freedom law that so many people found objectionable. But the law needs to be eliminated, as do similar laws in 20-some other states, a similar law that Kansas passed in 2013 and the federal law President Clinton signed. All of them, in one way or another, violate the principles of equality that this nation has continued to promote and legalize over time, correcting the fundamental inadequacies of the original Constitution in the process.

Gun discrimination

With all the focus on Indiana’s new religious freedom law, I think it is imperative that people are made aware of the discrimination that I, and many like me, face in Kansas every day. The saddest part is that it is sanctioned by our Legislature. I am referring to those of us who live a Second Amendment lifestyle.

I go to a restaurant that should be open to everyone, and upon the door is a sign that bars me access under penalty of law. I go to shop to buy supplies to take care of my family, and there it is, a sign saying “concealed weapons not allowed.”

Even though the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that my right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, and I have completed all the tasks and passed all the background checks that the state mandates, I still face discrimination because of my lifestyle.

I understand that people who own businesses have beliefs that are not the same as mine, but these beliefs should only be allowed in their homes or Communist Party meetings. In the public arena, no one should be discriminated against or shamed for his lifestyle. Dignity is for everyone.

Apply best ideas

Global climate-change problems are not our fault, and immigration reform problems are, well, someone else’s fault. Back and forth the nation bickers, without accepting the innovative solutions that others have successfully used in managing problems.

Because we now have connectivity to share the best solutions from each state or country, we could all use the best ideas and apply them to our own situations. Until then, it’s one step forward and two steps back.

This story was originally published April 5, 2015 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Letters on Christian discrimination, religious freedom law, gun discrimination, best solutions."