Just Who The Hell Runs Our Montana Legislature?

Submitted, a bill that would make strangling a felony in cases of domestic abuse.

Representatives of the Eagle Forum, Montana Family Foundation and Montana Family Coalition opposed the bill, calling it a measure designed to legally recognize homosexuality and create a "designer crime."

The lack of gay activists speaking out in the hearing indicated an attempt to pass the legislation without drawing attention to the homosexual agenda in it, said Harris Himes of the Montana Family Coalition.

Submitted, a bill concerning notification and arbitration of state gambling contracts between the Governor and Tribal authorities.

"I'm not so sure they are cognizant of the extreme ravaging that would occur among their own people if this were to come in," Harris Himes, a pastor and president of the Montana Family Coalition, told the House Judiciary Committee. "This is like throwing gasoline on a burning fire as far as the Indian population is concerned."

Submitted, a bill defining a fetus as a person when defining the victims of a criminal act.

"This really is a pro-choice issue," said Harris Himes, president of the Montana Family Coalition and a strong opponent of abortion. "These women had chosen to keep their baby, and it was someone else who decided otherwise."

Now let's disregard, if only for the moment, the content of the bills proposed.  Is anybody else seeing a theme here?  Does somebody mind explaining to me, how three such disparate pieces of proposed legislation warrant consistent comment from a religious pastor/creationist/ all around busy-body?  I'm not at all suggesting that Himes doesn't have a right to speak out, or to represent those views that serve the MFc.  But to be quoted as he has, and have his voice given such weight in legislative debate leaves me feeling rather cold.

There are those that correctly argue that freedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion.  But can anybody adequately argue that meddling in legislation for all Montanans, based as Himes has on a particular view of religious experience, is freedom from the imposition of state religion?  I didn't think so.

(Thanks to Clif at Outside the Tent for the inspiration behind this exasperated outrage.)

Comments

[Clif]

Montana appears to be saddled with not only Harrison Himes but his talibanic co-conspirator, Dallas Erickson. And you are absolutely right, it is appalling that they get the media attention that they manage to garner. Don't these morons have real jobs to keep them busy?

(Side note: my remarks about Himes and Erickson on my blog, particularly the references to Dumbfuckistan, are a reference to the landscape in which these wankers live, not to Montana as a whole. I have friends in Montana and have even ventured a few times into Bozeman. I like the state.)

[Jaded]

I have long been under the impression that this country does not have freedom of religion only freedom of Christanity. You can be any kind of Christian you want, but beware if you aren't.

[Mark Wilson]

Yeah, I get exasperated quite often, being a patriot, and not being a Christian... Having to argue that most of the founders of our country were free-masons and deists all the time, just... well... No-one ever listens to me. Anyway, you can't live with them... And while you can live without them, they are still a part of the country... Just a very loud, often very annoying part of our country. And just like I have to fight for the rights of nazi's(who I really don't like) to believe in what they believe in, so do I have to do the same for Fundies.(Who have been taking the fun out of fundamentalism since...)

[grannyinsanity]

Sorry I missed this earlier, but check this out:

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/02/03/build/state/63-kindergarten-debate.inc

I don't have a clue what homosexuality has to do with kindergarden, do you? Those folks need to get a life.

[elizabeth]

I live in the same town as Harris Himes and am well aware of his hateful opinions. I firmly believe in the right of free speech and its protection, but some of the statements I have heard him say border on inciting violence, mainly toward the gay and lesbian community.
He ran for the Hamilton School Board last year and thankfully wasn't elected, and this month he is running again for a different position in our schools. The only thing I can hope for, is that people in our community, no matter how they feel about homosexuality, will continue to recognize what a danger he is.

[Alan]

Having served proudly with Harris Himes in the Marine Corps, I am happy to see him fighting the good fight in Montana.

There are those of us who support conservative values, as well as God given values and I am proud of Harris Himes for his persistent efforts to preserve decency in Montana government. Keep up the good fight Harris!

Alan Hamilton aka: Sgt Hamilton

[Margaret Mullaly]

I think I can answer your question, Clif. I particularly enjoy testifying in the legislature and have testified on similar legislation. At the time I was testifying, I was a college-age person holding down four jobs. I think it is great for citizens to involve themselves in the political process-that's what America's all about, and it is our duty as Americans to be aware. Even small pieces of legislation that seem unimportant to some people are very important. You walk a mile by taking one step at a time, not one big leap. Bad legislation does not always appear all at once. I agree with Sgt. Hamilton. Keep up the good fight, Pastor.