Election Fallout - The Ten Commandments Amendment

There were actually four parts to the so-called Ten Commandments Amendment on yesterday's ballot, but the Ten Commandments section stood out. The amendment, sponsored by Gerald Dial, passed with almost 72% of the vote. How many courthouses and schools will now rush to install a copy of the Ten Commandments?

We're going to guess that those who listen to their attorneys won't. You can bet that almost any installation of the commandments will be opposed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. That organization has already made itself known in recent years to the Lauderdale County and Russellville Boards of Education.

Let's say the FFRF demands that the commandments be removed and the entity which placed them refuses. The next step would be for the FFRF to bring a lawsuit. The amendment specifically forbids the State of Alabama from using public funds to defend any installation of the commandments on state or school property. An attorney friend told us he believed the amendment could logically include city and county governments, but that might have to be decided legally at some later point.

So if your city, county, or school system is challenged, it won't be out any money if it doesn't defend the installation? Not quite. It means with no defense there would be an automatic judgment in favor of the FFRF or whatever organization brought the suit. That leaves court costs...and perhaps attorney fees if one is sent to merely show up but not actually defend the state's position.

But don't start saving your pennies to donate to any court cost expenses. We're eager to see just how quickly some Satanic group accuses that section of the amendment of establishing the Jewish or Seventh Day Adventist religion in our state. 

Won't that Horned Goat look nice next to the Ten Commandments at your child's elementary school?