Arizona bill would allow businesses not to serve gays: Agree?

NIT – A bill under consideration in Arizona would allow business owners with certain religious beliefs not to do business with gays.

Arizona’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act has been on the books since 1999 and has not been updated during that time. The bill – SB1062 – makes changes to that act.

Late last week, the Arizona House approved SB1062 33-27 and earlier, the bill passed the Arizona Senate 17-13.  The bill now goes to ultra-conservative Governor Jan Brewer, known for putting her finger in the face President Barack Obama.

The bill has a chance of being signed by Brewer, who recently told CNN that “I think anybody that owns a business can choose who they work with or who they don’t work with.”

According to the bill, business owner would be able to deny service to homosexuals as long as they are only acting on their religious beliefs.

Republican U.S. Senator John McCain said Tuesday that he hopes Governor Brewer vetoes the bill.

Others against the bill say that if passed, it would open a floodgate of lawsuits in the state.

A proponent of the bill – the Center for Arizona Policy – said that the bill “clarifies that the definition of ‘person’ includes all types of businesses and legal entities. Although the question of whether private business owners should be afforded First Amendment protection should be a non-issue, opponents of religious freedom continue to argue that for-profit businesses do not have consciences. They argue that businesses cannot operate according to a sincerely held religious belief and make a conscientious objection to a government mandate.”