GEORGIA GUN BILL
Gun carry rights expanded in Ga. under new law
ELLIJAY, Ga. (AP) β A bill signed Wednesday by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal allows licensed gun owners to carry their weapons into bars, some government buildings and places of worship if religious leaders say it’s OK.
The law also says school districts can authorize some employees to carry firearms on school grounds under certain conditions.
Following mass shootings in recent years, some states have pursued stronger limits on guns while others like Georgia have taken the opposite path, with advocates arguing that people should be allowed to carry weapons as an issue of public safety. Republicans control large majorities in the Georgia General Assembly, where the bill passed overwhelmingly despite objections from some religious leaders and local government officials.
The law lets religious leaders decide whether people with permits can bring guns into their places of worship.
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229-w-36-(Tim Maguire, AP correspondent, with Governor Nathan Deal, R-Ga.)–Georgia’s new gun law expands where licensed gun owners can take their weapons. AP correspondent Tim Maguire. (23 Apr 2014)
< 202-a-13-(Governor Nathan Deal. R-Ga., at bill signing)-“follow the rules (second reference)”-Governor Nathan Deal says the bill expands places where people can protect themselves with their own weapons. (23 Apr 2014) < 203-a-12-(Governor Nathan Deal. R-Ga., at bill signing)-“revered founding document”-Governor Nathan Deal says the new law builds on the protections in the Second Amendment. (23 Apr 2014) < 201-a-07-(Governor Nathan Deal. R-Ga., at bill signing)-“the Second Amendment”-Governor Nathan Deal says he’s pleased to sign the bill that expands where people with carry licenses can bring their guns. (23 Apr 2014) < 306-a-26-(Governor Nathan Deal, R-Ga., at bill signing)-“tyranny in government”-Governor Nathan Deal, R-Ga., says the right to bear arms is older than the United States. (23 Apr 2014) < BRITAIN-TONY BLAIR Blair: Radicalized Islam a growing threat LONDON (AP) β Former British leader Tony Blair says the West should set aside its differences with Russia and China to focus on the growing threat from radical Islam. Blair says tackling “a radicalized and politicized view of Islam” should be at the top of the global political agenda. But he says many in the West seemed “curiously resistant” to facing up to a force that “is undermining the possibility of peaceful co-existence in an era of globalization.” Blair, who was Britain’s prime minister between 1997 and 2007, is Middle East envoy for the Quartet of the United Nations, the European Union, the U.S. and Russia. Speaking in London Wednesday, he said the West should support Egypt’s military government against its Muslim Brotherhood opponents, because “on the fate of Egypt hangs the future of the region.” Sound: 220-a-09-(Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in speech)-“counter it effectively”-Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says the world has not faced up to the danger presented by radical Islam. (23 Apr 2014) < 219-a-15-(Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in speech)-“narrow-minded and dangerous”-Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says radicalized Islam is spreading around the world. (23 Apr 2014) < 221-a-09-(Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in speech)-“Russia and China”-Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says a united effort is needed to combat radical Islam. (23 Apr 2014) < 218-a-08-(Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in speech)-“across the world”-Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says radical Islam is a global threat. (23 Apr 2014) < 138-v-33-(Charles de Ledesma, correspondent)–Former Britsh Prime Minister Tony Blair says in a speech in London that radicalized Islam is a growing global threat. Correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports. (23 Apr 2014) < SHIRT COMPLAINT Bible verse removed from W.Va. school gym, team website PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (AP) β School officials in Wood County, West Virginia, have removed a Bible verse from Parkersburg South High School’s gymnasium and from the school wrestling team’s website. The team’s use of Philippians 4:13 drew a complaint earlier this month from the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation. The verse states, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Wood County Superintendent Pat Law tells media outlets that the verse has been removed from the team’s website, which linked to the school’s website. The verse also was painted above the doors to the wrestling room in the gym and appeared on the team’s T-shirts. Law says the verse in the gym was painted over Tuesday. The foundation’s attorney, Patrick Elliott, says public schools can’t endorse religion. CLEMSON-RELIGION Clemson’s Swinney won’t change after complaint CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) β Clemson coach Dabo Swinney (DAH’-boh SWEE’-nee) says he won’t change procedures after the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s letter of complaint to the university expressing concerns about the football program’s connection to the coach’s Christian religion. The foundation sent its complaints earlier this month. According to the foundation, Swinney promotes Christianity in the program and violates constitutional guidelines against publicly funded institutions endorsing religion or engaging in religious exercises. Swinney says, “Players of any faith or no faith at all are welcome in our program.” The university has said it would review the foundation’s complaints, but believes the group is mistaken. CATHOLIC TEACHER CONTRACTS Ohio marchers protest Catholic teacher contract CINCINNATI (AP) β Demonstrators have marched in Cincinnati to protest new language in contracts for teachers in the area’s Roman Catholic schools placing more restrictions on personal behavior. About 60 people showed up Tuesday to march to the offices of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to hand-deliver petitions protesting the new contracts, which specify behaviors and actions that can get teachers fired. That includes such things as abortion, artificial insemination and “homosexual lifestyles.” The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the march drew teachers and a mix of parents, students, former teachers and others who support their cause. All teachers in the 19-county archdiocesan school system are required to sign the contracts for the 2014-15 school year. The archdiocese has said it has no plans to change it. PRIEST-THEFT New Hampshire ex-priest gets jail time for thefts MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) β A priest who was the former leader of one of the nation’s top clergy treatment centers has been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for stealing more than $100,000 from a hospital, a dead priest’s estate and New Hampshire’s Roman Catholic bishop. Monsignor Edward Arsenault held several senior positions in the New Hampshire diocese from 1999 to 2009, when he became president and CEO of Saint Luke Institute in Maryland. He resigned in May 2013 after allegations arose involving an inappropriate adult relationship and misuse of church funds. Arsenault pleaded guilty to three felony theft charges and was sentenced on Wednesday. He apologized for his actions. The plea agreement calls for Arsenault to serve 4 to 20 years in prison. PRIEST-FRAUD Priest, aide accused of stealing from church TROY, Mich. (AP) β A Detroit-area Catholic priest and his parish administrator have been charged with fraud and conspiracy to steal nearly $700,000 from their church. The Rev. Edward Belczak and Janice Verschuren conspired over an eight-year period at St. Thomas More in Troy, according to an indictment. Cash even turned up missing from special collections on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The indictment says the 69-year-old priest helped himself to $110,000 from a church account to help pay for a Wellington, Fla., condominium that was sold to him for $500,000 by Verschuren and her former husband. The indictment says Belczak also opened a bank account in 2006 without the Detroit Archdiocese’s knowledge with a $350,000 check from a deceased parishioner who donated a portion of her estate “for the needs of the church.” Belczak was removed from the church last year after an audit raised questions about parish finances. The Archdiocese said he paid a ghost employee $240,000. SRI LANKA-TATTOOED TOURIST Sri Lanka to deport UK tourist with Buddha tattoo COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) β Sri Lankan authorities plan to deport a British tourist for having an image of Buddha tattooed on her arm. A police spokesman says Naomi Coleman was detained at Colombo’s airport after she arrived from India on Monday when authorities spotted the tattoo of Buddha seated on a lotus flower. She was sent before a magistrate, who ordered her deportation. Rohana said Wednesday that Coleman has been handed over to immigration authorities, who are taking steps to deport her. He said Coleman was arrested for “hurting others’ religious feelings.” Buddhism is Sri Lanka’s state religion and plays an important role in political and social affairs.
