New attempt to place the Ten Commandments in Oklahoma classrooms
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — There's another attempt by a state lawmaker to put the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.
Only Louisiana has successfully passed this into law and it's been blocked by a federal judge.
"This is accurate history and we need to present that to our children. We owe it to them," said Rep. Jim Olsen (R-Roland).
For the second year in a row, Olsen is pushing the legislation here in Oklahoma.
Last year, the bill made it to the Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee, but wasn’t picked up on the agenda and was effectively killed by former committee chair Rep. Mark McBride (R-Moore).
News 4 asked McBride his thoughts on seeing the bill retried.
"They're the same as they were last year. I don't agree with state-sponsored religion in public education," said McBride.
Olsen believes displaying the Ten Commandments isn't about religion.
"Anybody and everybody is free to disagree or agree that, that was a great thing, that that's how the nation was founded, but regardless of one's vantage point on whether that was good or not so good, that's the reality," said Olsen.
Critics says it crosses the line between church and state. Rep. Mickey Dollens (D-Oklahoma City) says he plans to add an amendment to replace the Ten Commandments with the U.S. Constitution.
"Where he'll find that religion is only mentioned three times in the U.S. Constitution. One, there shall be no religious test to hold office. Two, there shall be no national sanctioned religion, and three, people are welcome to worship or not worship without government interference," said Dollens.
The bill relies on private donations, however, legal experts believe it will cost taxpayers because of potential lawsuits.
"It doesn't take much to prevail on these types of cases because they're clearly in violation of the First Amendment," said Stephen Jones, an attorney.
Some opponents believe this would open the door to groups like 'The Satanic Temple' displaying their beliefs in classrooms.
"That's not a genuine religious group, but then you can come to there are certainly other sincere, genuine religious groups that are not Christian, but the rationale for this is that the Ten Commandments is one of our founding documents as a nation," said Olsen.
This also isn't the first fight over the Ten Commandments in the Sooner State. A monument was removed from the State Capitol in 2015 after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional
Then Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly passed a state question, banning the use of public money or property for religious purposes.
"If the Ten Commandments cannot exist at the state capitol, why does a representative think that the Ten Commandments posters can be displayed in every classroom across Oklahoma," said Dollens.
Olsen says he is optimistic and believes incoming conservative lawmakers will help pass the bill this time around.
He is also confident that religious liberty groups would pay for the legal challenges that could be expected and says he is ready for the fight.
"As a strong conservative, it's just kind of another day at work that the courts will challenge my bill, but that's part of it. I'm glad to stand for what's right and if the court challenges it, then that's what they do," said Olsen.