It’s been three days since Kim Davis was arrested in Kentucky. The Rowan County Clerk was sent to jail for defying a District Court Judge’s order to issue a license to any couple who requested one.
READ Kim Davis, Kentucky Clerk, Held in Contempt and Ordered to Jail
Court of public opinion
Supporters are raising funds and some GOP candidates and office holders in Kentucky are rallying around Davis in this latest clash pitting Religious Rights against Civil Rights.
The case has elicited strong public opinion. On the day Davis was arrested, Now Habersham asked readers on Facebook, “Should she serve time in jail?” Response was swift and varied. Many say Davis should resign or face her punishment, while others view this as the latest salvo in a perceived attack on Christianity:
“She should do what the law requires. It is a free country. If her beliefs cause her to feel she cannot obey the law, she should step down from her position.”~ Kimberly Smith
“She is entitled to have her rights just like everyone else! It is against everything she believes in so why would she have to go to jail???? Has America moved?” ~ Tammy English
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” First Amendment of the Constitution.” ~ Keith Giles
“According to her belief and it is wrong don’t care how ppl try to state it or say it or fix it in God eyes it morally wrong I don’t think she should go to jail… but I would tell them to take this job and shove it and regroup and move on besause (sic) God got her back thank u!!!!!!” ~ Carolyn Trammell
WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? Click to view more comments and post your own at https://www.facebook.com/nowhabersham
Legal remedies
Davis said from jail on Thursday she does not intend to step down. Those who oppose her hardline stance on gay marriage question why she can’t be removed from office. It’s not that easy of a solution under Kentucky law.
According to a recent article written by Christina Prignano of the Boston Globe:
Davis is an elected official and can’t be “fired” in the traditional sense of the word. She does not have a boss and can only be removed from office if she is impeached by the Kentucky legislature or charged with misconduct by the state’s attorney general. The conservative political climate in Kentucky makes both of these options unlikely. In addition, Kentucky does not allow recall elections, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) issued a statement insisting he will not call state lawmakers back into session early to deal with the issue.
Local compliance
Meanwhile, here in Habersham, same-sex marriage licenses are being issued without public controversy. The Probate Court reports it has issued five marriage licenses to same sex couples since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage with its landmark ruling on June 26.
Probate officials say the computer system used to generate marriage licenses in Habersham was updated some time ago and the blanks for “Husband” and “Wife” were changed to to “Applicant 1” and “Applicant 2.”
