and By J. FRANK LYNCH

[email protected]

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Sharpsburg)

introduced legislation this week that would allow the 10 Commandments

to be placed in local and state government offices.

The legislation would also

allow the Declaration of Independence and Mayflower Compact to be posted

in the offices because of their historic impact.

In a press release outlining

his position on the issue, Westmoreland said America is a nation founded

on religious principles.

"The 10 Commandments is

a vital part of that living legacy - a legacy whose influence can

be seen in documents such as the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration

of Independence," he said.

Westmoreland said 70 percent

of the people support placement of the 10 Commandments in public buildings,

according to recent surveys.

Under Westmoreland's bill,

the three documents - the Ten Commandments, the Mayflower Compact

and Declaration of Independence, would be considered official state-sanctioned

icons, like the Georgia flag or state seal, and would be held by the Secretary

of State's office. Because of that status, said Westmoreland, the

state Attorney General would be required to defend any challenge to the

display.

An official prototype of the

display is in the works. Any goverment or jurisdiction that wants to display

the documents would obtain them from the state.

Westmoreland said the current

legislation would put the state, not local governments, in the position

of defending the inevitable court challenge.

"This bill is a critical

first step in the process of fighting judicial activism. It provides a

vehicle for discussion and ultimately all members of the General Assembly

should be allowed to decide for themselves whether or not they believe

it is important to protect local government's right to display these

historical documents. It's time to make our voice heard in a way

that ensures success," he said.

Recent challenges to displays

of the Commandments in public places have included Barrow, Franklin, Habersham

and Jackson counties all in Northeast Georgia.

The conservative lobby group

Southeast Legal Foundation helped draft the bill, Westmoreland said.

"It's not a perfect

bill," he admitted Wednesday. "It's basically a reminder

of the Founding Fathers and the documents they used when founding this

country."

Westmoreland recalled a speech

Sen. Zell Miller gave to both houses of the legislature during his final

term as governor, in which he declared, "This nation was founded

on a moral law" that's worth defending.

"There have been so many

attacks on the institution of family and faith," said Westmoreland.