State Rep Wants Blasphemy Law Repeal

If you didn't already know, it may surprise you to find out that in Oklahoma, you could get in trouble for stating your opinion... or making fun of someone else's.

According to current Oklahoma law, it's a crime to insult someone's religion. In fact, blasphemy is a misdemeanor.

"To be charged for that, I honestly think it's a little crazy," says one Oklahoman. "I think that law would affect the freedom of speech," says another.

State Representative Randy Grau (R- Edmond) agrees. He says it's unconstitutional and uniforceable. It's been in the books since 1910, but Representative Grau plans to repeal it. "For free speech and to protect our individual liberties," says Representative Grau.

"I believe this is America and we are allowed to protest whatever we choose," one Oklahoman told Fox 25's Kisha Henry.

Representative Grau says he decided to repeal the law after seeing the violent protests that sparked after an anti-Islamic video was posted on Youtube. "I was surprised to see some people within the United States actually say, well maybe we don't have such a freedom of speech as we think and maybe it is time we start to limit or roll back freedom of speech for the purposes of protection."

He says he's been surprised by the amount of support behind his repeal. "I've received support from Evangelical Christians, of which I am one, from Catholics, from Tea Partiers, from members of the ACLU," says Rep. Grau.

"I'm a God-fearing man myself, but everyone's entitled to their own opinion," says one Oklahoman.

But, regardless of whether the law comes off the books or not, a little boy leaves us with some words of advice, "I think it's bad to insult people's religions because if you insult people's religion, it will make them feel bad... so, just don't do that."
State Rep Wants Blasphemy Law Repeal

Posted: Monday, October 1 2012, 06:44 AM CDT