Prairie Independent

By The North Dakotans Against Measure 3

Today North Dakotans Against Measure Three, a broad-based, grassroots co­alition of religious leaders, medical and legal professionals and concerned citizens, announced the launch of a campaign to defeat Mea­sure Three, which is slated to appear on the June 12th primary ballot.

“We all believe strongly in reli­gious freedom, but Measure Three is vague and confus­ing and just goes too far,” said Tom Fiebiger, a former North Dakota State Senator and an attorney with more than 25 years of experience in helping North Dakotans fight discrimination. “This measure is so poorly written that it will open the door to endless litiga­tion and legal wrangling, clogging our already crowded courts and costing tax payers more of their hard-earned money.”

“We don’t need Measure 3. Re­ligious Freedom is already protected by the very first amendment to the U.S. Constitution and in Article 1, Section 3 of the North Dakota Constitution,” said Pastor Wade Schemmel of Bismarck.

“Unlike existing law, Measure 3 puts an individual’s religious beliefs ahead of the common good of all North Dako­tans. That’s not how things work in our state.”

“In America, we are all entitled to our own religious beliefs, but that doesn’t give any­one the right to harm other peo­ple,” said Fiebig­er. “If Measure 3 passes, it could allow a person to take advantage and use personal religious beliefs to claim the right to break important laws that are meant to protect all of us, like laws against abuse and discrimination.”

“For example,” Fiebiger explained, “a person could take advantage and claim that domestic violence laws don’t apply to him because his religion tells him he can discipline his wife as he sees fit.”

It’s very concerning,” said Schem­mel. “This law could be manipulated and harm others, and that’s why we are opposing this Measure Three.”