Tuesday, December 2, 2008

39G.010 Kentucky Office of Homeland Security executive director -- Duties --
Delegation of duties -- Notification of disaster or emergency.
(1)
The Kentucky Office of Homeland Security shall be attached to the Office of the
Governor and shall be headed by an executive director appointed by the Governor.
(2)
The executive director shall:
(a) Publicize the findings of the General Assembly stressing the dependence on
Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth BY INCLUDING THE PROVISIONS OF KRS 39A.285(3) IN ITS AGENCY TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. The executive director shall also be responsible for
prominently displaying a permanent plaque at the entrance to the state's
Emergency Operations Center stating the text of KRS 39A.285(3);


That's the first duty of the executive director of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security.

and KRS 39A.285 (3)? Here it is:

The General Assembly hereby finds that:
(1) No government by itself can guarantee perfect security from acts of war or
terrorism.
(2) The security and well-being of the public depend not just on government, but rest in
large measure upon individual citizens of the Commonwealth and their level of
understanding, preparation, and vigilance.
(3) The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from
reliance upon Almighty God as set forth in the public speeches and proclamations
of American Presidents, including Abraham Lincoln's historic March 30, 1863,
Presidential Proclamation urging Americans to pray and fast during one of the most
dangerous hours in American history, and the text of President John F. Kennedy's
November 22, 1963, national security speech which concluded: "For as was written
long ago: 'Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.' "
Effective: March 28, 2002

History: Created 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 82, sec. 2, effective March 28, 2002.


This text- this Kentucky state law- says the Commonwealth of Kentucky is not safe from terrorism and war unless I believe in God.
For a few days every year, when it's time to renew my ACLU membership, I think to myself "Is it worth it? Don't I have better uses for this money?" Now I have my answer. I'll just look at this Kentucky state law, and then I'll write the check. And include a little extra.

______________________

7 pm addition. Surfing for news about the ACLU case against the state (thank God for the ACLU, ha ha!), I found a conversation on Snopes with some great comments, like:
"Surely if God was responsible for securing the state, there would be no need for such a department at all."
and
"How would this even work? It would be like Rod and Tod Flanders on a grander level. "Thank you God for sending Homeland Security Officers to protect us from the disaster... that you also sent.""

1 comment:

Brian said...

I know Ed Hensley, one of the guys in the lawsuit.