SLS 11RS-264 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 16
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
PUBLIC BUILDINGS/GROUNDS. Urges the Legislature of Louisiana to erect a Ten
Commandments monument on the grounds of the Louisiana State Capitol.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Legislature of Louisiana to erect a Ten Commandments monument2
on the grounds of the State Capitol.3
WHEREAS, most American citizens have voiced strong sentiments that the Ten4
Commandments are historically important in nature because they provide a foundation for5
Western law; and6
WHEREAS, courts at all levels across the United States have ruled that the Ten7
Commandments are a basis for the development of Western legal codes and reflects closely8
what society and culture believe is the manner in which all people should conduct their lives;9
and10
WHEREAS, the Ten Commandments have provided an extraordinary influence upon11
the morals, ethics, ideas and the very ideal of a just society, where people live and obey the12
civil and criminal laws of this great nation; and13
WHEREAS, neighboring states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, have successfully14
fought efforts to ban the display of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of their state15
capitols by seeking legal relief from high courts, including the United States Supreme Court;16
and17
WHEREAS, there is currently pending legislation filed in the 2011 Regular Session18 SCR NO. 16
SLS 11RS-264 ORIGINAL
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of the Legislature that would provide for installation of a Ten Commandments monument1
on the grounds of the state capitol using private funds under the direction of the2
commissioner of administration; and3
WHEREAS, the proposed monument would not exceed six feet in height by four feet4
in width by four feet in depth and would include a plaque that includes the text of "Context5
for Acknowledging America's Religious History", as set forth in R.S. 25:1283; and6
WHEREAS, the design, construction, placement, and maintenance of the proposed7
monument on the present grounds of the Louisiana State Capitol shall be without cost to the8
state.9
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby10
urge and request its members to support plans and approve legislation that would provide11
for the commissioner of administration to direct efforts for a Ten Commandments monument12
to be designed, constructed, installed and maintained, at no cost to the state, on the grounds13
of the Louisiana State Capitol.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the15
governor of Louisiana.16
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
Walsworth SCR No.
Requests that a Ten Commandments monument be designed, constructed, installed and
maintained on the grounds of the Louisiana State Capitol at no cost to the state.