I just sent this letter to a variety of Christian leaders within Georgia’s churches, organizations and within the General Assembly. I urge everyone to do the same…
Greetings all,
This message is being sent to a variety of leaders within the Christian community in Georgia. There currently exist two bills in the Georgia legislature which would allow local communities to decide the issue of Sunday alcohol sales. As many of you may be aware, local control is a conservative principle. However, the Georgia Christian Coalition has begun a robo-calling campaign asking people to call legislators to ask that these bills be defeated. I understand that most of you probably don’t have any desire to purchase alcohol on a Sunday (or any other day of the week) and I respect that belief. However, like many Georgians, I believe that the Georgia Christian Coalition should respect ALL Georgians’ beliefs and allow those of us who wish to purchase a product in the grocery store that is currently only sold in restaurants and bars on Sundays to do so. I believe it is better to purchase a bottle of wine at Kroger, Publix, Food Lion, Bi-Lo, etc. and soberly drive home to drink it than to drive to a bar, imbibe, and then drive home.
As the Southern Baptist Convention states on its website at http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pschurch.asp – “We stand for a free church in a free state. Neither one should control the affairs of the other.”
I am asking that the leaders of churches and Christian organizations throughout Georgia contact the Georgia Christian Coalition at 706-366-8298 and ask that they please back off of this issue and instead spend their time spreading the message of Christianity in more positive ways. Furthermore, please contact your state senator and representative to ask that they vote in favor of making Sunday alcohol sales a local issue – not a state issue. Fighting Sunday alcohol sales does not look favorably upon the various Christian denominations within Georgia nor will it win anyone over to Christianity. I ask that you call Jerry Luquire at the number above, or e-mail him at jerryluquire@aol.com (or both) and please ask that the Georgia Christian Coalition cease and desist in its campaign against allowing local voters to decide the issue of Sunday alcohol sales. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
David A. Staples
