H.C.R.

XX
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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING
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RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY
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2015 GENERAL SESSION
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STATE OF UTAH
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Chief Sponsor: Brian King
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Senate Sponsor: ____________
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LONG TITLE
General Description:
This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor designates January

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as "Religious Freedom Day."

Highlighted Provisions:
This resolution:
. designates January 16, 2016 as "Religious Freedom Day" in the state of Utah

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and
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urges Utah's citizens and governments to remember and honor the nations first
Religious Freedom law, as written and championed by
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Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
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Special Clauses:
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None
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Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
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WHEREAS, the United States Congress in 1992 set aside January 16 as Religious
Freedom Day
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to honor the passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786;
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WHEREAS, Religious Freedom Day has been recognized by presidential
proclamation annually;
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WHEREAS, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was written by Thomas
Jefferson one year after writing the Declaration of Independence, and
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ushered into law by James Madison one year before he became a principal author of
the United States Constitution;

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WHEREAS, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom represents the first and
defining law establishing and protecting the rights of individuals to

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choose for themselves what they will or will not believe;
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WHEREAS, the right to religious freedom as defined by Jefferson and Madison is
fundamental to the success of a democratic republic;
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WHEREAS, the state of Utah was founded upon the principles of respect for the
beliefs of all persons
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be they Christian or Jewish, Muslim or Hindu, Buddhist or Sikh, atheist or agnostic;
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WHEREAS, millions of people from all parts of the world have come to Utah fleeing
religious persecution;
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WHEREAS, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom established that all
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individuals are free to believe as they will and that this shall in no wise diminish,
enlarge,
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or affect their civil capacities;
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WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the United States has recognized repeatedly that
the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
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was an important influence in the development of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of
Rights;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah,
the
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Governor concurring therein, designates July 16, 2016, as "Religious Freedom Day" in
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the state of Utah.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge citizens
and
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local governments to remember and honor the nations first Religious Freedom law, as
written and championed by
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Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the members
of Utah's congressional delegation.