South Dakota's New Plan to Punish Church Disruptions

Governor Larry Rhoden has proposed a new law that could land people in prison for interrupting religious services. This idea came after a protest inside a church in Minnesota, which occurred shortly after a tragic shooting in Minneapolis.

Proposed Changes to the Law

The governor wants to change the rules so that disrupting a religious service becomes a serious crime, called a felony. Right now, it's only a minor offense. If this law passes, people could face:

• Two years in jail
• A big fine

What Counts as "Disrupting"?

The exact definition of "disrupting" is not clear. The governor says it's up to the prosecutors to decide. Some people are worried this could be used to silence peaceful protests.

Criticism and Concerns

Critics say the governor is using this issue to score political points. They argue that the current laws already protect religious freedom. They also point out that the governor isn't doing much to stop other disruptive events, like ICE raids at churches.

A state representative has concerns about the vague language in the bill. He worries it could chill free speech instead of just stopping violent or threatening behavior.

Historical Context

This isn't the first time South Dakota has rushed through a law to stop protests. Back in 2006, they made it a crime to protest near funerals. This was in response to a controversial group that picketed military funerals.