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House Approves Religious Freedom Bill

Lawmakers are pushing ahead with a bill that would ensure inmates in state prisons are able to practice their religion.

Missy Shelton reports.

Some lawmakers say the first amendment isn't enough.

That's why they support passing the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Bill supporters argue a series of court decisions have chipped away at the right to exercise religion.

Democratic representative Yaphet El-Amin is a muslim.

She says the bill is important because the department of corrections hasn't been willing to accomodate the requests of incarcerated muslims.

Those concerns resonated with Republican representative Richard Byrd, the handler of the bill.

He says the department of corrections should have to accomodate reasonable requests.

Ten lawmakers voted against the bill.

Democratic representative Barbara Fraser says she supports the provisions that deal with inmates.

She says she has other concerns.

But bill supporters argue there's a provision in the bill that addresses those concerns.

There's a provision that states the bill doesn't allow someone to inflict physical injury under the guise of religion.

SOC