Response to Gov Landry informing parents who disagree with Ten Commandments law “tell the child not to look at it”

While State Attorney General Liz Murrill and Governor Jeff Landry updated the public on a lawsuit filed against the state law requiring classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, Landry was asked what if parents disagree with the law…

“And so, what I would say to those parents, is that if those posters in school and they find them so vulgar, to tell the child not to look at it,” said Landry.

One of the advocacy groups representing plaintiffs in the case is the Freedom of Religion Foundation. Co-founder of that group, Annie Laurie Gaylor said his response was inappropriate.

“They made it very clear they think this is moral instruction for children, and they cannot avoid looking at them. And it’s highly insensitive and it shows what’s so wrong in the first place with this unconstitutional law,” said

A brief was filed Monday in response to the lawsuit, saying it’s premature because the Commandments haven’t been posted in the classroom, therefore they can’t claim injury of children being exposed to them.

Murrill said among the reasons legislators passed the law was because of the uptick in juvenile crime and they felt this was one way to address it.

“They went back to one of the original lawmakers (Moses) who imposed order and said maybe this will help and it will at least help start a conversation about order and why rules matter,” said Murrill.

Gaylor said the First Commandment violates the First Amendment and lawmakers wanting the Commandments to start a conversation about the rule of law in the classroom also opens the door for a discussion about adultery.

“It’s so absurd the idea that kindergartners, first graders, second graders are going to come home and ask mommy and daddy what’s adultery? Or ask their teachers what’s adultery?” Gaylor said.

After the law was signed by Governor Landry in June, he was asked about it at the Republican National Convention and he stated if the Ten Commandments had been in the classroom for Thomas Michael Crooks, he might not have attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump.