Pertaining to Monday’s Crestview City Council meeting — the issue of revising the current alcohol ordinance in the downtown area — I have some concerns, none of which involve responsible, lawful alcohol consumption.
My concern is with the convenient ignorance of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states in the beginning, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
While the city of Crestview is by no means a federal entity, its ordinances adhere to the Constitution of the State of Florida; which in turn adheres to the Constitution of the United States and its respective amendments.
So why is it that section 6-7 of the city’s ordinance chapter pertaining to alcoholic beverages begin with part “a,” which is headed, “Distance from church,” as if to imply that it takes priority over part “b,” which is headed, “Distance from school?”
The last time I checked, the Florida state laws that Chief Taylor said he would enforce include prohibiting minors under age 21 from purchasing or consuming alcohol. In addition, the last time I checked, many churches serve wine for communion.
Why is the distance of an establishment that allows the sale or consumption of alcohol from a religious establishment such a high concern for a city government; especially considering that such establishments are tax-exempt and therefore are not obligated to contribute anything monetarily to said city’s welfare?
If anything, churches and bars should be great neighbors, considering how many people call out God’s name after having a few too many drinks. Their proximity can offer people a choice to either drown their problems in alcohol or find inner peace in prayer.
I don’t understand why Pastor McGraw has such an issue with modifying an ordinance pertaining to downtown, considering his church is three quarters of a mile away from downtown, nearly eight times the lawful distance stated in the ordinance. I’m sure his church is far enough away from stumbling distance from what he calls “social ills.”
The good pastor said, “The drinking of alcohol can be limited and stopped. Stopped is best.” The 21st Amendment disagrees with you, and so do I.
I do agree with Dr. Strickland’s statement that churches instill integrity in the community. I’m not disparaging the need for religious establishments in our town. I do however, believe that the influence of religious establishments needs to stay within their own congregations, and out of our governments and their laws, as the founding fathers of our country intended.
What doesn’t instill integrity in the community is a downtown area full of abandoned buildings with the potential to house much worse social ills than what Pastor McGraw references.
If you want a say in what goes into our downtown area, I suggest you start paying taxes like those among us who are trying to establish a livelihood in downtown Crestview.
Or, at the very least, show some compassion for those who prefer our “social ills.”
Johnny C. Alexander is a Crestview resident and freelance writer, photographer and videographer.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Guest column: Churches shouldn't influence Crestview's alcohol laws