MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WDNews) — The Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation that would make intentionally disrupting a worship service a felony offense.
House Bill 363 states that a person would commit the crime of disrupting a worship service if they intentionally enter a church to unlawfully protest, riot or engage in disorderly conduct.
Under the bill, a first violation would be classified as a Class C felony. That charge carries a sentence of at least one year and one day in prison, and up to 10 years.
Rep. Greg Barnes, R-Jasper, who sponsored the bill, said the measure focuses on intent.
“The intent of why you are there to begin with kind of covers all of that, you know what if someone came in to commit those crimes, and if they don’t they don’t meet the threshold, they won’t be charged,” Barnes said.
Some lawmakers raised concerns about increasing the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony.
“Normally, it’s going to be a misdemeanor if you’re disturbing the peace, but now we’re going to make it a Class C felony,” said Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Demopolis. “A misdemeanor doesn’t take away your polling rights, but a felony does.”
The bill now heads to the Alabama Senate for consideration.
