Alabama Baptist churches in Hartselle and Elba have organized with other churches to fight an attempt to legalize alcohol in their cities.
“Both situations are interfaith and very strong,” said Dan Ireland, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP). “They are going across denominational lines and working within the business community.”
Jack Brunson, a member of First Baptist Church, Elba, is leading the effort in his area. “They are challenging ministers to motivate people to vote people to vote for a dry city,” Ireland said.
In Hartselle, Walter Blackman, pastor of East Highlands Baptist Church, along with attorney Jeff Johnson of Huntsville, has taken the lead in a grass roots effort.
Blackman said proponents of a wet city are claiming allowing alcohol sales is the only way to prevent and increase in taxes. “That’s not true, and we’re proving that information is not correct,” he said.
Ireland said cities get a smaller portion from the alcohol sales than most people realize. And if the county goes wet, then money given to dry counties is much more than what liquor can bring in, Ireland stressed.
“This is the point we are trying to drive home to people,” said Ireland. “If the churches don’t make the difference, it’s not going to be done.”
Currently Randolph and Chilton counties are pending potential wet/dry elections, Ireland added.
Blackman said the Hartselle city council also rejected a proposed ordinance with location restrictions in case the sale of alcoholic beverages is legalized Nov. 5. Without the ordinance, the Hartselle group has even more motivation to fight.
Share with others: