Texas Bill Requires National Anthem at Sporting Events
Texas lawmakers are considering a proposal to guarantee the National Anthem plays at all sporting events with a state government contract.
“Texans are tired of sports teams that pander, insulting our National Anthem and the men and women who died fighting for our flag,” argues Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, head of the Texas Senate.
“The passage of SB4 will ensure Texans can count on hearing the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ at major sports events throughout the state that are played in venues that taxpayers support. We must always remember that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
SB4 became a priority after Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, stopped playing the National Anthem at home games. The bill cleared the Texas Senate last week with a vote of 28-2, including support from 11 Democrats. It will now head to the House of Representatives.
Lt. Gov. Patrick described Democrats’ support for the bill as “one of the more surprising votes” in his career.
Senators Royce West (D-Dallas) and Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen) said they backed a guarantee to play the National Anthem at sporting events to support the military. Senator Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-Brownsville) made a case for religious freedom. Students and children in this country should feel comfortable praying and supporting their country in all settings, said Lucio.
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Like Arizona with its ban on federal legislation violating the Second Amendment (read more here), Texas is trying to preempt “woke” legislation it expects from the Biden Administration. While these bills are unlikely to survive the courts, they certainly send a strong message.
Sources:
Texas’ ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ Protection Act Passes in Bipartisan Vote
Texas Senate passes bill requiring teams with government contracts to play national anthem at games
Good idea since it is in this country. If someone doesn’t like it, they can leave and go anywhere else that will tolerate them.
Annon,
“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
Mark Twain
Seems like you have forgotten the principles and freedoms our Country was founded on
Funny, I always thought the love for and pride in America was based primarily on the Constitution and the ideas set forth by the founding fathers. I’m 75 years old; have I been wrong all these years? Of course back when I went to school they taught a class called “civics;” could that be why I have harbored such a ridiculous idea all these years?
A big fat YES
This is America, YES the National Should be Required at All Sporting Events and Schools and Everywhere.
At this stage of the game we’d say NO, that neither laws nor “proposals” should be used to REQUIRE people who play or sponsor or watch athletics to publicly express their personal pride in their country. That pride should be instilled in every citizen at the earliest practical age, should be encouraged and fostered and reemphasized as often as possible by parents and schools and entertainment venues, and should be a natural even if imperfect treasure in each individual’s heart. Unfortunately, the only way to achieve that goal requires less emphasis on ego by arrogant, “woke,” self-focused elitists who insist that “blind” patriotism should be replaced by more reliance on personal discernment rather than on “artificial” devotion to historical achievement or to the world’s most admirable political accomplishment since Cain decided to forcibly redistribute brother Abel’s wealth. Selfishness is man’s most common negative characteristic, the most formidable drawback to all legitimate progress and accomplishment. Let’s just pray for the sake of future U.S. generations that we and they can continue to overcome it.
Unfortunately.
Better yet dont spend any money on sport events, they are over paid just like our so called politicians
Kudos to Texas.
So much for small government huh? The “don’t tread on me” crowd must be up in arms at this proposal.
Kinda like the Kentucky bill that criminalizes criticizing the police. The freedom loving crowd has got to be angry about this infringement on free speech, right?