As part of the John W. Pope Civitas Institute article “20 Change For 2010,” Jessica Custer suggests that because NC is the “only southern state” without a “marriage defense amendment,” and that Civitas polls suggest that “two-thirds” of North Carolinians support such an amendment, that our government should add such an amendment to our own state’s constitution. You can read the article here: http://www.nccivitas.org/media/publication-archive/policy-brief/20-changes-2010-defense-marriage-act

In response, I wrote the following:

After reading Jessica Custer’s article “20 Changes For 2010: Defense of Marriage Act” (March 8), I wanted to express my disappointment. I had hoped an organization like Civitas, with mostly reasonable approaches to our state’s problems, would not assume it is within the realm of state government to reward or punish any specific group of individuals for personal decisions that do not encroach on the rights of other individuals.

As in many other states, North Carolina’s marriage laws were established as a means of allowing the state to discriminate against any group it chooses with respect to the legal marriage contract. These laws are antiquated and an egregious affront to liberty and individual rights. The remedy to solving any marriage “issue” in government policy is to get rid of the laws altogether, not to amend them.

Furthermore, I feel a deep sadness that anyone, especially members of Civitas, would want to amend our country’s or state’s constitution in an attempt to enforce a social or moral stance which is not within the realm of government to enforce.

Individuals can still make legal agreements with regards to important life decisions. They should continue to have the right to make such contracts and to have those contracts legally binding. However, the definition of “marriage” is best left to its original jurisdiction: individuals and religious groups.

Thank you for your time. I hope that the ideas of liberty will prevail at Civitas and that you will reconsider the role of government in social and moral issues.