CHUCK  STIRES   NC SENATE

Media Release

Chuck Stires calls for General Assembly Democrats to support the will of the people and stop blocking the Defense of Marriage Amendment

Youngsville, May 16, 2008:

“For years, polls have shown that the overwhelming majority of North Carolinians want traditional marriage defined and protected by our state constitution, but the Democrat controlled Legislature refuses the will of the people.” said Chuck Stires, candidate for the NC state senate representing Vance, Warren, Franklin and Granville Counties. “This week’s California Supreme Court decision, like the 2004 decision in Massachusetts, reveals the weakness of state statutes to define and protect marriage as only being between one man and one woman.”

California and Massachusetts state statutes barring same-sex marriage, though supported by millions of citizens, were ruled unconstitutional by a handful of members of their respective state supreme courts. North Carolina’s definition of traditional marriage could also be vulnerable to a court challenge unless it is protected by a constitutional amendment.

Over the past four sessions of the NC General Assembly, Republican legislators have introduced the Defense of Marriage Amendment. Each time the Democrat leadership blocked debate and voting on the amendment by sending it into a disinterested committee to die with no action being taken.

“In 2004 and in 2006, my opponent Doug Berger, sought and received the enthusiastic endorsement of the aggressive gay-rights lobbying group, EqualityNC. Doug Berger has been vocal in his opposition to the North Carolina Defense of Marriage Amendment. He chose to defy the will of the people he represents rather than risk the support and endorsement of a gay-rights special interest group,” Stires continued. “Doug Berger claims our state statute can stand up to a court challenge and a constitutional amendment is unnecessary. The people of Massachusetts and California were fooled by similar statements from their legislators. Doug Berger believes we will fall for it too. I support the family foundation of marriage between a man and a woman, and it must not be vulnerable to the swing of a judge’s gavel.”

“I believe that marriage in North Carolina should be defined and protected by our state constitution as only being between one man and one woman. I strongly support the passage of the Defense of Marriage Amendment. If I am elected and given the honor of being your state senator, I will vote in the broad interests of the people of the district, not the special interests of narrowly focused groups like the gay-rights lobby.”

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