Red County, California

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Tomorrow, the single most important proposition on the ballot for me personally is Proposition 8.

Run the state into the ground, if you like, by voting for yet more spending.

Saddle agribusiness with further regulation and another reason to relocate out-of-state.

Heck, micromanage sentencing of drug offenders.

Go ahead.

But please don’t impose a new definition of marriage by voting against Proposition 8.

A ruling of the California Supreme Court imposing gay marriage against all historical sense of interpretation of the State Constitution led to the drafting of Proposition 8.

Similar government behavior centuries ago drove the Pilgrims to the New World.

Such behavior is a reason for the inclusion of free exercise of religion in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Vote yes on Proposition 8. Preserve religious freedom in this state, and this country.

In a post entitled “A Threat to Religious Liberty,” Thomas Messner of the Heritage Foundation writes about Proposition 8 and religious freedom:

The citizens of California, Arizona, and Florida have very good reasons to be concerned about the security of their religious liberties once the traditional understanding of marriage is officially determined to be a form of unacceptable discrimination. Specifically, in states that redefine marriage to include same-sex unions, those who continue to believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman can expect to face three types of burdens:

• First, institutions that support the traditional understanding of marriage may be denied access to several types of government benefits, and individuals who work in the public sector may face censorship, disciplinary action, and even loss of employment.

• Second, those who support the traditional understanding of marriage will be subject to even greater civil liability under nondiscrimination laws that prohibit private discrimination based on sexual orientation, marital status, and gender.

• Third, the existence of nondiscrimination laws, combined with state administrative policies, can invite private forms of discrimination against religious individuals who believe that marriage involves a man and a woman and foster a climate of contempt for the public expression of their views.

Mr. Messner’s placid neutral language describes consequences that eat at the root of religious freedom.

Don’t aim the coercive power of government at traditional marriage and religions that support and nurture it.

Vote yes on Proposition 8.