Can Sharia law be addressed without violating the First Amendment? In this segment, Frank Gaffney recounts for Jenny Beth Martin an exchange he had with Senator Ted Cruz at the Heritage Foundation, where he asked the senator — widely regarded as a constitutional expert — whether Sharia is a constitutionally protected practice.
According to Gaffney, Cruz’s answer drew a clear line: in America you absolutely have the right to practice your own religion, but the constitutional problem arises when a system is about compelling others to submit. Jenny Beth reinforces the point that every American — including Muslims, Christians, and Jews — has the right to practice their faith, and that intimidation or coercion of fellow citizens crosses a constitutional line.
What you’ll learn:
- The question Gaffney posed to Senator Ted Cruz
- The distinction between practicing your faith and compelling others
- Why supporters frame this as a constitutional-rights issue, not a religious one
- How the First Amendment shapes the legal strategy
Frank Gaffney is president of the Institute for the American Future and host of Securing America on Real America’s Voice. He founded and led the Center for Security Policy for 37 years and served as Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Reagan.
Learn more at jennybethshow.com and teapartypatriots.org. To reach your representatives, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
00:00 — “Every Citizen Has Constitutional Rights”
00:40 — The Question Gaffney Asked Ted Cruz
01:30 — Practicing Your Faith vs. Compelling Others
02:10 — No Place for Intimidation or Coercion
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