State Rep. Greg Barnes (R-Jasper) wants to create a powerful deterrent in Alabama against activists who might think it’s a good idea to disrupt worship services as a protest.

The state lawmaker has introduced HB363 to make disrupting a worship service a crime under Alabama law.

A first offense is classified as a Class C felony, with repeat offenses carrying the same charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.

The legislation comes into reaction to a recent incident in Minnesota where agitators stormed a Baptist Church and started chanting and protesting ICE enforcement while congregants were in the middle of a Sunday morning service.

“No one has the right to disrupt a church service and infringe on their fellow citizens’ right to worship freely,” Barnes said. “In Alabama, we are not going to sit by and allow crazy people to intimidate our women, children, and the elderly in our churches. We simply will not tolerate it.”

The measure specifically makes it illegal for an individual to intentionally enter a church building or its contiguous property during a scheduled worship service with the intent to disrupt services or block access, and then engage in unlawful protest activity, riot, disorderly conduct, harassment of worshippers, or obstruction of entry or exit.

“The people of District 13 elected me to fight for our values, and in this state, we won’t accept this behavior. We do not intimidate women, children, and the elderly in churches. We do not harass and threaten people in their places of worship,” Barnes added. “If passed, HB 363 will deter bad actors and punish anyone who would dare try.”

HB 363 has over 50 co-sponsors and the legislation has been assigned to Public Safety and Homeland Security committee.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee