Crime, Bad Behavior Up in Alabama Since Removal of Ten Commandments Statue
BIRMINGHAM, AL (Disassociated Press) - September 2, 2003 -- Studies show that crime and incidents of bad behavior have jumped dramatically since the removal last week of the statue of the Ten Commandments from the State Supreme Court House. A Federal Judge ruled the statue unconstitutional in that it possibly established a state religion.
Studies from the Fallon Institute, a research organization located in Tuscaloosa, indicate that murders are up 22% in this southern, Bible belt state since the statue’s removal; additionally, reports of theft are up a whopping 38%. 46% more cases of filing for divorce on grounds of infidelity have occurred since the statue’s removal.
“It’s as if, since the removal of the statue, Alabamans have no ballast, no core,” stated Vernon Williams, of the Fallon Institute.
Billy Bob Wagner, of the coastal Alabama town of Mobile, summarized the feelings of many Alabamans. “The whole thing just makes me wanna go on out and do me some thievin’ and killin’, then go knock one out with the neighbor’s ol’ lady,” said Wagner.
Sarah Pinkus, public school librarian, and caregiver to her elderly parents, had this reaction: “This morning, I was cross with my mother, and then I decided to just not go to the store and get fresh cream for my father’s coffee – I told him he’d just have to make do with the non-dairy powdered stuff.”
Williams speculates that it may be some time before Alabama returns to normal. “These people down here, they’re creatures of habit, and the basis for the habits they’ve developed has suddenly been pulled from under their feet -- it may take some time to adjust.”