Mike Huckabee Volunteers to Go to Jail in Kim Davis' Place Over Gay Marriage Licenses
Former Arkansas Governor and current Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee said he is willing to go to jail on behalf of Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who refused marriage licences to same-sex couples.
Huckabee made the offer while standing beside the recently released Davis at a Tuesday rally.
"If you have to put someone in jail, I volunteer to go. Let me go. Lock me up if you think that's how freedom is best served," said Huckabee, as noted by CNN.
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"I am willing to spend the next eight years in the White House leading in this country. But I want you to know I'm willing to spend the next eight years in jail, but I'm not willing to spend the next years in tyranny under people who think they can take our freedom and conscience away."
Over the summer Rowan County clerk Davis has garnered headlines for her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, despite a court order demanding that she do so.
"To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God's definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience," stated Davis earlier this month.
"It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God's Word."
U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning eventually found Davis in contempt of court and sent her to jail instead of fining the clerk.
Supporters of Davis argued that she was being imprisoned for her Christian beliefs while detractors said that as a clerk she should have resigned instead of refusing to do her job.
On Tuesday, Bunning issued an order allowing for the release of Davis on the condition that she not interfere with the issuing of marriage licenses to gay couples.
"Davis shall not interfere, directly or indirectly, with the efforts of her deputy clerks to issue marriage licenses to all legally eligible couples," read the order.
"If Defendant Davis should interfere in any way with their issuance, that will be considered a violation of this Order and appropriate sanctions will be considered."
Huckabee was not the only social conservative to celebrate the release of Davis from jail. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, also gave remarks at the rally in Kentucky in support of Davis being released.
In his comments, Perkins likened Davis' struggle to that of the Pilgrims, who saw religious freedom as being more than simply the freedom to choose their church membership.
"They came for what Kim Davis is standing for. They came for the ability to live their lives according to their Christian faith," stated Perkins.
"It is time for Christian leaders who hold positions of public trust to resist the edicts of unelected and virtually unaccountable rulers who issue unjust edicts that conflict with the truth of God."
