A controversial measure before the General Assembly would allow public school students to openly pray at school-sponsored events. Delegate Ric Metzgar, R-Baltimore County, the bill's sponsor, puts it this way: We've tried everything else at our public schools, why not God? A spontaneous prayer circle gathered in one of the busiest hallways at the State House. Neither visitors, state workers, nor lawmakers took notice. No one questioned their right to assemble or speak.

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A controversial measure before the General Assembly would allow public school students to openly pray at school-sponsored events.Download the WBAL appDelegate Ric Metzgar, R-Baltimore County, the bill's sponsor, puts it this way: We've tried everything else at our public schools, why not God?A spontaneous prayer circle gathered in one of the busiest hallways at the State House. Neither visitors, state workers, nor lawmakers took notice. No one questioned their right to assemble or speak.Metzgar is pushing legislation to give students the same opportunity at public school-sponsored events."I believe we have a lot of young people today that are Christian young people that would really like to pray and express their faith," Metzgar said.Current law requires students to be present and participate in home room opening exercises. During this time, students may meditate silently for a minute. A student or teacher may read Holy Scripture or pray."It's student-led, and by young people, so it's not pressure on adults or coaches to force the issue. It's all student-led," Metzgar said.The U.S. Supreme Court says voluntary prayer in public areas is protected by the Constitution; however, state involvement -- in this case, a school-sponsored event -- violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, the provision prohibiting government from instituting an official religion."The court is very clear that even though you say it's voluntary, when it becomes a school-sponsored event, you are compelling students to listen to a religious message," said Sara Love, with the American Civil Liberties Union.Metzgar invited Bill Murray to a House hearing on the bill. Murray is the son of the woman behind the Supreme Court decision that banished prayer in public schools."What this is really about is free speech. We can try to disguise it any way we want, but this is between two things. Either you have the right to free speech, in which you are going to offend people, or you have the right not to be offended. Those two are incompatible," Murray said.This bill has no prior history with the General Assembly. The measure has strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.