Libertarian Gary Johnson’s comments on religious freedom and Mormons may hurt in Utah

[DonViejo]

By ROBERT GEHRKE | The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Aug 01 2016 05:42PM

Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson voiced concerns about whether laws protecting religious freedom could open the door to sanctioned discrimination and violence, specifically tying it to the potential for violence involving Mormons — comments that could hurt the third-party candidate in the Beehive State.

Johnson, in an interview with the conservative Washington Examiner during the Democratic National Convention last week, said he believes it's the government's duty to prevent discrimination and said that giving exceptions based on religion "will open up a can of worms." As an example, the former Republican governor of New Mexico pointed to Mormons in a way that has rankled some LDS Republicans.

"I mean under the guise of religious freedom, anybody can do anything," Johnson said. "Back to Mormonism. Why shouldn't somebody be able to shoot somebody else because their freedom of religion says that God has spoken to them and that they can shoot somebody dead?"

Johnson concluded by saying he saw "religious freedom, as a category, of being a black hole."

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http://www.sltrib.com/news/4183208-155/libertarian-gary-johnsons-comments-on-religious

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By ROBERT GEHRKE | The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated Aug 02 2016 11:31 am

Libertarian candidate issues apology for his “imprecise” reference to Mormon history.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/4183208-155/libertarian-gary-johnsons-comments-on-religious