Click Introduces Inalienable Rights of Conscience Act

COLUMBUS – State Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery) this week introduced the Inalienable Rights of Conscience Act. This legislation intends to give exemptions to employees who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine for religious or reasons of personal consciousness. 

In addition to the exemptions mentioned, the bill also has a retroactive clause to backdate the bill. 

“Our nation was founded upon the principle of the free exercise of religion. Religious expression consists of much more than attendance to a house of worship. It encompasses one’s daily practices and choices, including medical decisions. In addition to the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, the Ohio Constitution has its own Bill of Rights to protect the conscience of Ohio’s citizens,” said Click.

The Seneca County Health Department has a pending mandate in place to enforce the vaccine by December 5 for all employees or they will be terminated. Mandating the COVID-19 vaccine is a direct attack on the freedom and liberty of our citizens, said Click.

Click acknowledged, the Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio Senate, Attorney General, and Governor have aligned with the opinion that vaccine mandates are unnecessary leaving individual people and businesses to make their own decision about the vaccine. 

Click released the following statement to the Seneca County Health Department: 

“I ask you to reconsider these mandates and not to get ahead of the legislature on this vital issue. This issue affects more than just your employees. It is a defining issue, very important to all of the citizens of Seneca County.”