Ian Patrick, FISM News
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Overview
Lawmakers in Tennessee passed a recent bill concerning the fate of minors if their parents fall victim to an incident caused by a drunk driver. The bill, nicknamed “Ethan’s, Hailey’s, and Bentley’s Law,” was introduced after Chattanooga police officer, Nicholas Galinger, was killed by a drunk driver while on duty in February 2019.
House Bill 1834 mandates that a drunk driver who kills the parent of a minor will be ordered “to pay restitution in the form of child maintenance to each of the victim’s children until each child reaches eighteen (18) years of age and has graduated from high school, or the class of which the child is a member when the child reached eighteen (18) years of age has graduated from high school.”
Digging In
The bill had already passed through the house and was unanimously passed 32-0 in the Tennessee senate on April 20. The bill was originally named Bentley’s Law after Cecilia Williams from Missouri lost her 5-year-old grandson in an accident involving a DUI in 2021.
The title of the bill was expanded to include the two children of Officer Galinger, named Ethan and Hailey. The bill now goes to Governor Bill Lee’s desk who is expected to sign it into law this week.
What People are Saying
[The bill] will always be a constant reminder to the offender of what the person’s actions have caused.
– Cecilia Williams, grandmother of 5-year-old DUI victim Bentley
As I promised, I will do what it takes to protect the future of our most valuable resources, our children. I am proud of our leadership, in both the House and the Senate, to get this bill pushed forward to the point that it is heading to our Governor Bill Lee for his signature.
– State Representative Mark Hall (R)
Biblical Perspective
The Bible makes it clear that actions breed consequences – such as when God spoke to Israel and Judah through the Old Testament prophets – but personal matters were often left to the Old Testament law provided by God. One of the most recognizable of these laws is the “eye for an eye” rule which states, “as he has done it shall be done to him” (Lev. 24:19 ESV). While the law has now been fulfilled in Christ, the principles of these laws reveal God’s character and an order that benefits mankind. God understands the nature of the world that He created: people seek restitution and compensation for wrongs done against them. This is why He issued the “eye for an eye” rule, and also why Jesus told believers to not be vengeful but gracious (Matthew 5:38-42).
The Bible also tells us to take special care of two types of people: widows and the fatherless. In Isaiah 1:17 (ESV), the prophet tells the nation of Judah that part of learning “to do good” includes bringing “justice to the fatherless.” Then in the New Testament, James helps us distinguish the difference between hearing the Word and acting upon it. He says in James 1:27 that a “pure and undefiled” religion includes keeping “oneself unstained from the world” while visiting “orphans and widows in their affliction.”
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News in Four is a segment of FISM News that breaks down stories in four easy to digest segments and can be read in four minutes or less. While these articles are meant to provide a biblical perspective to current events, FISM News does not intend to hold these perspectives as absolute truth, knowing that the news is often nuanced and politically driven. While our goal is to provide a jumping off point to view the news through a biblical lens, God has called all believers, like Bereans, to search the Bible for oneself (Acts 17:11-12).