if a law was passed that made religious witnessing, churches, and displaysillegal..

[SURGEAHOLIC]

woud you enforce it? I have heard of cops harassing people who prayedon the courthouse steps in d.c. but no arrests (yet.)

[Centurion44]

In and of itself? No. But many cities, like mine, require you to have a (free) permit to protest or hold public gatherings so the city has some control on where it takes place so that the gathering doesn't cause a traffic hazard.

You could argue that it's unconstitutional, but I equate it with yelling "fire" in a crowded theater not being protected under free speech.

[SURGEAHOLIC]

prayeris considered a public gathering?

[SgtScott31]

prayeris considered a public gathering?

If it's done in mass, yes....

I have heard of cops harassing people who prayedon the courthouse steps

We don't harass protestors, we arrest them (when special circumstances are involved such as what has been mentioned). If they feel it's violating rights, then plead the case in court.

As far as enforcing the law you mentioned, it wouldn't ever happen so I really don't think about it.

[SlowDownThere]

woud you enforce it? I have heard of cops harassing people who prayedon the courthouse steps in d.c. but no arrests (yet.)


You mean, of course, if the 1st Amendment was replealed by lawfull means?

Cuz that is what it would take to ban churches.

[Kieth M.]

woud you enforce it? I have heard of cops harassing people who prayedon the courthouse steps in d.c. but no arrests (yet.)


Where's a grammar cop when you need one????

But, to your post...Can you please define what you mean when you say harassing?

(Sets self to medium boil while awaiting response.)

[Redders]

You could argue that it's unconstitutional, but I equate it with yelling "fire" in a crowded theater not being protected under free speech.

I don't consider it unconstitutional to require people to acquire the appropriate permits to be able to gather and have a peaceful protest. If you didn't some how keep a loose rein on people most of the sheep would wander into traffic and be run over. Giving people a general area in which to protest and then letting them make the decision is much better than 5,000 people sitting down in the middle of your busiest intersection without your knowledge.

[L-1]

woud you enforce it? I have heard of cops harassing people who prayedon the courthouse steps in d.c. but no arrests (yet.)

I'm not sure what you mean by harassing either.

Generally speaking, under the first amendment the government cannot restrict the content of free speech. However, the courts have ruled for years that government agencies may regulate free expression activity on government property in order to prevent conduct which may disrupt government services, create a health or safety hazard, or interfere with the free expression rights of others.

To this end, the courts have also ruled that government agencies are authorized to require permits for free expression activity on government property and may regulate the time, location and manner in which the activity is conducted. Failure to comply may result in arrest. There's no harassment if you conduct your activity without a permit or violate the permit's terms.

[SURGEAHOLIC]

updated since harassmentis occuringtoday i2007.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/04/officer_relieved_of_duty_for_n.php


"Last week, Life & Liberty Ministries was conducting one its on-campus outreaches at Kutztown University in eastern Pennsylvania. Ministry president Dennis Green says his group was immediately surrounded by a hostile crowd, and police were called to the scene.

Even though they were on a public university campus and were within their legal rights, campus and borough police ordered the ministry workers to leave and even arrested at least one. According to Green, one of the campus police officers did not agree with that tactic.

"As this was going on, the policeman in charge had asked one of the officers ... to escort us or to arrest us or to make us leave," he recalls. "He refused to do that; he knew we had a right to be there ...."

Green says he has learned that the officer -- whom he describes as "a Christian brother" -- was not fired following the incident, but has been "relieved of his duties" as an officer.

"

[SgtScott31]

This story doesn't prove anything. It states that the ministry folks were surrounded by a "hostile crowd" and that is why police had to get involved. If the prayer starts to cause a disorderly crowd or close to inciting a riot, freedom of speech or not, it's going to be dealt with.

We don't harass people who pray in public as long as it is by the book and does not disturb others.

GET OVER IT

[grumpyirishman]

if a law was passed that made religious witnessing, churches, and displaysillegal..woud you enforce it? I have heard of cops harassing people who prayedon the courthouse steps in d.c. but no arrests (yet.)


Of course!!
As part of the executive branch of government, our jobs is to ENFORCE the laws created by our legislative bodies. It's the courts' job to interpret those laws as to legality. :cool:

p.s. please use proper spelling and grammar in your future posts. The grammar police are watching you.:rolleyes:

[SURGEAHOLIC]

thepolice should have evicted the hostile crowd. the Christiancop was right.

[grumpyirishman]

thepolice should have evicted the hostile crowd. the Christiancop was right.

Wrong!!!!
Fail to Obey a Lawful Order from his superior officer = suspension

[BikeCop501]

has anyone elase noticed that they are blocking out the word @$$ in ALL words not just the word @$$?

sorry to get off topic

[Bearcat357]

Even though they were on a public university campus and were within their legal rights, campus and borough police ordered the ministry workers to leave and even arrested at least one.

A couple of years ago, Sarah Brady showed up at the campus in the town I worked in to speak ....and we had some Pro 2nd Amendment folks show up unannounced....and we (Campus Police and my agency) made them go away because they didn't have the proper campus permits to protest.......

I would suspect that's what the case was here....

[LeanG]

I need more details to answer this one. How many? Were they peaceful? Disturbing others? Impeding the flow of traffic? Harrassing other?

Ex. 5 people quietly exercising their constitutonal freedoms in front of a court house is much different than a crowd of hundreds or thousands.

[AlabamaCop]

The problem is that these guys don't peacefully exercise thier right to free speech. They get out there and start name calling and making people mad, basically trying to start trouble. It sounds like the officers were trying to keep them from getting hurt by escorting them out, but they didn't take the hint. I can think of several charges. Failure of disorderly persons to disperse and disorderly conduct would be my first thoughts.

[pujolsfan146]

(Sets self to medium boil while awaiting response.)

Yea. Exactly. It gets very old hearing people claim they are being "harassed" when we are simply doing our job.

[aftermath]

Where's a grammar cop when you need one????

But, to your post...Can you please define what you mean when you say harassing?

(Sets self to medium boil while awaiting response.)

The cops walked by poking them with the batons....

:D

[aftermath]

thepolice should have evicted the hostile crowd. the Christiancop was right.

Okay, for the love of god, learn to spell and proper grammar. Deciphering your posts is irritating. If the crowd incited the other group and then it became a hostile situation, all should've been escorted out/arrested.

:rolleyes:

[Kpdpipes]

thepolice should have evicted the hostile crowd. the Christiancop was right.


Your right to free speach ends at the point where it infringes upon others. If their actions were causing a disturbance, then EVERYONE is removed from the area. The "Christian" Cop was 100% Wrong..your religious persuasion is NO excuse for disobeying a lawful order. If he was from MY agency, he would be looking at a hefty suspension, if not Firing, for Insubordination, and possibly Conduct Unbecoming. If they had gotten the proper permits then there wouldnt have been a problem in the first place. I dont care if it's a Christian Group, a Satanist Group, Communists, Marxists, Wiccans, or those Stupid Westboro Baptist snapperheads. If they violate the law they get dispersed pure and simple, no matter HOW i might personally feel about their cause or message.

[aftermath]

If religion is going to play into your decision as to whether or not you'll following rules, orders, and regulations, then you are not fit for this field.