Posted on 03/29/2012 4:20:27 PM PDT by sreastman
Two Christians Prosecuted for Reading the Bible in Public
Faith Issues/Christian Newswire
Yesterday, a trial court in Riverside County, California, heard arguments why the prosecution's case should be dismissed in the case of People v. Brett Coronado. Advocates for Faith & Freedom are defending Pastor Brett Coronado and Mark Mackey on misdemeanor charges after they were arrested in front of a California DMV while Mr. Mackey was reading the Bible out loud. The incident took place on February 2, 2011, in front of a group waiting for the DMV to open for business.
This case has generated national news, such as the story that ran on Fox News Channel today. Additionally, a YouTube video of the incident and arrest can be viewed by typing in "Hemet Pastor Arrested for Reading Bible". Both men have been spit on and threatened at other locations in the past when engaging in similar activities. As a result, it is their practice to video their evangelism to protect them from false accusations -- just as appears to be occurring in this case.
Initially, when Mr. Mackey was arrested, the CHP officer stated that it was illegal to "preach to a captive audience." After the defendants were placed in jail and upon learning that no such penal code prohibits preaching to a "captive audience," the officer issued a citation for "impeding an open business" with threats or intimidation under Penal Code Section 602.1(b). However, the district attorney again changed the charges claiming trespass after the government realized the business was not actually open and, presumably, saw the video showing no threats or intimidation.
Unfortunately, the trial judge declined to dismiss the case. Advocates vows to appeal the decision because the trespass law the CHP is currently relying on is unconstitutional. In fact, other federal courts that have reviewed the same statutory language used in the California Penal Code have been declared unconstitutional.
"This is an abuse of power on the part of the CHP," said Robert Tyler, Associate General Counsel for Advocates for Faith & Freedom. "The arresting officer could find no appropriate penal/ code to use when arresting these men. The purpose of the arrests appears to have been to censor them."
Advocates for Faith & Freedom has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of these three men for violation of their right to free speech and for unlawful arrest, but that case has been stayed pending the resolution of the state court prosecution.
© 2012 Christian Communication Network
Gotta say that this guy is no better than the lefties who want to turn parks all over the US into latrines. A DMV has a specific purpose and it’s not to be a venue for whoever wants to deliver his message to an essentially captive audience no matter how noble the message. (Would anyone want to listen to some Islamic diatribe while waiting on such a line?)
You’d best understand that Congress not being able to prohibit freedom of speech isn’t a license to say whatever you want wherever you want, or to take your clothes off wherever you feel like it.
The audience isn’t captive. They are freely choosing to wait in front of the DMV. If we are into limiting the 1st Ammendment, why not say the DMV patrons don’t have a right to assemble? Then, the police can charge them all
***Street corner preachers have been around for a long time,***
I remember one preaching on the street corner in Roswell NM back in 1966. He even had people stop and listen to him.
I don’t see how the “trespass” charge could possibly stick. I mean, if you’re going to charge the preachers with trespass, then why weren’t the other people waiting in line for the DMV to open also charged? If they’re not going to charge those people, then it’s selective prosecution against the preachers, and a judge is never going to stand for that.
Yeah. That's exactly what I think.
ML/NJ
Classic case of cops over=reacting. I don’t like what you are doing. MUST be against the law! What law. Well SOME law, because I don’t like it. Watch California legislature passi a law establishing Bible free zones around public buildings! The same thing happens in schools all the time. Some dumb educator sees a kid doing something he/she doesn’t like and thinks it MUST be against some rule or even the law. Well, everyone knows that schools are already Bible free zones.
It is idiocy to think they were a captive audience. They were waiting for the DMV to open. Hemet isn’t that big, the lines aren’t that long (grew up near there) and the people were free to leave and either move out of earshot or wait in their car.
This is a freedom of speech issue and the cop should be fired.
When I start my Occupy movement the DMV will be on my short list.
So, you think the cops should arrest any one for anything because they may not like it? Hi Hitler.
Yeah. That’s exactly what I think.
ML/NJ
It must have been spiritually arresting if you remembered the year from nearly 50 year hence!
I remember a lady on a street corner in 1987 in NYC telling folks to get ready cause God had showed her in a dream
that the city’s buildings would all be be burning with fire and would be cast down. Given that an earth quake fault comes right down the Hudson river and natural gas is used quite a lot in the city... a scenario where buildings are toppled over from an “unexpected” trembler and burning from the ruptured gas mains seems quite plausible.
I live in Central Va near the epicenter of the Earthquakes last fall that shook DC 100 miles away that cracked the national monument...who would have thought anything like that would have happened in sleepy...Mineral, Va.?
What a Prince you are!
ML/NJ
I was thinking about giving you the benifit of the doubt
What a Prince you are!
I beg to differ. When I moved from Maryland to Pennsylvania I had to go in person at the local PennDot center order to obtain a valid PA driver’s license. This was not a choice I “freely”
I am not religious but it really does me good to hear the truth at times when it is beginning to look like there is no one around who believes in the God who gave us this great country.
It is idiocy to think they were a captive audience. They were waiting for the DMV to open. Hemet isn’t that big, the lines aren’t that long (grew up near there) and the people were free to leave and either move out of earshot or wait in their car.
This is a freedom of speech issue and the cop should be fired.
I know you are just joking but actually I live in a much, much smaller community now here in PA than the one in which I lived when I lived in Maryland : ), I moved because of a new job and to be closer to my family.
I am not religious but it really does me good to hear the truth at times when it is beginning to look like there is no one around who believes in the God who gave us this great country.
I truth, if I’m standing in line at the DMV I don’t really need to hear some preacher telling me about Hell and Damnation because if I’m standing in line at the DMV, I probably already know a lot about that, or soon will.
I truth, if I’m standing in line at the DMV I don’t really need to hear some preacher telling me about Hell and Damnation because if I’m standing in line at the DMV, I probably already know a lot about that, or soon will/
Jesus did not care any more about religion than i do and he also had his problems with the bureaucracy, so i am reminded that i have some one on my side. that is probably the wrong way to put it but that is the only way i know.
Good luck.
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