Good luck enforcing that. Trampling on our First Amendment rights is something strictly reserved for the Federal government...

good

Fark Atheists last seen moving en masse.

When they have the same exact laws, but only for people under 21, no one ever has a problem.

wage0048: Good luck enforcing that. Trampling on our First Amendment rights is something strictly reserved for the Federal government...

FTA: Meanwhile, the city of Gilbert responded to KTAR's request for comment, saying as a whole, the town council finds the ordinance problematic.

They've put it on the agenda for the next council meeting, where they expect the law to be repealed.

As an atheist, I wholeheartedly approve of going into these peoples' homes and preventing them from worshipping their stupid invisible sky wizard.

Nah, just kidding, clear violation of their first amendment rights. Needs repealing.

It would be nice if the article included some actual information.

Molavian: Fark Atheists last seen moving en masse.

Not all. This Fark atheist/First Amendment amateur "scholar" recalls a couple of words about "peaceably assemble" and "nor prohibit the free exercise thereof."

Molavian: Fark Atheists last seen moving en masse.

Don't be such a tool.

AliasUndercover: When they have the same exact laws, but only for people under 21, no one ever has a problem.

You too.

My mother lives in Mesa, AZ (North neighbor town to Gilbert), and I can say without a doubt, both cities are backwards in their governance. They are both run by religious fundies (of the Mormon persuasion in Mesa) and routinely make policy that benefits a very particular group of people and squelches the rights of other minorities.

July 4th once fell on a Sunday a few years back, and the company Mesa had contracted to do the fireworks were run by a Mormon family. The city council voted to move the 4th of July celebration to the 5th because of their religious beliefs (both the company and the council). Gilbert is just as bad.

/Both are shining examples of predominantly white suburban sprawl hell hole.
//Glad I moved to Tempe to go to ASU
///Will move into Phoenix once I graduate
////F*ck religious fundies and get your religion out of my government!

That and it's a HUGE violation of the constitution providing Freedom of Religion & freedom of assembly. Some fark-nut gonna find himself out of a job.

/Done in 1!!

I thought the prosecution of women who miscarry in Utah was stupid
I thought the cutting of Library funding in Florida was stupid

....

WTF is it with you southern states?????

Many unanswered questions regarding the ordinance.

Can the Adventists meet on Saturdays? What about the Baptists on Wednesdays? Can the Mormons ride their bikes through town? Can the Jehovah's Witnesses put up their buildings in one day? Can the Episcopal's drink daily? Can the Catholics confess on Tuesdays? Can the Unitarians meet whenever? Can the People's Temple drink Kool aid? Can the Jews read backwards on Monday? Can the Muslims cover their women on Thursdays? Can the Budhists meditate on Fridays?

This version of the story is better: Link (new window)

I read the article and maybe I missed it but what exactly kind of church is this? The goat slaughtering kind?

TopherKersting: This version of the story is better: Link (new window)

Yeah KTAR here in Phoenix is a very right wing talk radio station that does not even attempt to be objective on their reporting regardless of the story. That and their radio shows are mind numbingly terrible and right wing talking points (EVEN their morning news program).

TopherKersting: This version of the story is better: Link (new window)

If by "better" you mean "devoid of any quotes or sources of information and full of some blogger's opinion" then yes, yes it is.

TopherKersting: This version of the story is better: Link (new window)

Much better article, I take back my question.

My response to the city would be, "go fark yourself" and hand them a copy of the Constitution which they obviously have never seen.

And I'm not even religious.

Meanwhile, the city of Gilbert responded to KTAR's request for comment, saying as a whole, the town council finds the ordinance problematic.

Except this one officer that decided to tattle?

SakuraDensetsu: I thought the prosecution of women who miscarry in Utah was stupid
I thought the cutting of Library funding in Florida was stupid

....

WTF is it with you southern states?????

???

Paradise? It's Paradise, right?

Sounds like just a case of CC&R's run amuck.

Maximum Snark: My mother lives in Mesa, AZ (North neighbor town to Gilbert), and I can say without a doubt, both cities are backwards in their governance. They are both run by religious fundies (of the Mormon persuasion in Mesa) and routinely make policy that benefits a very particular group of people and squelches the rights of other minorities.

July 4th once fell on a Sunday a few years back, and the company Mesa had contracted to do the fireworks were run by a Mormon family. The city council voted to move the 4th of July celebration to the 5th because of their religious beliefs (both the company and the council). Gilbert is just as bad.

/Both are shining examples of predominantly white suburban sprawl hell hole.
//Glad I moved to Tempe to go to ASU
///Will move into Phoenix once I graduate
////F*ck religious fundies and get your religion out of my government!

Just get out of AZ all together. If you want a lack of LDS on your politics then you need out of this state and move further west or east. Should be safe in Texas but then again it is still Texas.

mikemc3: That and it's a HUGE violation of the constitution providing Freedom of Religion & freedom of assembly. Some fark-nut gonna find himself out of a job.

/Done in 1!!

The 1st Amendment to the US Constitution only prohibits Congress from passing laws restricting/promoting any religion. It has nothing to do with any local/state laws.

That amendment, BTW, was passed in order to ensure that the states could promote/restrict the religious beliefs they were formed under, without fear of other states using federalism as a tool to undermine their beliefs.

The original thirteen colonies had very differing religions, most of which were state-sponsored (with legislation even), and were very distrustful of their neighboring "heretics."

God can't control the town council? Pretty weak god, eh?

FTGodWin: mikemc3: That and it's a HUGE violation of the constitution providing Freedom of Religion & freedom of assembly. Some fark-nut gonna find himself out of a job.

/Done in 1!!

The 1st Amendment to the US Constitution only prohibits Congress from passing laws restricting/promoting any religion. It has nothing to do with any local/state laws.

That amendment, BTW, was passed in order to ensure that the states could promote/restrict the religious beliefs they were formed under, without fear of other states using federalism as a tool to undermine their beliefs.

The original thirteen colonies had very differing religions, most of which were state-sponsored (with legislation even), and were very distrustful of their neighboring "heretics."

Yes, but the 14th amendment extended all "privileges and immunities" allowed by the Constitution to protecting citizens of states too, though for some reason SCOTUS gutted that and incorporated the BOR through weird due process reasoning.

runningscared: I read the article and maybe I missed it but what exactly kind of church is this? The goat slaughtering kind?

If they're willing to branch out to pigs, cows and barbecue grills I'll let them baptize me.

Devil's Playground: AbbeySomeone: good

In what way can a thinking human being declare this as good? Can you please explain?

Sarcasm.
The law is bullshiat.

As much as I despise fundies, I find this ordinance just a little problematic. See, I don't think that government entities should have a right to regulate meetings in private homes.

Devil's Playground: AbbeySomeone: good

In what way can a thinking human being declare this as good? Can you please explain?


In the trolling way.

...I really should refresh the page before posting when I've let the tab sit for 10 minutes.

jaytkay: God can't control the town council? Pretty weak god, eh?

Haven't you been listening to Pat Robertson? God's gonna roast 'em with 100+ F. temperatures this summer.

YixilTesiphon: SakuraDensetsu: I thought the prosecution of women who miscarry in Utah was stupid
I thought the cutting of Library funding in Florida was stupid

....

WTF is it with you southern states?????

???

Still the Southern half of the country

brigid_fitch: Dude, check your sarcasm meter.
SakuraDensetsu: Still the Southern half of the country

I mean, are you farking with me? Utah is not considered the South in any conventional definition I've heard of.

Still the Southern half of the country

What is it with you former slave states?

TopherKersting's link is to a much better article. They can meet whenever they want, for whatever purpose, as long as it's not in a private home. Such ordinances are actually pretty common, and are based on zoning and use issues. Pretty sure the San Diego case mentioned in the article was on Fark last year.

cmb53208: As much as I despise fundies, I find this ordinance just a little problematic. See, I don't think that government entities should have a right to regulate meetings in private homes.

From the linked item above: The town continues to defend its ban based on claims it creates traffic, parking, and building safety concerns. But the City has no traffic or building concerns with Cub Scout meetings, Football parties or even large business and social events held on a regular basis and even explicitly makes provisions for day care to operate in private homes it's just the odd gathering of Christians that seem to bring out a sense of persnickety in the city elders.

Now I don't know what "ADF" is (from TFA) but this also seems like a job for the ACLU. Seriously. Unless the firm dichotomy described pertaining to non-religious and religious organizations is actually ill-informed, this seems like a tee-up for the pros at the ACLU.

I mean, if they can successfully get Christmas decorations out of town squares then they know they have precedent for application of the 1st Amendment's religious and assembly clauses w/r/t local law.

CanadaHauntsMe: TopherKersting's link is to a much better article. They can meet whenever they want, for whatever purpose, as long as it's not in a private home. Such ordinances are actually pretty common, and are based on zoning and use issues. Pretty sure the San Diego case mentioned in the article was on Fark last year.

Of course, non-religious groups can meet in private homes. A more refined rub than TFA presents, but still that's the rub.

Molavian: Fark Atheists last seen moving en masse.

Not this one. The bible is hogwash but I defend people's right to do as they please on their own property.

YixilTesiphon: brigid_fitch: Dude, check your sarcasm meter.
SakuraDensetsu: Still the Southern half of the country

I mean, are you farking with me? Utah is not considered the South in any conventional definition I've heard of.

Tell that to the Alaskans. To them, there are 49 southern states.

/Not counting Canada
//And Mexico

Yeah, they're so persecuted.

/yawn

YixilTesiphon: brigid_fitch: Dude, check your sarcasm meter.
SakuraDensetsu: Still the Southern half of the country

I mean, are you farking with me? Utah is not considered the South in any conventional definition I've heard of.

Maybe not, but I am refering to specifically the southern half of the country...where reason gets replaced with theology way to easilly.

awesome headline, I hope it's true
(it's a start anyway)