Always have a back-up plan if unwanted potential renters come a knockin'.

"I've already got somebody interested".
"I promised somebody I would wait until end of week."
"Sorry, You just missed it"
"I'm taking applications and will make a decision after additional credit checking or fact finding."
"I've got to get the place fumigated because of the last tenant's HIV-infected spiders"
"Whar birth certificate, whar?"

IlGreven: Hell, now that I think about it, if this is an actual law, she could use the oft-neglected 3rd Amendment right to not having to quarter troops in your home during peacetime as a defense!

How is this in violation of the quartering troops thing? Centuries ago it was legal for troops to come across a town and tell the residences of said town that the troops were staying over night in their homes, and not paying anything for the service.

This guy is not demanding a place to live rent free, nor is using his vet status as reason why he should live there at all. He's pissed that after filling out a rental application and agreeing to pay the monthly rent that the land lord has set, she had to get onto her high horse and reject him because his vet status conflicts with her personal beliefs.

Saying this is no different than the quartering troops thing, then you could say that every time my dad (retired Air Force) fills out a rental application or checks into a hotel that he's violating that amendment because he's checking the vet status box on the rental application or using the vet discount rate (if said hotel has one). It's a retarded arguement.

IlGreven: BarkingUnicorn: "Morgan filed suit last week in Suffolk Superior Court, accusing Roberts of violating a state law that prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to veterans."

It's really sad that such a law was ever considered necessary.

Yes. Landlords should reserve the right to refuse to rent to anyone, regardless of military service. Why do Republicans hate the Free Market?

Nicely played.

jaylectricity: "For her to do that to me, it was like a spit in the face," Morgan said. "For what we have gone through overseas, to come home to our country and have people ... discriminate against us. ... It made me extremely insecure about being a soldier."

You chose to go through that, and you were probably lied to about why you were there. You're not a protected class. Protected classes are protected because they have no choice to be who they are.

She looks at you as one of those people that would be OK with killing another human for money.

Soldiers tend to be that, yes.

An apartment complex is one thing, but I would never consider renting out a room in my house to a soldier or to anyone else who has killed someone. Even if the soldiers didn't start the war, they still (all of them!) said that they'd be just peachy wih getting paid to shoot people.

NetOwl: An apartment complex is one thing, but I would never consider renting out a room in my house to a soldier or to anyone else who has killed someone. Even if the soldiers didn't start the war, they still (all of them!) said that they'd be just peachy wih getting paid to shoot people.

Then we should have mandatory service like the European countries have.

Turn 18, do your two years.

Great Janitor:
Saying this is no different than the quartering troops thing, then you could say that every time my dad (retired Air Force) fills out a rental application or checks into a hotel that he's violating that amendment because he's checking the vet status box on the rental application or using the vet discount rate (if said hotel has one). It's a retarded arguement.

And hey, guess what? Turns out the owners of a hotel or apartment are allowed to turn him away if they don't want his business. The third amendment doesn't say that it's unconstitutional to rent a room to a soldier, it says that they can't be forced to house a soldier against their will. Take a good look at that last part, it's kind of important.

Loki-L: BarkingUnicorn: "Morgan filed suit last week in Suffolk Superior Court, accusing Roberts of violating a state law that prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to veterans."

It's really sad that such a law was ever considered necessary.

It sounds unconstitutional too. Specifically the 3rd Amendment says that government can't force citizens in peacetime to quarter soldiers.

/facepalm

She's fortunate to live in a country where others will fight to protect her right to be a pacifist.

Great Justice: Being in the military isn't like being a member of a race. People aren't born into the military. American soldiers all made a choice to join.

If we can't judge people based on their choices, what can we judge them on?

In fairness, when this law was passed (please correct me if I'm wrong), it was at a time that a lot of Vietnam vets were returning from overseas to find that they were suffering from severe discrimination in housing & employment, and in many of those cases, the returning vets were draftees, not enlistees.

Regardless, the issue is one of public interest. No matter what the hippies might think, we NEED a military. Maybe we don't need to be in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. But that's not the issue. The issue is that as a nation, we ALL benefit from us having a strong military. The current wars aren't the issue. The issue is that as a nation, we need a military.

But military service has historically been a very BAD idea. There's the issue of being asked to DIE for your country (which does happen from time to time), long separations from friends and family, substandard housing & living conditions, and a pay that - when adjusted for the hours actually worked - is not normally competitive with similar salaries in the civilian world. So since a draft is political suicide, we have to do things to encourage people to enlist. We offer some of the best (socialized) medical care in the military, along with subsidies on family programs like daycare, grocery shopping, and housing.

Then you have the issue of how the military members interact with the civilians. Like it or not, military members released into the civilian world are trained killers. Some of them suffer from traumatic brain injury and/or post-traumatic stress, in addition to other physical and mental disabilities that may or may NOT have been diagnosed and treated while on active duty. Do you really want to release a large group of combat veterans into a nation that may actively discriminate against them? There's a reason that we at least pay lip service to disabled combat veterans: Because from a public safety standpoint, you do NOT want to piss these guys off.

tl; dr version:
We can argue all day about whether this nation has a moral obligation to support those men and women who have sacrificed so much in service to this country, but I'll never convince you & you'll never convince me. The fact is that every program, law, regulation, department, and guideline we have for veterans is not only good for them but benefits this nation as a whole.

Last Man on Earth: And hey, guess what? Turns out the owners of a hotel or apartment are allowed to turn him away if they don't want his business. The third amendment doesn't say that it's unconstitutional to rent a room to a soldier, it says that they can't be forced to house a soldier against their will. Take a good look at that last part, it's kind of important.

And he's a veteran, he's not a soldier employed by the government anymore.

Comprehension fail.

Loki-L: BarkingUnicorn: "Morgan filed suit last week in Suffolk Superior Court, accusing Roberts of violating a state law that prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to veterans."

It's really sad that such a law was ever considered necessary.

It sounds unconstitutional too. Specifically the 3rd Amendment says that government can't force citizens in peacetime to quarter soldiers.

Forcing someone to house a soldier is not the same as saying that you can't discriminate against them.

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

The manner prescribed by law would include not allowing her to discriminate.

In other words, the government can't tell her that she must house a soldier, but they can tell her to obey the law when it comes to refusing one.

It is for the courts to figure out just how and if she broke a law, but I believe he has a legitimate gripe. Let's face it though, if you had left the same voice mail indicating the "neighborhood sentiment" of not wanting (insert minority group here), then you'd be in some hot water.

AbbeySomeone: ecmoRandomNumbers: MBK: What a farking biatch.

Why? For stating the feelings of the collective building? Some people have very strong issues with the war and choose to live in an environment where they are not subjected to reminders.

I can't believe you had that thought, much less that you put it into writing. Some people have very strong issues with homosexuals and choose to live in an environment where they are not subject to reminders. Some people have very strong issues with non-whites and choose to live in an environment where they are not subject to reminders. Some people have very strong issues with non-Christians and choose to live in an environment where they are not subject to reminders.

Either you believe any discrimination is acceptable, or you are on the same level as any other bigot.

phrawgh: She's fortunate to live in a country where others will fight to protect her right to be a pacifist.

And none of them are soldiers. Soldiers don't fight for her right to do ANYTHING. They fight to defend the interests of the United States government. That has jack shiat to do with fighting for anyone's rights.

The ACLU has done more for your rights than anybody currently wearing a uniform.

Mensan: AbbeySomeone: ecmoRandomNumbers: MBK: What a farking biatch.

Why? For stating the feelings of the collective building? Some people have very strong issues with the war and choose to live in an environment where they are not subjected to reminders.

I can't believe you had that thought, much less that you put it into writing. Some people have very strong issues with homosexuals and choose to live in an environment where they are not subject to reminders. Some people have very strong issues with non-whites and choose to live in an environment where they are not subject to reminders. Some people have very strong issues with non-Christians and choose to live in an environment where they are not subject to reminders.

Either you believe any discrimination is acceptable, or you are on the same level as any other bigot.

Here, here.

Eatin' Queer Fetuses for Jesus: No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

That amendment... it doesn't mean what you think it means.

Eatin' Queer Fetuses for Jesus: No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Except he is not going to be housed as a soldier, but as a civilian, who happens to have a job as a soldier. There's a very distinct difference there.

He got three quick bites. Not bad, I guess.

The story never said she REFUSED to rent to him. He picked up an application, then she called him and basically said "You know, the people around here are really politically active, I don't think you would be happy here." Then he decided based on that to not actually turn in the rental application.

This doesn't really sound any different to me that if an elderly person wanted to rent an apartment and the landlord said "There are a TON of kids living around here that make a lot of noise, you may not like it here."

It's not refusing to rent, it's just warning the possible renter that the environment may not actually be to their liking.

NetOwl: An apartment complex is one thing, but I would never consider renting out a room in my house to a soldier or to anyone else who has killed someone. Even if the soldiers didn't start the war, they still (all of them!) said that they'd be just peachy wih getting paid to shoot people.

So if a police officer who killed somebody who was threatening to kill others, or somebody like the Oklahoma mother who killed intruders to save her own life and that of her baby son, came to you for an apartment you would refuse them?

Thank a veteran for protecting your right to be a jerk.
Thank a police officer for protecting your dickish self from other scumbags.
And thank those who have had to act in self defense for reducing the number of scumbags so you stand out more.

If only he had filled out the application prior to his media and legal complaints. I would think at this point her message to him is just conversation, not a legal rejection since there was no application to legally reject.

As was earlier pointed out...it should be interesting as the patriot supporters collide with the free market supporters.

Well, if we're taking the 3rd amendment literally, I'm going to go get myself some damn bear arms.

here to help: I wonder how many times hard working left minded individuals have been denied housing because their hair was a little weird or, heaven forbid, they had a tattoo or a couple of piercings?

Ah, so you're going with the goose and gander defense? That's mighty big of ya.

snuff3r: How is this any different from not wanting to rent your place to a rabid pack of uni students? Or Junkies? Or Soldiers from other countries? Or people with kids? It's her property, she gets to decide who rents it. A stupid reason, mind, but it's still her property.

Damn those laws that prevent housing discrimination.

Quark_Quasar: Well, if we're taking the 3rd amendment literally, I'm going to go get myself some damn bear arms.

If you just want the arms, can I have the bear claws? Those are damn good.

ElLoco: He got three quick bites. Not bad, I guess.

Very high ROI. I'm content.

Great Janitor: Quark_Quasar: Well, if we're taking the 3rd amendment literally, I'm going to go get myself some damn bear arms.

If you just want the arms, can I have the bear claws? Those are damn good.

No, the claws are included!

I wonder what this coonts fark handle is.

Mensan: Thank a veteran for protecting your right to be a jerk.

It's sad that people over the age of 10 still believe that. Tell me exactly which country is likely to attempt to invade and overthrow the government anytime soon? The US military fights to defend the foreign policy interests of the United States government. That has jack shiat to do with your rights.

I do wish America would grow up and stop with the damn hero worship of the military.

Why does everyone have to run to the courts for this crap?
It's not like this is a major systematic problem.
Why would you want to give money to a person who dislikes you?
Tell her to fark off, and rent from one of the EVERY OTHER PLACES who don't have a problem renting to you.
Everyone deals with assholes every day. The proper action is to not do business with them, and get on with your life.
Not run to court & the media.
*waaaaaahhhh she descriminated against me cause I'm a soldier!* Grow up, pansy.

Dahnkster: Always have a back-up plan if unwanted potential renters come a knockin'.

"I've already got somebody interested".
"I promised somebody I would wait until end of week."
"Sorry, You just missed it"
"I'm taking applications and will make a decision after additional credit checking or fact finding."
"I've got to get the place fumigated because of the last tenant's HIV-infected spiders"
"Whar birth certificate, whar?"

You forgot one:

"The last people moved out because of a major bed bug infestation. Hope you don't mind a little company here."

david_gaithersburg: I wonder what this coonts fark handle is.

letrole

El Freak: Mensan: Thank a veteran for protecting your right to be a jerk.

It's sad that people over the age of 10 still believe that. Tell me exactly which country is likely to attempt to invade and overthrow the government anytime soon? The US military fights to defend the foreign policy interests of the United States government. That has jack shiat to do with your rights.

I do wish America would grow up and stop with the damn hero worship of the military.

I dunno, I know a guy from work that served in Iraq, he's not even 30 yet, his hands are ruined from his service, and he's raising 2 kids (one of which isn't his) and doing a damn good job at work at the same time. I don't really care if he protected any one of my rights, I'm glad he's on my side, and he deserves much more respect than he gets. He's done more work in the past 10 years than most Americans will ever do in their life, and he holds no qualms about it.

phrawgh: She's fortunate to live in a country where others will fight to protect her right to be a pacifist.

I think this chick is a total farkin asshole and a loony toon but that really isn't a right in a nation that can implement the draft at any time.

I'm a vet. My brother was stationed at GITMO. I buy at least 1 beer for any active serviceperson I see in a bar. I donate money. Blah etc.

but...

I don't think the landlady should be forced to bring people in that disagree with her ideals. She's trying to set up a particular vibe there, and hey - ok, why not. Where's the line between that and a large apartment building, etc? Dunno - but if it's just a small building where everyone knows everyone, and she wants everyone to like everyone, then...meh. MEH. meh.

I actually think it looks worse for him to sue her over it, than it does for her to have done it. Meh.

El Freak: Tell me exactly which country is likely to attempt to invade and overthrow the government anytime soon?

They can't do that because we have a strong military.

here to help: imprimere: here to help: I wonder how many times hard working left minded individuals have been denied housing because their hair was a little weird or, heaven forbid, they had a tattoo or a couple of piercings?

Ah, so you're going with the goose and gander defense? That's mighty big of ya.

It was a mere pondering. If she flat out denied to rent to him then I'd be upset with her. I do have massive respect for servicemen and women. However... from the article, which is STRONGLY trying to make this guy out as a victim, that does not seem to be the case. He sounds like he's stirring up trouble and this woman was too dumb to just keep her opinions to herself.

Again, you replace a soldier with some repressed group member and the landlady with a bigot (which is redundant) and the outrage is unquestionable. Aside from an unfortunate picture, I don't see this guy as being a douche at all.

El Freak: It's sad that people over the age of 10 still believe that. Tell me exactly which country is likely to attempt to invade and overthrow the government anytime soon? The US military fights to defend the foreign policy interests of the United States government. That has jack shiat to do with your rights.

I do wish America would grow up and stop with the damn hero worship of the military.

Do you think that would be true if we disbanded the military tomorrow?

I'm not arguing whether the recent wars have been justified. But if America suddenly disbanded our military TOMORROW, what do you think would happen?

As for the bolded? China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba. Now none of those countries are likely to attempt an invasion NOW, but if we suddenly decided to mothball all of our military equipment and laid off everyone who's ever served in uniform, any of those nations (and probably more than a few others) would be scrambling to see who could get here first.

El Freak: Mensan: Thank a veteran for protecting your right to be a jerk.

It's sad that people over the age of 10 still believe that. Tell me exactly which country is likely to attempt to invade and overthrow the government anytime soon? The US military fights to defend the foreign policy interests of the United States government. That has jack shiat to do with your rights.

I do wish America would grow up and stop with the damn hero worship of the military.

Do you think that it might be possible that due to a strong military, there is very little likelihood of a foreign nation successfully invading the U.S.?

Do you think that it is possible that the reason why you currently have the right to say what ever the hell you feel like saying is because of soliders who risked and even lost their lives fighting for this nation?

The military is more than just a tool used to defend foreign policy. It is here to protect U.S. soil and it's citizens.

Could a nation attempt a military invasion of the U.S.? Yeah, it just wouldn't be successful, because of the military. Any naval attempt would result in the sinking of every enemy carrier and troop ship. A treaty of non-aggression with Mexico to allow troops to land in Mexico and march them into the U.S. through the U.S./Mexico boarder would be a bad move because then said invading military would have to deal with both the U.S. millitary and gun carrying Texans waiting for a reason to legally shoot foreigners.

IamAwake: I'm a vet. My brother was stationed at GITMO. I buy at least 1 beer for any active serviceperson I see in a bar. I donate money. Blah etc.

but...

I don't think the landlady should be forced to bring people in that disagree with her ideals. She's trying to set up a particular vibe there, and hey - ok, why not. Where's the line between that and a large apartment building, etc? Dunno - but if it's just a small building where everyone knows everyone, and she wants everyone to like everyone, then...meh. MEH. meh.

I actually think it looks worse for him to sue her over it, than it does for her to have done it. Meh.

Would you say the same if it was an all white neighborhood and she was just, you know, letting a brother know that he really isn't welcome in their purebread community?