Federal judge nixes SC license tag with cross - Yahoo! News: "By JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer Jim Davenport, Associated Press Writer – Tue Nov 10, 12:31 pm ET
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A federal judge ruled Tuesday that South Carolina can't issue license plates showing the image of a cross in front of a stained glass window along with the phrase 'I Believe.'
U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie said in her ruling that the license plates was unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment ban on establishment of religion.
'Such a law amounts to a state endorsement not only of religion in general, but of a specific sect in particular,' Currie wrote.
Her ruling also singled out Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who had pushed the bill approving the license plates through the state Legislature. Christian advocates tried to get the same license plate approved in Florida, but the bill did not pass its Legislature.
Bauer wanted to accomplish in South Carolina what had been unsuccessful in Florida, Currie wrote: To 'gain legislative approval of a specialty plate promoting the majority religion: Christianity. Whether motivated by sincerely held Christian beliefs or an effort to purchase political capital with religious coin, the result is the same. The statute is clearly unconstitutional and defense of its implementation has embroiled the state in unnecessary (and expensive) litigation.'
Bauer was not immediately available for comment."
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
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I am in the middle with this article, i agree to some aspect but not all. I think that the state can not make that thier "state liscense plate" but they can allow people to choose this for thiers. Although i am christian i think that people should not be so uptight about it. They should just let things go and find a new hobbie because most of the time the people complaing about it are those whom are not greatful for what they have, or are unhappy so they have to make other unhappy. Just worry about yourself, let others do as they please as long as not harm is done to you.
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