yahwehyadayada

Yesterday I was watching a police news conference concerning the Elizabeth Smart abduction. Behind the police spokesperson was a large banner that said: PRAY FOR ELIZABETH.

I do not know for sure if this news conference was taking place outside the police station, but it certainly looked like it. That being the case, am I nitpicking if I object to this banner being displayed on the grounds of the police station? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

wildernesse

My reaction to this is--if you're going to call up the police station and say "You're infringing on my right to freedom FROM religion--sky daddy isn't going to find that little girl!" then you're being a punk. If it even is at the police station.

Whether you have a valid point or not, I don't know. I think you might, but then I also think that this might not be the time to air your grievance with the police--see the church bus thread.

--tiba

hezekiah jones

The police station is public property and as such equal access to the public (to whatever portion of the police station is accessible to the public) is guaranteed. Furthermore the banners contain protected speech. You can't discriminate against the content of the speech. In a nutshell, yes, you're nitpicking.

hezekiah jones

Of course you could head down to the police station with your own sign reading, "Nothing Fails Like Prayer," but expect to be beaten about the head with the "Pray For Elizabeth" signs.