Posted on 04/24/2006 7:25:48 PM PDT by Iam1ru1-2
A group of Christian conservatives is urging Gov. Joe Manchin to reject a federally mandated digitized driver's license law, comparing the bar-coded national ID program to the "mark of the beast."
Fourteen members of the group that opposes the federal Real ID Act of 2005 met with Division of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Joseph Cicchirillo, governor's office lawyer Joe Ward and Manchin legislative aide Jim Pitrolo for more than an hour on April 5.
Pastor Ervin "Butch" Paugh, a 57-year-old Nicholas County preacher who heads the group, said last week that the new driver's licenses are unconstitutional, invade people's privacy and conflict with Christian beliefs. He said the federal government is trying to create a "police state" with the new ID law.
"This is a total takeover by the beast system and a plan to ID everyone on the planet," said Paugh, who has a nationally syndicated radio show called "Call to Decision." "This will make someone a criminal if they don't sacrifice their Christian convictions."
The Real ID Act, which Congress approved last year, will take effect in 2008. States must comply with the regulations, according to Cicchirillo.
"The issue at hand is the protection of our citizens," he said in a letter to Paugh.
Department of Transportation spokeswoman Susan Watkins said DMV officials are "still reviewing and evaluating" Paugh's criticism of the standardized ID program.
"At this point no decisions have been made," Watkins said.
Last month, New Hampshire's House members overwhelmingly voted to bar the state from taking part in the national ID program. The New Hampshire Senate is expected to debate a similar bill.
The liberal American Civil Liberties Union and conservative Cato Institute also oppose the federally standardized driver's licenses. Libertarian party members across the country have spoken out against the Real ID Act.
The new law establishes national standards for state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards. Some call the new driver's licenses national ID cards because they require the approval of the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Each license or ID card must include the person's name, address, signature, date of birth, gender, and a digital photograph of the person's face. Applicants also must submit more documentation for identification purposes than most states now require.
Each state also must share its database with all other states. The database must include the basic information on the license, along with drivers' histories, including motor vehicle violations, suspensions and points on licenses.
The new law gives the secretary of Homeland Security the power to require additional details on state driver's licenses.
By May 2008, federal agencies will accept driver's licenses as identification only from states that comply with the new law. So residents who don't have the new IDs won't be allowed to board a plane or enter a federal building without one.
Paugh predicts that the federal government will require that digitized thumbprints, facial and eye scans, and DNA information be included on driver's licenses. He believes hundreds of thousands of Americans will refuse the new standardized driver's licenses.
"I don't want the information about my personal life put in a public record for anybody to get a hold of who can hack into a computer," Paugh said. "If I give my uniqueness to a beast system, I can never get it back. The beast system will eventually kill all those who follow it."
The Bible's book of Revelation describes the beast system and "mark of the beast," warning that numbering people signals the arrival of the Antichrist. People who accept the mark are defying God, Paugh believes.
Paugh's group includes conservative Christians from Nicholas, Kanawha, Harrison, Randolph counties, and Canada. They meet Saturdays at a member's house and Sundays at a motel room.
Oh brother....
They said the same thing about Social Security numbers... and grocery store barcodes.
Or maybe Gorbachev's birthmark?
Say what? Any validity he had on the other points (and he had some) are now hogwash.
When its time for that there will be NO doubt as to what it is. Doesnt mean this technology wont be used though.
I object to it for many other reasons.
It's not the mark of the beast but the national ID still stinks.
Nor do I.
He may be onto something. This afternoon, just as I was assigned a number at my supermarket's deli counter, I felt a distinct aura of evil emanating from the salami display.
Not quite! It will be after the Antichrist comes to power that his false prophet will make people take the beast's mark. That said, I don't doubt that a national ID could possibly set up the stage for the day when the mark of the beast is required. But, for now, there's nothing anti Christian in a national ID.
It doen't count unless they make you stick the ID on the back of your hand or forehead.
You mean this...
http://clinton.senate.gov/
...isn't the Mark of the Beast?
I don't worry about this. I won't be here.
1Thes.4:17
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
All this will take place over He takes His own home.
Or this reminds me of the scenario on the X-files, where its an idea put forth, that everyone who received a small pox vaccination was getting a little something extra along with the vaccine..they were also being tagged and being identified, and all this info, was being stored in some absolutely huge warehouse for some sly and devious plot carried out by nefarious sections of the American government...
They don't realize that fighting the prophesy is NOT what they are supposed to do.
They are supposed to embrace it, like HE did.
You're right! And the people left to receive the mark of the beast won't object to it on Christian principles.
I can't think of a finer way to be marked by the beast.
Is there some reason I should oppose this? I cannot think of one.
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