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I Will Defend To Keep It Based On Free Speech (Vanity Plate)
KOMO TV ^ | May 13, 2005 | Liz Rocca

Posted on 05/16/2005 6:12:14 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

'I Will Defend To Keep It Based On Free Speech'

TACOMA - A Tacoma woman says she feels violated by a complaint about her vanity plate. It simply reads: "John 3-16"

But someone found the Bible verse offensive and now the state is deciding whether she can keep the plate.

"The verse in the Bible says 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,' " says Jane Milhans.

To her, John 3:16 is a message of love, and a great vanity plate. But now, someone has told the state Jane's plate is offensive.

"My first reaction was I was in shock," she said.

Jane says she's had the plate for 21 years without a single complaint.

"It's not profane, it's not bigotry, it's not hatred, it's not evil," she says.

But Brad Benfield with the State Department of Licensing said, "It appears from the complaint that somebody was not happy that a state issued license plate had a religious component."

A Pierce County woman made the complaint, which reads in part: "I was offended that I have to be 'prayed over' by a license plate... What happened to keeping church and state separate?"

We tracked down the woman who lodged the complaint, and she declined an on-camera interview. She says frankly, she's dismayed the state didn't keep her complaint anonymous.

"A lot of people view this as a waste tax dollars to go through this process," Milhans said.

Now Jane says she'll have to defend her plate in front of a review committee, who will decide if she can keep it.

Benfield admits just one complaint can trigger a review.

"We're always interested in finding out if one slipped through the cracks," he said.

They caught one last year. "GOT MILF" was thought to be a play on the milk commercials. It turned out to be a sexual reference to good looking moms.

The state cancelled the plate.

But Jane Milhans vows they won't cancel hers.

"I will defend to keep it based on free speech," she said.

She says she'll fight to spread her message of love.

Last year, the state handled complaints about 16 vanity plates. They canceled four of them.

We should find out next month if Jane can keep hers.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: antitheist; freespeech
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Comment #21 Removed by Moderator

To: Diana in Wisconsin
My plates are due for renewal. Maybe I'll try that one here in Wisconsin if it's not already taken. :)

If it is taken try F-DEMS. To them it says the same thing -- It challenges their only article of faith, that the state is God.

22 posted on 05/16/2005 6:56:45 AM PDT by Cowman (Just when you hit the bottom of the stupid hole you notice the guy next to you is digging)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
What happened to keeping church and state separate?"

The complainer doesn't know what the First Amendment actually says, just what her liberal friends say.

"The complainer can go pound salt." Sharky 5-16

23 posted on 05/16/2005 6:57:41 AM PDT by CPOSharky (You are born cold, wet, and hungry. Things get worse, then you die.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Ignorance knows no bounds. Tell the review committee it's in memorial to her high school sweetheart John, born March 16th. Or they broke up March 16. Creative anti-religous complaints, not having a basis in reality, sometimes require an answer in kind.

End of prob. Keep the plate. Do minor penance. :-)

But being a Christian, she is being truthful and honest. The dilemma alone is enough to make ya say a couple of Hail Mary's. :-)
24 posted on 05/16/2005 6:58:10 AM PDT by JoeSixPack1
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
But Brad Benfield with the State Department of Licensing said, "It appears from the complaint that somebody was not happy that a state issued license plate had a religious component."

Identify the complainant.

In America, we have the right to face our accusers.

Make his or her name public.

25 posted on 05/16/2005 6:59:30 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Not Elected Pope Since 4/19/2005.)
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To: CPOSharky
"The complainer can go pound salt." Sharky 5-16

"Identify this weasel. Publish his name. Harass him wherever he goes." -- Lazamataz 3:19

26 posted on 05/16/2005 7:00:43 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Not Elected Pope Since 4/19/2005.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
She needs a frame that says:

ON THE OTHER HAND
JOHN 3:16
I HATE YOUR GUTS

27 posted on 05/16/2005 7:06:24 AM PDT by null and void (Objects In The Crosshairs Appear More Alive Than They Will Be)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

A few years back, a kid was given a graduation present by his father.

It was a car with a vanity plate that read 4JIHAD.

It was a news story until the press learned the kid's name was Jihad. Reported to be an honorable first name among the Islamic community in California. IIRC


28 posted on 05/16/2005 7:06:26 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar (The noisiest people in the libraries these days are the librarians. (battlegearboat))
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
A Pierce County woman made the complaint, which reads in part: "I was offended that I have to be 'prayed over' by a license plate... What happened to keeping church and state separate?"

This woman is just a b-tch. Likes to control others. I hate creatures like these....

29 posted on 05/16/2005 7:08:34 AM PDT by wizardoz
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To: Jet Jaguar

I'm wondering just how long it will be before someone complains about my new 9/11 memorial plate.


30 posted on 05/16/2005 7:11:55 AM PDT by null and void (Objects In The Crosshairs Appear More Alive Than They Will Be)
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To: null and void

Unfortunately, I am sure it will happen.


31 posted on 05/16/2005 7:16:41 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar (The noisiest people in the libraries these days are the librarians. (battlegearboat))
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To: Jet Jaguar
Me too.

Although it is milder than I wanted. KLMALL was taken...

32 posted on 05/16/2005 7:23:50 AM PDT by null and void (I fear we have only awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
We tracked down the woman who lodged the complaint, and she declined an on-camera interview. She says frankly, she's dismayed the state didn't keep her complaint anonymous.

That's what bothers me most about this tawdry little episode. Should not the "accused" (Ms. Milhans) have the right of knowing who her accuser is?

I think the TV station should provide the name of the accuser. Let's see if she has any habits which are "offensive."

Anyone who files complaint on another citizen should be required to do so openly and publicly. Anonymous complaints should be ignored.

33 posted on 05/16/2005 7:34:44 AM PDT by southernnorthcarolina (UNC Tar Heels: NCAA Basketball Champions 1957/1982/1993/2005)
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To: litehaus

Well said, as we slowly move step by step into a police state. Or I should say, a godless police state.


34 posted on 05/16/2005 7:41:51 AM PDT by TrailofTears ("A real father would hold the judge hostage and starve him to death.")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Apparently that little clause about "...prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." is out of style these days.


35 posted on 05/16/2005 7:54:44 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: CPOSharky

Chortle!!! Nice shot!


36 posted on 05/16/2005 7:57:47 AM PDT by SAJ
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Tell the offended bitch not to look at the license plate.


37 posted on 05/16/2005 8:02:32 AM PDT by xrp (Executing assigned posting duties flawlessly -- ZERO mistakes)
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To: Jet Jaguar
State DMVs are staffed, generally, by morons and just chock full of would-be, but thankfully mindless, censors. Examples from MO:

69 and LXIX are issued plates. VI-IX is barred by statute.

44DD is an issued plate. 34DD is barred by statute.

QQQQ2 is an issued plate. 3MTA3 is barred by statute.

Blithering idiots -- these are but a few of hundreds of such examples in this state.

38 posted on 05/16/2005 8:02:46 AM PDT by SAJ
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To: litehaus
The CHRISTIAN FAITH is treated like a hate crime.

Unless you are a Christian who doesn't actually believe the Bible. Then you're okay. Well, you have to not believe the Bible in enough areas. You must denounce Genesis, Leviticus, Romans, oh, all of the Epistles really, and anything anywhere they says you should "repent."

39 posted on 05/16/2005 8:36:06 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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To: litehaus

The obvious hole in what I just said is that John 3:16 didn't make my lest. So I guess we must expand the list. Hmmm...maybe we should think of this differently. You CAN say "judge not lest ye be judges" and you can demand that Christians (only) "turn the other cheek." You can say that God loves EVERYONE and that we should love sinners but accuse those who have moral values of hypocrisy. I think that about covers what you CAN say. Everything else is banned.


40 posted on 05/16/2005 8:39:52 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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