Posted on 06/26/2005 5:25:11 PM PDT by wagglebee
A traffic stop in Greer, S.C., this month is turning into a holy war of sorts, as a practicing Druid couple claim they were targeted by a Christian police officer who tried to convert them away from their pagan belief.
Debra and Tony Gainey say they were pulled over because they had a bumper sticker reading "It's A Druid Thing."
Tony Gainey was driving at the time of the stop June 10 and was taken into custody on charges of driving with a suspended license, operating a vehicle with an improper tag and failure to have proof of insurance.
"The reason they were stopped was the tag was improper on the vehicle," Greer police Lt. Cris Varner told WHNS-TV.
But Debra Gainey, a minister at the local Emerald Sanctuary Druidic Church, believes it was the druid sticker that prompted the traffic stop, as evinced by the conversation with officer Tony Stewart.
"[Stewart said], 'Did those bumper stickers come on the car or did you put them on?' and I said I put them on," Debra said.
She says the officer asked if she knew what they meant.
"So he started talking to me about God and Jesus Christ. ... I just felt like he was really getting into it, I had never expected to actually follow-up with a letter or anything."
According to Mrs. Gainey, the officer sent a card and letter to her home address days later.
"In this letter, he promises our problems will continue unless we listen to the words of the Baptists," she told the station. "We're feeling like those are threats."
"It's just kind of flabbergasting to be told that because it says Druid that we were singled out," she continued. "I don't think it's a matter of his religion or my religion, it's a matter of violation of our Constitution and trying to take that away our freedom that we are guaranteed."
The Gaineys have filed a civil-rights complaint, and the matter is now under investigation.
"The issue is the stop," police chief Dan Reynolds told the Greenville News. "Did they stop them because of the stickers? That's what we're trying to determine in our investigation. What was the reason for the stop?"
We have too many special interest groups. As to 'why' that will remain unprovable unless the occifer volunteers it.
Wow you took all the time to use bold and italic and a primitive form of prose and typed all that out.
I'm touched.
Now I'm even thinking of becoming a druid........
ROFL!! You acually had me laughing out loud. :-)
Here is a link to a website the couple has set up to explain their position:
http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/theemerald/Greer.html
And it's still wrong and he still did so. I don't understand why you think these people are paragons of virtue. I need a LOT more proof as it's the cry of the day: "My civil rights were violated!" Especially after committing offenses.
I won't say to you what you said to me about my personal experience. But I'm 55 and never had any happenstances such as yours. Men need to pay more attention to details. ;)
If I am pulled over, I will let the cop talk about whatever he wants, and I will listen intently. And if my drivers license is 5 years expired and he is offering me salvation, I'm gonna turn my life over to Jesus.
Spaceballs: The Movie
Or at least not be permitted to preach in the guise of a cop.
Yikes.
He can put a Druid bumper sticker on his car, but not a valid registration sticker?
That's gonna hurt.
They were initially fined $500, but druid him down to $250....
(sorry, just had to follow you pun up with a worse one)
(c8
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