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?"
That first line "You seem to be still a bit of a hippie" was just so logical and profound I had to stop and regroup.
Hellooooo! The United States of America has SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE...Thank God!!!
I don't want anyone, much less a government official or law enforcement officer to tell me ANYTHING about religion,mine or his --in his legal capacity. This is not the Land of The Taliban!
"One visit, a few prayers and an occasional opening of his Koran will not be enough. You must be prepared to make some serious changes and do so now! You may not get another intercession."
"Who knows? But you must admit that you've been contacted by Allah! And you must respond."
What would be your reaction?
However, don't they use planes to convert?
That really is an unfair comparison. Especially in view of how violent we know islamics conversion methods to be.
Especially after you have handcuffed them.
If the letter is real, would you agree that this officer acted inappropriately in writing it?
I still believe there are a lot of unanswered questions.
I don't think the media would dare use the word "pacifist" in relation to muslims, not because its inaccurate but because it is offensive to them.
This may sound crazy (actually, no it doesn't), but there are parts of the quran where Mohammad specifically bans "pacifism" though not using that word.
Pacifistic means of resistance are prohibited. The actions in islam are considered akin to treason.
Its why no one can ever mouth the words to Palestinians, since its like asking them to get together and eat bacon, their religion bans it.
I still believe there are a lot of unanswered questions.
Of course. But if the letter is genuine, would you agree that the officer acted inappropriately?
The Druids are too thin-skinned.
Is that true??? Do they hang around Michael Jackson?
I hope the "run the plates" database logged the time that it was queried about that plate. If it was before the occifer stopped them, then the druids are lying.
"The Gaineys have filed a civil-rights complaint, and the matter is now under investigation."
Thanks for the information in your post #58. I didn't realize that "harassment" could be construed in so many different ways under the law.
We have their story. Were you there and know that it happened as they relate it? I don't know what happened. How would you?
My brother and I were just discussing the woman we knew that did this kind of thing. She had a VERY nice house.
In any event, it looks like there will be a discovery process.
Good.
That's interesting. I have some other bumper stickers for Officer Festus:
It's a Catholic Thing.
Wahh lookeee thar...Jack Chick says that dem der Catholics are just a bunch o' Papists, wat worship de Debbil! Better run dem tags!
It's a Mormon Thing.
Wha them Mormons ain't real Christians at tol', an Ah herd they shack up with ten wimmin. Let's go gettem!
It's a Black Thing. Lookeee that carload of N****as, Jeb put the si-reeen on!
It's a Darwin Thing
Darwin...that's them Evil-Looniests...Pritcher Bob said that Darwin teeched Hitler everthin he knew, and ma Granpappy fought that Hitler...Jeb, put that sih-reen on reel hagh!
It's a Jew Thing.
Lookee that thar carload of Christ-Killerz...Ah got me ma suspision that them are up ta no-good, run them tags Jeb!
It's a Muslim Thing
Jeb, ya better drop back a bit, Ah don wanna hafta go through that Muslim sensitivity training thing again.
You obviously did not study history if you think we have a separation of church and state, nor did you read the rest of my posts which clearly show how the government has often endorsed and spread Christianity to the exclusion of other faiths.
No, this case needs to be kicked immediately, and the idiot cop needs to be fired immediately. Grossly poor judgement like that means he's not entitled to a gun and badge. He needs to be working at his church or McDonalds - nothing more public-involved than that.
What a goober.
I'm hoping and expecting the same thing. However even if Lt. Cris Varner ran the plates before he made the stop, he didn't necessarly share that information with the Gaineys. And Lt. Cris Varner (aka Officer Hellfire) still needs to explain why he ran the plates. Again, as I've already posted, from Fox21.com:
But Greer Police say they are investigating why the tag was run in the first place.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.