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Posted on 01/06/2009 8:57:51 PM PST by bamahead
The Amish families claim the town of Morristown has refused to issue building permits that would allow them to practice their religion and build homes according to their beliefs.
"The U.S. Constitution, and legal precedent all the way to the Supreme Court, are clear. The Amish, who are known throughout the world as master craftsmen and master builders, have the right to practice their beliefs. That includes building and living in homes that conform to those beliefs," Rassbach said.
Before 2006, the Swartzentruber Amish in Morristown were granted building permits and allowed to build their structures according to traditional standards and customs without interference, according to the 37-page lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Watertown.
However, since 2006, Morristown officials have brought more than 10 separate prosecutions against the Amish, the lawsuit said....
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Ping.
BTW, those building codes are pretty consistent throughout the United States these days ~ no more UBIC/BOCA dichotomy ~
Think about it, except in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New York, everybody else appears to not have a problem with Amish compliance.
Could it be that WI, PA and NY are "special"?
Hmmmmm?!?!?!?! ! ! ????
This is a tough issue. Normally, I wouldn’t prefer the hand of government in Amish affairs. Building codes are oftentimes ridiculous, as well.
However, if we all the Amish to build as they wish based on their religious beliefs, then we would have to do the same for every group.
This would also open the door for such things as Muslim women being allowed to completely cover their face in their driver’s license photos for “religious reasons”
I think there is a point in which some lines must be drawn. I don’t think that telling the Amish to observe the same local building codes as everyone else is an over-reach.
Whoa! Whoa! Don’t be pushin’ on them Amish. You know how they are!
You’re right about that. I shudder to think of all the horse drawn buggies burning as the riots go on all night.
Maybe the problem is government drivers licenses and government building codes.
I agree with you, to some extent. The driver license issue is one of safety and for purposes of identification which is a legitimate law enforcement issue. Some, but not all, building codes are in place for the purpose of public and fire personnel safety. If the specific code sections to which they object involve safety, then the Amish should be held to that standard. If it is a nonsafety issue and simply blind enforcement of useless codes, then the Amish ought to be allowed to argue for an exemption on a case-by-case basis and only on the grounds of serious interference with the practice of their religion. I don’t believe it would set a serious precedent if challenges were limited to those very narrow avenues.
Smoke detectors are against their religious beliefs? Sorry - I have to disagree. Smoke detectors prevent buildings from burning down, and fires spread. Maybe to the houses of people who AREN’T Amish.
Had to pay $25 for permit to put up a new section of fence to replace an old section of fence. The Amish are different why?
Sorry, but “drawing the line” by equating potential muslim terrorists hiding behind a veil in an ID photo, with not letting the Amish continue building traditional structures with an over 100 year safety record is, I submit, asinine.
Your analogy is as absurd as arguing to ban leatherworkers who make holsters for handguns because their allowance might somehow imply personal ownership of nuclear weapons.
Hyper-generalization is rampant and destroying critical thinking and clear understanding everywhere. Try not to add to it.
If anything, the Amish could teach the government a thing or two about how to run an economy.
This would also open the door for such things as Muslim women being allowed to completely cover their face in their driver’s license photos for “religious reasons”
They should be allowed to cover their faces for any reason.
I remember a time when there was no photograph on a driver's license.
What's next, fingerprints? implanted biochips?
Since the issues appear to be: 1) The failure of the Amish to install smoke detectors, 2) the failure of the Amish to submit engineering blueprints of their structures, and 3) their failure to appropriately kiss the inspector’s behind, I’d have to say that the intrusive codes should be removed because they are, indeed, intrusive.
Bingo.
Scary.
Also makes me think about breakfast.
The Amish are the most self-reliant and capable of any group that is in the US. They ask nothing from the government and raise enough food to help others. They don’t ask for and won’t accept welfare.
I say, let’s harass them until finally we make them move to another country... (that way America will really have turned into what most Americans came here to get away from...)
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