Posted on 04/01/2010 10:12:24 AM PDT by Sopater
Dallas, TX – Yesterday, a federal district court ruled that agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) illegally conspired to violate the Fourth Amendment rights of Darrel Rundus when they confiscated his “Million Dollar Bill” gospel tracts. Liberty Counsel represents Rundus and his Christian ministry, Great News Network (GNC).
On June 2, 2006, DHS agents entered GNN’s office without a warrant or permission. They threatened an employee with arrest to pressure him into giving up the “Million Dollar Bill” religious tracts, which the agents referred to as “contraband.” After waiting more than three years, Rundus and GNN filed suit.
The front of the bill has markings similar to paper currency, but no one would ever get the tracts confused with real money. The front says, among other things: “This bill is not legal tender,” “Thou Shalt Not Steal,” “Department of Eternal Affairs,” and “1,000,000.” The reverse side has multiple statements such as, “The million dollar question: Will you go to Heaven?” The tract then contains the story of salvation written around all four sides. Rundus says that the tracts are extremely effective in sharing his faith with others. GNN has distributed over one million of the “Million Dollar Bill” gospel tracts, which are produced by Ray Comfort and Living Waters as an evangelism tool. An estimated 8-10 million tracts sold by Living Waters have been handed out over the last ten years.
Federal District Judge Jorge Solis ruled that DHS violated the Fourth Amendment guarantee against unlawful search and seizure. The ruling contains harsh language against the DHS agents, stating their behavior was inappropriate and they illegally conspired to violate the rights of Rundus. Judge Solis ruled the “Million Dollar” bills would not be confused with legal tender.
Steve Crampton, General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, commented: “The Department of Homeland Security should be tracking dangerous criminals instead of harassing innocent people of faith for handing out religious tracts. No clerk or bank teller will mistake the ‘Million Dollar’ bill for legal tender. The Constitution stands as a bulwark against federal power and abusive law enforcement.”
Our cowardly federal law enforcement in action. First raiding sellers of toy guns and now this!
A good ruling.
This happened on Bush’s watch?
It makes you question the type of people we have working in DHS.
Yes, it happened on Bush’s watch.
I thought it was an April Fool’s joke to say that the raid even occurred. Joke’s on me.
Wow. What gall! Ray Comfort has been passing these out for at least 10 years. I use them frequently as a tract because they are a good attention getter. No one has EVER confused them for the real money.
This happened under Bush. I can’t imagine that he ordered this sort of thing, but he had a bad habit of standing by and permitting it to happen.
Even if this WAS counterfeiting, the DHS has no business getting involved in it. That’s not their job.
Related post on the same story here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2484430/posts
I am curious as to what DHS has to do with this type of activity at all? The only conceivable concern I can see - from what is reported here - might have to do with currency and counterfeiting so maybe the Secret Service would have something to say. Though the idea of anyone mistaking a million-dollar bill for legal tender is so absurd as to make that supposition extremely unlikely.
Hasn't anybody in government heard of the long development of the prosperity gospel in American history???
This is preposterouos, I'm stunned, I too thought it was another April Fool's joke.
Are they gonna storm game shops now & declare that Monopoly Money is contraband??
The PATRIOT ACT has far too many loopholes and must be written without loopholes and the focus must be placed on true TERRORIST threats, not someone that law enforcement may not agree with on Religious issues or affiliations. Christians are in danger of losing their rights, the time has come to wake-up to reality.
Thank God somebody wearing judicial robes has some common sense!
Hooray!!
Because they are a Christian organization and therefore are just as dangerous as muslims (religion of peace). George Bush was no conservative and was scared to death of doing anything that would upset the media.
DHS Raider`s Top Ten Priority List:
1. toy guns
2. play money
3. bean shooters
4. deadly water balloons
5. playdough that can be used as C4
6. water colors that can be used as hijack liquids
7. crayons [flammable incendiary devices]
8. paper mache` masks [anti-facial recognition devices]
9. pinatas -[hollow dolls used for hiding explosives at
large gatherings]
10. wooden nickels - counterfeiting using flammable object
Ah, sanity.
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