Posted on 08/06/2014 4:56:11 AM PDT by GailA
A few weeks ago the Dublin Girls had gathered inside the local mall for an evening power walk. They formed a small circle and as they had done many times before, they bowed their heads to petition the Almighty.
But before one of the runners could say, Lord Jesus, she was interrupted by a mall cop barreling down a corridor.
The security guard came running toward us and said, You are not allowed to pray at the mall. Thats against the policy, Tammy told me.
The ladies were aghast.
I told him weve been praying since last November and no one said anything about it, she said.
Weve never had any problems.
The security guard told her theyd had a problem with a previous religious group trying to proselytize shoppers. But Tammy said they werent trying to convert anybody they were just trying to pray. And its not like they were having a Holy Ghost Shoutin Prayer.
You cant hear us unless you are in the circle, she said.
The ladies thought the security guard was simply mistaken so they asked him to call the mall manager. It turns out the security guard was not mistaken.
The mall manager verified that prayer is not allowed at the mall because this is private property, she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
It would take more than a “mall cop” to stop me from Praying.
It is private property, but it is also a place of public accommodation, and the general public is invited, even encouraged, to enter. It is a close legal call, at first blush (I have not done any research on the issue.) Certainly the ladies could not be excluded because they are Christians (or belong to any other religious sect). Behavior, however, could be restricted. First Amendment rights restrict government interference, but not private property owners. Clearly they could not set up an altar and have a church service in the mall, at least not without permission. This is a much smaller act, but probably still something the owner could prohibit— LEGALLY.
How the customer base might react is another question.
>> You missed the part where it said the mall is private property. ‘private’
That doesn’t seem to stop the Left from applying its depraved agenda.
IIRC (I can’t remember the case titles offhand, I’m not a lawyer), the SCOTUS at first ruled that because malls were private property, they could ban things like prayer and other religious activities. Then, it reversed itself and said that because malls are “public accomodations,” they can’t do so under the 1st amendment. Then, they reversed themselves again and basically threw the ball back to the states to decide instead.
I tend to agree with the side that says that because this is private property, they can *legally* do what they did. After all, if malls can be *forced* to allow prayer against their will, then who knows what else? Christian bakeries being forced to bake cakes for gay “weddings” or something? Oh wait.
However, I also think that what the mall did shows an incredible tin ear, and support people taking their dollars elsewhere. The mall can legally prevent people from praying on its property, but it can’t legally force them to spend money there. Maybe when enough revenue is lost and stores start to leave, the mall will clue in.
Just tell the mall cop that you are praying to Obama and to quit interrupting me.
He will leave you alone.
I pay no attention to signs that deny CCW.....I would rather be fined after I shoot the culprit than be buried because some asshole wants to abridge my 2nd amendment rights. I’ve been caught several times and never have I been asked to leave....most just asked that I keep the weapon out of sight which I was already trying to do. Every time it was reported by an employee never a customer.
Oh, please, they were misguided youts and while they did beat up several shoppers none of those shoppers required more than just some stiches or spent more than a few days in the hospital.
Dublin, Georgia is a very small town. “Local mall” is not ambiguous.
I’m 45 minutes from there. If this gets out in the community this could get ugly for that mall.
When it comes to anti-Christian actions, this area isn’t very tolerant.
SO none of the muslim employees at the mall have prayer rugs, do wudu prayers in the toilet room, etc?
"You missed the part where it said the mall is private property. 'private'"
Have em' put up a sign that says queers can't hold hands, kiss, and/or snuggle in the mall and see how that fares.
Such behavior would be a "an obvious First Amendment exercise of speech" before the property owner could even got a copy of the formal complaint in writing.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander but obviously "private property" arguments never fail to neuter some of the ganders leaving many a goose free to do as it pleases free from any equal and opposite reactions.
It’s private property. The mall should be able to do what it wants when it comes to limiting freedom of assembly/speech.
With that said, the citizens of Dublin, Ga. should be able to do what they want with their money and pressure the mall’s merchants to get the mall’s owners to reverse this ridiculous policy, boycotting, if necessary.
Been there, have you?
No, it's not your right to do whatever you want on or inside someone else's property.
Good enough—Now I know which one to avoid.
According to Google, there are two shopping venues in Dublin, GA—Dublin Mall and Claxton Crossing Shopping Center—Both of which are identified as malls.
IMHO, news reports have gone to great lengths to avoid mentioning the specific location. Maybe I’m overly sensitive, or maybe that’s the state of “journalism” these days.
>>> If they were muslim not a word would have been said ....
So, next you should prepare to ACCEPT a hundred mooooooslem men with prayer rugs, arses in the air praying in the mall, too.
Bingo!
You are the winner!
The list, Ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
WTF??
You have zero legal right to pray on MY property.
We have zero legal right to pray in our written posts on FR.
Its called private property, this isn't a communist 'gov owns all property yet ' dictatorship quite yet.
Back to the planet earth.
Your hypothetical has zero to do with this case, obviously your intention.
Try ‘ Have em’ put up a sign that says queers can't no-one can hold hands, kiss, and/or snuggle in the mall and see how that fares.’
Now that's the same. You have zero right to do that on others property too.
If you don't like it then don't do business at the mall, better yet rally others to not do business there too. That you have a right to do.
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