Man told he must get rid of "ATHEIST" license plate

Ananova ^

[jonatron]

Just making a joke, don't get too outraged.

[mc5cents]

I don't think that there is an easy pat answer to this license plate thing. Would a license plate that says "Jew-hater", "God H8s fags" or some other non-profane but objectionable phrase also be acceptable? And just because some people are offended, does that mean that a certain plate should be banned? I think some would be offended no matter what was on the plate.

Ah! That is what the First Amendment was put there for. To protect speach that some would find objectentable. Why have an amendment to protect "speach" otherwise? Hmmm?

So, if the State has put itself in business as a purveyor of "vanity" license plates in order to raise money then they have to give "equal protection" (14th Amendment) to everyone. Most especially things that offend some people, or else why "protect" it in the first place?

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

"How 'bout "THERAPY"?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nope. That'll never fly...It's "THERAPIST" or nuttin'..

[lump in the melting pot]

ok, just make sure they don't put a space after the third letter

[mc5cents]

I have always found it ironic that the same federal government that the Bill of Rights was intended to restrict follows the Constitution less and less while it forces the Constituion on individuals and companies (both of whom were never intended to be covered).

Amen. Good point.

Read fellow freepers!

[another1]

Got it wrong then. From her comments, thought Jedigirl believes that those who don't believe in God, don't have "God given" rights.

[monkeyshine]

Moron. It's not restricting speech. He can print a big bumper sticker that says "athiest" if he wants to.

[monkeyshine]

The plate is a nuisance. It's a distraction for drivers.

[JediGirl]

From her comments, thought Jedigirl believes that those who don't believe in God, don't have "God given" rights.

Yeah....lol, I was trying to figure out why you were telling me to grow up.

[JediGirl]

The plate is a nuisance. It's a distraction for drivers.

Moron. It's not restricting speech. He can print a big bumper sticker that says "athiest" if he wants to.

Most bumper stickers are more distracting than personalized license plates. People should be banned from using cell phones and eating while they're driving too right? You just contradicted yourself, btw. You justify getting rid of a personalized license plate because it might distract people but it's cool if he prints out a big bumper sticker. Good job.

[CharacterCounts]

This is not a First Amendment issue. If the government told him he couldn't put a bumber sticker on his car with atheist on it - that would violate the First Amendment. The First Amendment does not require the Stae to produce license plates with your choice of words on it.

The stronger argument would be under the aegis of equal protection.

[Kerberos]

"Actually, the constitution does not grant any rights"

An argument could be made that the Constitution does confer freedoms upon the people as opposed to rights. However in general terms it is usually referred to as rights.

"but the source of these rights is God according to the Declaration of Independence"

However, if I recall correctly, the Declaration does not carry any legal weight. It was simply an instrument that was used to declare our intent to not be under British rule any longer.

"Would a license plate that says "Jew-hater", "God H8s fags" or some other non-profane but objectionable phrase also be acceptable?"

Like with all freedoms, there are some restrictions to them. Like the restriction that one does not have the right to yell FIRE in a crowded theater, where a fire does not actually exist.

I would think that this would come under some restriction that prohibits one from making statements that could be construed as intending to elicit a violent response.

"Maybe I just don't get why it matters either way."

Anytime we start letting the government become overly intrusive on our rights, it matters

[another1]

Gosh Bella, double sorry. Very tired, and skimming through posts - reading in a coma. I don't condone the damn concept of license plates in the first place (I'm one of those doggone Libertarians). I don't believe in censorship either - on license plates or anywhere else.

[thulldud]

ROTFL. You will never know how bad you actually got me with that.

One man's cheap shot is another man's depleted-uranium antitank round.

[SC_Republican]

ATHEIST is fine.....just don't put DEMOCRAT on that plate!!!!

(or are those one in the same:)

[aruanan]

So I suppose computer geeks couldn't get a BYTE ME plate.

[aruanan]

How about DR ATSAB?

[Consort]

This is a war against superlatives. It's OK if you're the athe, or if you're more ather than someone else. But, if your the athiest of them all, well, that's not OK. I guess we cant' be the happiest one either. We can be happy or happier, but not the happiest.

[rwfromkansas]

Hmm....well sir, why do you claim you have any rights if you don't believe in God. After all....we are "endowed" by our "creator" with these rights. They don't come out of the thin air. And sir, I must wonder exactly where you think these rights would come from if not for God and an ingrained morality.

[xm177e2]

Grow up, little girl.

Why don't you find some way to criticize what she says rather than launching a personal attack?

The only juvenile discourse here is coming from you.

Is your faith so weak the very existence of atheists offends you? You can't handle knowing there are people who don't agree with you? You want everyone else to believe in your God, just so you don't have to feel like you could possibly be wrong about it? Pathetic.

If you can't handle free discourse of ideas, maybe you should stop coming here.