South Carolina Man Fights to Keep Religious Signs on His Property

Get this:

A South Carolina man says his constitutional rights have been violated after he was told by his local government to remove the Bible-themed signs he had posted on his property.

Oscar Moultrie says a Berkeley County, S.C., ordinance that requires residents to obtain government permission before putting up signs on their private property -- other than "for sale," "for rent," political signs, and a few other exceptions -- violates his First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
His Lawsuite
Whitehead says it's vital that the court step in -- and not just for Moultrie's benefit. He says that because the ordinance defines a sign as any structure or device that "transmits information or an idea," the county could prevent people from displaying just about anything on their private property -- including religious holiday decorations.
County Code

SOURCE



A direct violation of the First Amendment?

...a lot of places have restrictions on what kind of signs you can put in your front yard and how long you can leave them there...

...is it unconstitutional?... i'll have to think about it awhile because i already have a prejudiced view - which is - i wouldnt want that guy in my hood - not because of what his signs say - but because all those signs are tacky and junks up the place...

...will be interesting to see what kind of support he gets...

A person should have the right to put whatever sign they want on their property no matter what it says, It is after all their property.

reply to post by Wyn Hawks


Remember this is private property, and the county says "political signs" are OK (I find these to be very tacky).

Came home once and had two signs for different candidates in my yard, still do not know who put them there. They make good fire starters for yard debris though.

reply to post by Wyn Hawks


I guess you do not believe in private property rights.

You know use your property the way you want as long as it is not spilling on to others.

Which means junkie cars, animals, tall grass.

To many that believe as you do, do not care about sovereign rights.

Originally posted by Wyn Hawks
...a lot of places have restrictions on what kind of signs you can put in your front yard and how long you can leave them there...

...is it unconstitutional?... i'll have to think about it awhile because i already have a prejudiced view - which is - i wouldnt want that guy in my hood - not because of what his signs say - but because all those signs are tacky and junks up the place...

...will be interesting to see what kind of support he gets...

I'm with you - - totally on the fence on this one.

I'm pretty anti-religious - - and don't like how signs junk up a place - - but personal property ??????

reply to post by Annee


thats just the point tho, your personal views of religion should have no bearing on whats right and wrong....

People want to cry all the time separation of church and state......and that there shouldnt be religious material on public or gov owned property.......

Well then its MY contention that this same gov, state, or city body has NO right to tell this man he cant have religious material on his own property......

Regardless of how they think it looks, exploiting loopholes because of what his yard might "look like" to satisfy an agenda isnt any more innocent then taking them off his land by force.

I think its come to the point in this country (mind you im a spiritual person and dont subscribe to one religion) that the Christian people in this nation are starting to get very very tired of all of the infringement of THEIR rights, over the rights of other people, while other religious bodies get away with the same things.

Add that to the continued attrocities of the ACLU and things are not looking like they could boil over

Originally posted by ManBehindTheMask
reply to post by Annee

 

thats just the point tho, your personal views of religion should have no bearing on whats right and wrong....

People want to cry all the time separation of church and state......and that there shouldnt be religious material on public or gov owned property.......

Well then its MY contention that this same gov, state, or city body has NO right to tell this man he cant have religious material on his own property......

Regardless of how they think it looks, exploiting loopholes because of what his yard might "look like" to satisfy an agenda isnt any more innocent then taking them off his land by force.

I think its come to the point in this country (mind you im a spiritual person and dont subscribe to one religion) that the Christian people in this nation are starting to get very very tired of all of the infringement of THEIR rights, over the rights of other people, while other religious bodies get away with the same things.

Add that to the continued attrocities of the ACLU and things are not looking like they could boil over

I agree -

My LIBERAL friends, don't forget yourselves

MBTM Christianity is extremely alive and well in AMERICA, I think you are being sensitive just like the ACLU


Thanks

reply to post by ManBehindTheMask


hmmmm......
Can't give ya but one star so here is a for ya!
very well put

Originally posted by ManBehindTheMask
reply to post by Annee

 

thats just the point tho, your personal views of religion should have no bearing on whats right and wrong....

People want to cry all the time separation of church and state......and that there shouldnt be religious material on public or gov owned property.......

I agree. I live in an Arizona county - - there are people who have Jesus and other stuff painted on their garage doors or signs on their roofs.

I doesn't bother me - - - even though I am personally anti-religion. Its their property.

Maybe there's more to this - - then how it sounds.

I'm fine with banning whateverIlike signs on my land if they care to enforce banning whatevertheylike signs on land that is not mine. So be gone with those ugly billboards, flickering neoncrap, pesky scroll bars, advertisement on cars, trucks and trains. While they're at it, ban commercials on the tele and 3w too!

Get lost with all of them and I'll get rid of mine. If not, close my freaking gate on your way out, and try not to slam it. -shakes fist in the air.-

Oh, and I don't wanna see any christmas garbage, junk up the neighbourhood either!

Originally posted by TruthWizard
A person should have the right to put whatever sign they want on their property no matter what it says, It is after all their property.

...what if the content is pornographic?...

...what if some kkk nut job wants to litter his front yard with anti-black, anti-jew, anti-gay sentiments?...

...what if the property owner is one of those militant peta people and their signs have pictures of mutilated animals on it?...

...what if the property owner is an american muslim and wants his signs to have quotes from the koran on them?...

...what if the signs are pro-gay?...

...what if the signs are anti-christian?...

...what if the signs graphically show the horrors of what we've done to the people in afghanistan and iraq?...

...what if the signs graphically show dead american soldiers being disrespected?...

...if you allow one person to use their front yard to advertise their "whatevers", you have to let everyone - not just those who put up a message you approve of...

...so, what it would come down to eventually (since so many are of the "keep up with jones" mentality) is neighborhoods looking like a trashy street corner...

reply to post by Janky Red


LOL I agree its extremely alive and well, I just sense a lot of tension, growing tension that is.........

I just hope it doesnt all boil over

reply to post by Quadrivium


this is some bs......................................

2 issues here

property rights
freedom of speech and expression...............


for a local government and come in to tell him what he can and cant say and put on his property they have no authority to say nothing...................

there was nothing obscene
there was nothing pornographic
there was nothing that could be taken offense by anyone...........................


now if the dude has been a muslim and posting quotes out of the qu'ran you bet your butts they wouldnt have said nothing.............................

for the all time record of stupid government this one takes the cake....................................

oh last thought for those who shout seperation of church and state all the time

Originally posted by ACTS 2:38
reply to post by Wyn Hawks

 

I guess you do not believe in private property rights.

...you're guessing - you got that part right...

Originally posted by ACTS 2:38
You know use your property the way you want as long as it is not spilling on to others.
Which means junkie cars, animals, tall grass.

...theres restrictions on junky cars, animals and unkept yards too - unless you live in a craphole of a town...

Originally posted by ACTS 2:38
To many that believe as you do, do not care about sovereign rights.

...a christian being condescending about other people respecting sovereign rights?... are you delirious or just in denial of the true of history of the usofa?... thats rhetorical - i already know the answer...

reply to post by D.Wolf


To me, this is yet Another instance of a Group of People Violating an Individuals Constitutional Right of Free Speech . Happens to often in America nowadays , and makes me wonder about what it will be like in the Not to Distant Future in this Country if the Majority of American People don't stand Up Now Against this Constant Tyranny, and the Attack on our Free Will to Choose what's Best for Ourselves . Will those who have taken it upon themselves to Decide for the Rest of Us what we can, or cannot do with our Lives, ever Realize that one day they will eventually become the " Enemies of Freedom" in our eyes and suffer the Consequences of their Unjust Actions ? I for one Certainly Hope So .




LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC !

the ordinance defines a sign as any structure or device that "transmits information or an idea,"

Could this not lead to the banning of flags on private property? I imagine that would make a few people angry.

reply to post by InvisibleAlbatross


" Could this not lead to the banning of flags on private property? I imagine that would make a few people angry. "

Next on the List....Christmas Decorations, and then.............Sigh .

If the guy owns the land, he can do WHAT HE WANTS

Originally posted by TruthWizard
A person should have the right to put whatever sign they want on their property no matter what it says, It is after all their property.

So you're okay if a neighbor puts up a burning cross in their yard, or a sign inciting racial hatred or calling for the abuse of your children or the death of your family? I'm not asking for these things, just using them as extreme examples. After all, these are signs that say WHATEVER the property owner says. It is after all their property.

There should be some sensible limits here.