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Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 8:58 am
by Skjellyfetti
33 cities have now made feeding the homeless illegal.
Some are using the "religious freedom law" to fight it.
A San Antonio woman is planning to use the state’s “religious freedom” law to contest a citation she received for feeding homeless residents at a local park, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Joan Cheever said four bike-patrol officers ticketed her last week for handing out food from a vehicle that was not her food truck. It was reportedly was the first time authorities stopped her after providing a free meal for the homeless every week since 2005.
The citation carries a potential fine of $2,000. When she goes to court on June 23, she said, she will argue that she should be allowed to continue sharing her food because it is a valid expression of her faith under the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
“One of the police officers said, ‘Ma’am, if you want to pray, go to church,’” she told WOAI-TV. “And I said, ‘This is how I pray — when I cook this food and deliver it to the people who are less fortunate.”
Despite the ticket, Sheever plans to continue handing out food in the weeks leading up to her court appearance.
“You can’t just turn away from your neighbor when they’re in need,” she said. “We don’t do that in San Antonio.”
According to the Huffington Post, federal district Judge Jorge Solís struck down an ordinance in Dallas limiting where charitable groups could distribute food to the homeless, saying that “the homeless feeders are religiously motivated institutions that are afforded statutory protection to practice their religions without being substantially burdened by government regulation.”
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Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 11:11 am
by CID1990
I would consider that an appropriate use of the law.
People should be allowed to give anything they want to others.
That applies equally to giving a Kit Kat to a stinky bum without running afoul of the law, and also to giving your entire fortune to whoever you want without being taxed.
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 11:23 am
by Grizalltheway
Well, the person bequeathing the money isn't being taxed. Should lottery winnings not be taxed either?
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 12:04 pm
by Baldy
Grizalltheway wrote:Well, the person bequeathing the money isn't being taxed. Should lottery winnings not be taxed either?
Nobody's income should ever be taxed.
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 12:10 pm
by ASUG8
Grizalltheway wrote:Well, the person bequeathing the money isn't being taxed. Should lottery winnings not be taxed either?
Why am I taxed on my prior year tax refund every year?
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 12:10 pm
by andy7171
Why is this a law?
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 12:53 pm
by SDHornet
ASUG8 wrote:Grizalltheway wrote:Well, the person bequeathing the money isn't being taxed. Should lottery winnings not be taxed either?
Why am I taxed on my prior year tax refund every year?
Fucking this. WTF!!!! Seriously!
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 12:53 pm
by SDHornet
andy7171 wrote:Why is this a law?
Because government need to control everything, even the distribution of food to the neediest of the needy.
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 1:19 pm
by AZGrizFan
Grizalltheway wrote:Well, the person bequeathing the money isn't being taxed. Should lottery winnings not be taxed either?
Why in the world should the government get a windfall from a lottery win?
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 1:21 pm
by dbackjon
AZGrizFan wrote:Grizalltheway wrote:Well, the person bequeathing the money isn't being taxed. Should lottery winnings not be taxed either?
Why in the world should the government get a windfall from a lottery win?
Because it is income
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 1:32 pm
by 89Hen
Grizalltheway wrote:Well, the person bequeathing the money isn't being taxed. Should lottery winnings not be taxed either?
No, they shouldn't be taxed.
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 12:06 am
by CID1990
Grizalltheway wrote:Well, the person bequeathing the money isn't being taxed. Should lottery winnings not be taxed either?
No.
Income should not be taxed.
Any more dumb questions?
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 4:49 am
by kalm
CID1990 wrote:Grizalltheway wrote:Well, the person bequeathing the money isn't being taxed. Should lottery winnings not be taxed either?
No.
Income should not be taxed.
Any more dumb questions?
Yes! What should be taxed?
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:39 am
by Baldy
kalm wrote:CID1990 wrote:
No.
Income should not be taxed.
Any more dumb questions?
Yes! What should be taxed?
Don't start this shit again, kalm.
The obvious answer is obvious.
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 11:26 am
by Ivytalk
Baldy wrote:kalm wrote:
Yes! What should be taxed?
Don't start this **** again, kalm.
The obvious answer is obvious.
Rocks should be taxed.
Re: Religious freedom laws and feeding the homeless:
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 8:01 pm
by JohnStOnge
Obviously the Jesus character would feed the homeless and destitute. But that's not really the issue here.
The issue is whether or not government should be saying you can't feed somebody if you want to. And, of course, you should be able to.