Topic: On-duty sheriff deputy to Christians: 'There is no Jesus!'

[WEB II]

Your local neighborhood gestapo, coming to an event near you.

On-duty sheriff deputy to Christians: 'There is no Jesus!'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lVn3S_i9us&feature=player_embedded

[azredhawk44]

Bad link.

[Mark One]

[Balddragn]

So what if the deputy is Christian or not, does that really have anything to do with being a police officer? Or did the United States slip into a Theocracy while I wasn't paying attention?

The group that was filming was lawfully asked to leave private property and should have got their butts moving at the first request. They are lucky if they didn't all get cuffed up. I don't care what they believe, it does not give them the right to tresspass.

I'm not thrilled with the whole "turn off the video camera" bit, but as far as the rest of the tape goes I have no sympathy for the demonstrators.

[miklognasser]

There's a turd in the bowl and it needs flushed

[Balddragn]

There's a turd in the bowl and it needs flushed

Slow down a bit, I'm interested to see if WEB II is more interested in religion or the rights that protect it. This may be a leaning experience if open minds are involved.

[miklognasser]

BD---yes, you may be right.  My apology's.  This could be interesting

[azredhawk44]

Ditto with Baldy:  When the deputy takes the camera, I have a problem.  The type of problem that makes me think "where's my nearest rifle?"

But that isn't what the OP brought out with his thread title.  Officer had no prohibition against stating he didn't believe in Jesus.  No problem there.  And events on private property are permitted to discriminate against attendees.  Try attending at my house some time, without my permission.  You'll make me wonder where my rifle is, too.

[NineseveN]

I'm probably the strictest agnostic on this website, so keep that in mind when reading this reply.

1. It was private property (Hard Rock/Mayhem Fest). The religious group had no lawful right to be there. The officers were very clear and very correct. Even if they were wrong, you get it on video that they forced you to leave and then you bring a lawsuit. Standing there and arguing with them, taking away police resources from a crowd of hundreds/thousands is a very asinine and self-centered thing to do.

2. It may be against the law to record people (audio) without their consent in New Mexico, I don't know. In some states this is the case. I don't like that particular law and I am very glad that PA's laws fall in favor of the citizen and not the officer.

3. That officer was doing quite well, in fact, I would say his conduct was precisely what I would expect in the beginning. However, I'm not so sure his conduct was professional when he started mouthing off about there being no God or Satan, and he was certainly out of line in asking the camera operator if he was a homosexual. I don't think his conduct was horrible, nor do I personally think it requires censure, but while I agree with his sentiments and sympathize with his situation, I still don't think it's completely professional to debate/argue or otherwise incite a protester or someone who is being cautioned/directed away from continued or potential violations of the law. Now, I'm not saying that there should be a rule, policy or law that says that LEO's can't have personalities or beliefs and I personally agree with his comments, but I don't think he chose the best time to express them. In the end, cops are humans to, I guess there's some value in having a discussion about where the line between robotic automaton and professionalism gets crossed.

[murph50]

Well said 97--although your opening sentence--I don't know man --I'm pretty darn agnostic 
 Yea--In my past I've been to lots of protests. You cannot protest on private property if the owners don't want you there.
 As far as what the cop said--that film seemed to be edited to shorten what appeared to be a long walk. Those protesters were in his face yelling all kinds of religious crap. I think he just got sick of listening to them and as what was already said--showing his human side.
 I found the camera thing a bit disturbing though--but again--I don't know the laws in that state but filming like that should not be prohibited IMO.
 I didn't see any real problems here. If the cops hadn't been there I have a feeling that those people attending that function may have sent a few of those zealots to meet their imaginary maker a lot sooner than they had planned So in that sense they may be pretty darn lucky that the police escorted them off of that private property

[Balddragn]

If the cops hadn't been there I have a feeling that those people attending that function may have sent a few of those zealots to meet their imaginary maker a lot sooner than they had planned So in that sense they may be pretty darn lucky that the police escorted them off of that private property

  Thanks Murph, that exact thought crossed my mind but my first post wasn't the place to put it.