Atheists don't get to have personalized license plates

[Blake]

"LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- An atheist’s request to say “IM GOD” on his license plate was denied by the state of Kentucky, which said it might distract other drivers, could spark confrontations and would be in bad taste.

Bennie L. Hart says that by driving around with the “IM GOD” message, he simply wants to spread his views about religion -- that it’s impossible to disprove anyone’s claim to being “God.”


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kentucky-denies-atheist-request-im-god-license-plate/

[Blake]

ELKHART, Ind. (AP) — The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles has denied a Goshen man's request to have a personalized plate that read "atheist."

The state agency denied Chris Bontrager's request in a letter without citing specific reasoning, The Elkhart Truth reported (http://bit.ly/2me4nu2 ). The letter states that the agency can deny a personalized plate if it has a connotation offensive to good taste or decency, would be misleading or if the agency considers it improper.

"The BMV's online tool said that it fit the criteria to be on a plate and I paid for it," Bontrager said. "So I was a little surprised when I got the denial letter."

Bontrager said he believes the denial was religiously motivated.

The state's ability to deny any application was reinforced in a 2013 lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana on behalf of a motorist who wanted to purchase a plate that read "oink." The state temporarily suspended the program because of the lawsuit before starting it up again in March 2016.

The U.S. and Indiana Supreme Courts have both supported the state's ability to decide whether a message on a personalized plate will be approved or denied because it's considered "government speech."

Bontrager can appeal the bureau's decision, but he said the broad discretion the agency used in this matter makes it difficult to win.

Bontrager said that he has spoken with ACLU lawyers about potentially suing the state to have his license plate approved. He said the ACLU told him he might have a case based on Indiana's establishment clause, which provides that if the government allows one religious statement, it must allow all religions to have the same benefit.

"There are a lot of people out on the road with personalized plates that have other religious messages on them," he said.....

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/indiana/articles/2017-03-02/indiana-agency-rejects-residents-atheist-license-plate

[Blake]

"Drivers in New Jersey will be able to request vanity license plates that reference their belief in atheism after the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission settled a lawsuit this month filed by a woman whose request for a license plate that said “8THEIST” was rejected almost three years ago.

Shannon Morgan, a resident of Leesburg, N.J., applied for the license plate in November 2013 but was told her application had been denied because the plate “may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency,” according to court papers posted online last week...."

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/nyregion/after-lawsuit-new-jersey-allows-driver-to-get-8theist-license-plate.html?_r=0&referer=https://www.google.com/

[Blake]

And let's force everyone to have in God we trust



On Jan. 10, Tennessee State Rep. Bill Sanderson presented a bill that would require all state license plates to carry the phrase ‘In God We Trust’, a move that, in many states already carrying the bill, has stirred up quite a bit of controversy, as opposing parties view the action as a violation of First Amendment rights....

http://www.stategazette.com/story/2381140.html

[Spurminator]

This is the Political Forum I remember from simpler times.

[spurraider21]

Blake getting his boutons on

[SnakeBoy]

Poor atheists

Always oppressed

[Blake]

Blake getting his boutons on

I'm in the mood

[Clipper Nation]

Why do atheists need their own license plates? Everybody can already tell from their fedoras and neckbeards that they're atheists.

[Blake]

Why do atheists need their own license plates? Everybody can already tell from their fedoras and neckbeards that they're atheists.

Everyone can tell from your clever cut downs and name calling that you're Christian

[Blake]

Poor atheists

Always oppressed

1st Amendment gets trampled on the daily

[Clipper Nation]

Everyone can tell from your clever cut downs and name calling that you're Christian

I'm not, tbh. I don't give a rat's ass about religion. Doesn't change the fact that the type of atheist who would want a personalized license plate to broadcast their views is just as bad as any Bible Belt fundie.

[Blake]

I'm not, tbh. I don't give a rat's ass about religion. Doesn't change the fact that the type of atheist who would want a personalized license plate to broadcast their views is just as bad as any Bible Belt fundie.

Eh maybe but fundy gets his license plate 100 times out of 100

[DMC]

Poking around looking for micro-aggressions is tantamount to being a douchebag. Don't be a douchebag.

-atheist

[AaronY]

Important stuff

[ElNono]

plus everybody knows I'm God....

[pgardn]

Ahhh it's sort of interesting.

I don't remember seeing license plates like "Love Jesus" etc... Maybe they are out there...

[pgardn]

plus everybody knows I'm God....


Please help Avante get a shower.
Amen.

[ElNono]

Please help Avante get a shower.
Amen.

I said I'm God, not that I do miracles, tbh

[pgardn]

I said I'm God, not that I do miracles, tbh

Im really confused as to what you can and cannot control. But for the love of humanity...

[baseline bum]

plus everybody knows I'm God....

I thought Manny was tbh

[Blake]

Ahhh it's sort of interesting.

I don't remember seeing license plates like "Love Jesus" etc... Maybe they are out there...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef01543836195d970c-600wi

[Blake]

Important stuff

Microcosm of our retarded society at large

[DMC]

Dude should just get a legal name change to Jehovah Christgod.

[boutons_deux]

Everyone can tell from your clever cut downs and name calling that you're Christian
.. and a racist, bigot, xenphobe

[pgardn]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef01543836195d970c-600wi

Whoa..

The 4FAITH is no biggie imo. If it were on a standard plate it could mean anything.

But the crosses, you can get that background?
Had no idea.

[SnakeBoy]

Whoa..

The 4FAITH is no biggie imo. If it were on a standard plate it could mean anything.

But the crosses, you can get that background?
Had no idea.

Does the background offend you?

[ElNono]

Does the background offend you?

The fact that's government speech is kinda disturbing, IMO. You know, separation of state and church, etc...

[pgardn]

Does the background offend you?

Of course not I rather like it.

But the State getting into religion is noted. And when you and Thread are dead, and your grandchildren must live under sharia law with license plates that have a sliver of the moon, make room to turn in that casket. The worm can turn. Especially in rotting corpses.

[Spurminator]

Saw this one a few weeks ago.

http://i.imgur.com/yHIyuXn.jpg

[Blake]

"LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill that would let drivers display opposition to abortion on their license plates.

Senators voted 37-7 after two days of debate to advance a bill that would require the state Department of Motor Vehicles to design "Choose Life" license plates. It still requires two more votes, and opponents have vowed to filibuster it each time it comes up."

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/nebraska/articles/2017-02-28/nebraska-senators-advance-choose-life-license-plate-bill

[SnakeBoy]

"LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill that would let drivers display opposition to abortion on their license plates.

Senators voted 37-7 after two days of debate to advance a bill that would require the state Department of Motor Vehicles to design "Choose Life" license plates. It still requires two more votes, and opponents have vowed to filibuster it each time it comes up."

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/nebraska/articles/2017-02-28/nebraska-senators-advance-choose-life-license-plate-bill

You for or against this Blake?

[Blake]

Srs? It's a state sanctioned plate pushing a religious agenda in an imperative voice.

"Bob Blank, a consultant for Living Word ministries in Omaha and chairman of the Nebraska chapter of the National Choose Life effort, has been lobbying for Choose Life plates for the past decade."