Charges Dismissed Against the Gideons

[carpro]

And then , of course, we don't always have all the facts.

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=25280

EXCERPT

David Cortman, senior counsel for Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund told the Florida Baptist Witness that the men had "legitimate business" at the school and had obtained permission from both the school and the sheriff's office to distribute Bibles to children as they were leaving the school's campus.

SNIP

When asked to stay no closer than a half mile from the school, Simpson and Mirto began to walk away, according to the report, but then Simpson looked around and tried twice to identify the deputy issuing them the order and then called the sheriff's office to complain about the deputy's actions once he arrived at Simpson's truck which was parked in a no-parking zone just off the highway in front of the school. The men were arrested after they sat in the truck talking on their cell phones for more than five minutes, according to the arresting deputy.

SNIP

"The school is mistaken," Gray said. "They did not see a Gideon on the land. The officer, when he came, did not do his job in identifying who was on the land. The Gideons were never on school property."

Apparently there was also an overzealous law officer involved as well.

 

[canadyjd]

And from the same story:

KEY LARGO, Fla. (BP)--A religious liberty organization has filed a motion for the charges to be dismissed against two men who were arrested in Key Largo, Fla., earlier this year for passing out Bibles in front of an elementary and middle school….

According to the report from the Monroe County Sheriff's office, Ernest Simpson, 43, and Anthony Mirto, 40, were told by the school's principal, Annette Martinson, to stay off school property while distributing Bibles on a paved public bike path running in front of the K-8 school which houses more than 1,000 students….

Key LargoSchool is located on U.S. 1, the only major road providing access to the school and to a chain of islands making up the Florida Keys. It is one block from the ocean on the east and surrounded by undeveloped land to the north and south. The 14-mile bike path is connected to other bike paths which are planned to run eventually the length of the Keys.

A deputy from the sheriff's office asked Simpson and Mirto to leave after observing them standing on a part of the bike path that overlaps the school's parking lot where parents pick up children after school, according to the report.

"(A)fter receiving numerous complaints from parents at the office, (Martinson) approached both defendants and asked them to stay off school grounds and stay on the bike path or west of the bike path," the sheriff's report recounts. "Martinson further states she went to the south entrance of the school to check for others distributing Bibles and saw both defendants going onto the driveway of the school to hand out Bibles. At this point she contacted the sheriff's office."


Giving the school a "courtesy notice" that they would be passing out Bibles in front of the school, Gray said he was given a go-ahead by the school secretary since the principal was unavailable at the end of the school day just prior to school letting out.

peace to youraying:

 

[carpro]

And from the same story:




peace to youraying:

Then you agree the officer was overzealous. They had already left the sidewalk and gotten in their car.

They obeyed the officers illegal command and were still arrested.

 

[canadyjd]

Then you agree the officer was overzealous. They had already left the sidewalk and gotten in their car.

They obeyed the officers illegal command and were still arrested.

They didn't obey. They didn't obey the principal who asked them (in response to complaints from parents) to stay off school property, and they didn't leave when the deputy told them to.

Simpson's truck which was parked in a no-parking zone just off the highway in front of the school. The men were arrested after they sat in the truck talking on their cell phones for more than five minutes, according to the arresting deputy.

The deputy told them to stay 1/2 mile away from the school. They didn't. There they sat. Two, 40 year old, strange men in their (illegally parked) truck, in front of the elementary school, talking on cell phones and creeping out a bunch of frightened parents with their 7 year olds.

If anyone was overzealous, it was the Gideons.

peace to youraying:

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Some overzealous Christians love to provoke a confrontation so they can cry "Persecution!". This does not honor themselves nor God.

 

[canadyjd]

Some overzealous Christians love to provoke a confrontation so they can cry "Persecution!". This does not honor themselves nor God.

agreed

peace to youraying:

 

[carpro]

Some overzealous Christians love to provoke a confrontation so they can cry "Persecution!". This does not honor themselves nor God.

Yes, but that doesn't appear to be the case in this instance.

Regardless, the judge decided to protect their 1st Amendment rights.:thumbs:

 

[canadyjd]

Yes, but that doesn't appear to be the case in this instance.

Regardless, the judge decided to protect their 1st Amendment rights.:thumbs:

I am certain they made a lasting impression on the parents and their children as well.

peace to youraying: