Scorpion:
Thanks for the link. I have revised the Letter To Churches to incorporate such.
Copy and forward:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
STOP JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES FROM TRESPASSING
Christians frequently complain that JWs have interrupted their family's Christmas morning, Thanksgiving Day meal, or simply their Saturday morning sleep-in. Few people know that JWs can EASILY AND LEGALLY be STOPPED from knocking at their frontdoor.
For various legal reasons too lengthy to discuss now, without realizing such, most homeowners have given door-to-door canvassers, including JWs, "implied" permission to enter onto their private property and knock on their door.
However, YOU can "expressly" withdraw such "implied" permission. All that is legally required of a homeowner is that they expressly Notify the local JW Congregation that its members are prohibited from entering onto the homeowner's property for purposes of advancing the JW faith. JWs actually have established procedures to record and comply with such notifications, because if they fail to do so, their members can be held criminally and civilly liable for "Trespassing".
These links are to recent news articles about a Pennsylvania homeowner who successfully sued a JW for "Trespassing".
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,20676,00.html
http://www.poconorecord.com/2001/local/fxp40917.htm
Here is a sample Notice Letter which can be used:
.........................................
.........................................
October 1, 2001
__City__, __State__ Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
648 Hadesbound Avenue
City, State 09999
Dear Sirs:
Please notify all members of your organization that they are NOT PERMITTED ENTRY onto our private residential property for any purpose relating to the Jehovah's Witnesses religion.
Our private residence is located at:
______________________________
______________________________
Hereafter, if any member of your organization "trespasses" on our property in violation of this Notice, they may be criminally and civilly prosecuted.
Respectfully,
______________________________
Mr. John Christian
______________________________
Mrs. Jolene Christian
cc: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
25 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483
..........................................
..........................................
The local JW address can be found in the telephone book white pages under "Kingdom Hall", "Congregation", or simply "Jehovah's Witnesses", or try the "Church" listings in the Yellow pages.
A duplicate of the Notice should be kept. The "cc-carbon copy" is optional. It is to the JW organization's main headquarters.
It is best that the original be mailed using "registered-return receipt requested". However, there's no reason regular mail can't be used, at least for the "cc".
To supplement this Notice, a homeowner can also make/place a small sign on their frontdoor, which states:
NO SOLICITORS OR JWS!
Here is a link to a website which already has various size signs which you can simply Print from your computer:
http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~rtaylor/njw/njwndx.html
Thereafter, if a JW ever knocks on your door, they are at your legal mercy.
Churches can use this as not only a church-wide project, but also can even go door-to-door in their neighborhoods with Petitions set up like the Notice above. I have heard of Petition campaigns which reportedly have collected over 7000 signatures to stop JWs from knocking at doors.
A 2001 U.S. Federal Appeals Court decision also has ruled that it is "constitutional" for an Ohio municipality to require JWs (and other canvassers) to register with the City, with the City maintaining a record of homes where the JWs can and cannot visit. This is something that could be passed on to your local government officials.
Here is a link to that Court decision:
http://pacer.ca6.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=01a0045p.06
Please contact me if I can be of any assistance in helping your church with such a campaign. I would also like feedback from those who have done such. My email address is: ________________
Thanks.