Stratton Case Could be Big

by metatron 17 Replies latest jw friends

  • metatron
    metatron

    The legal challenge raised to the door to door work could be
    huge in its effects. Even if the Supreme Court strikes down
    the ordinance, the precise ruling may injure the preaching work.
    Why?

    Even the dissenting opinion upholds the legal standing of a
    trespass if a person puts up a no soliciting sign. It appears that
    do not calls are on solid ground legally. Witnesses could be
    fined if they violate such, if local ordinances permit.

    The majority opinion note that statements by the Supreme Court
    support the concept of right of local authorities to regulate,
    to some degree, door to door solicitation, even "under the cloak
    of religion" ( see sixth court decision).

    There may be an enormous opportunity here! There is a detailed
    concern by the courts over the possibility of fraud by door
    to door canvassers. If child molesters or others with criminal
    records are freely permitted to go door to door, by the organization,
    this should be brought to the courts attention!

    At some point, the Watchtower Legal staff could be forced to
    issue internal commands (letters to bodies of elders) to
    "screen" publishers - or take more action on the child abuse
    issue - or they may cooperate with local authorities to prevent
    the organization from being associated with criminals who pose
    as Witnesses - thus, AGREEING to a measure of RESTRICTION to
    save themselves.

    This could be big.

    metatron

  • Mum
    Mum

    So there's an easy out for JW's who don't enjoy hawking publications: become a criminal and you're excused. Brilliant!

    Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

    I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

  • Fredhall
    Fredhall

    It's not big at all. It will change nothing.
    The question presented is whether one's freedom of
    speech is protected in anonymous preaching.

  • metatron
    metatron

    you sound slightly more lucid than usual, Fred.

    It CAN be big - it could drag down door to door preaching,
    if limits are imposed on door to door canvassing. Filling out
    forms, reporting to the police, admitting a criminal record,
    getting fined for trespassing, obeying no soliciting signs,

    use your imagination

    metatron

  • proplog2
    proplog2

    Wishful thinking. Actually malicious thinking. The reality is that the door to door work of JW's is not a threat to the community. It might even hurt the coffee shops and restaurants :)

    JW's have been banned before. That doesn't stop their growth. What stops JW's is apathy.

  • metatron
    metatron

    No point in discussing this case since neither one of you
    'defenders of the faith' care to actually discuss the details
    of what's going on here.

    metatron

  • patio34
    patio34

    Hi Metatron,

    The criminality of solicitors seems to be significant. If WTS has to inform or prevent these from dr2dr, then it would/could be a big embarrassment to the WTS by having to admit there are molesters in their midst.

    And what if said ones are MSs or elders, what then?

    Interesting development. They may have to shoot themselves in the foot in order to save the body.

    Cheers!
    Pat

  • MadApostate
    MadApostate

    Met:

    Our JW imposter friend, Fred Apostate, posed the issue which the USSC will consider very well:

    The question presented is whether one's freedom of
    speech is protected in anonymous preaching.
    While I have been too busy over the past several weeks (since the USSC granted cert), to look at this case in depth, my casual prediction (subject to re-evaluation) is that the USSC will rule as follows:

    Preaching on sidewalks and other publicly owned property is distinguishable from entering onto non-owned private property for the same purpose.

    The USSC will say that the USConst protects an individual's right to privacy/anonymity while preaching in public forums.

    However, the USSC will also say that local communities have a "greater" right to protect individual homeowners from unknown visitors of unknown character entering onto their private property, and that the privacy/anonymity rights of the individual preacher do not rise above such.

    The USSC will allow communities to require registration, as well as allow them to require door-to-door solicitors to carry identification, SO LONG AS such procedures are fair, non-discriminatory, and do not rise to the level of preventing such door-to-door preaching.

    The "SO LONG AS" portion may very well result in numerous challenges by the CCJW in the future, with state courts being forced to review the regulations of individual communities.

    When I get time, I will review these preliminary predictions.

  • buffalosrfree
    buffalosrfree

    FRed - freedom of speech is not the issue, the issue, is whether or not "known" (at least by body of elders) offenders have the right to come to your residence. Not whether you have the right to talk about your particular version of God. As usual you miss the point.

    Proplog2 you also miss the point, but then again Jdubs have been missing the point for a long time (i.e. 1914, 1915, 1925, 1941, 1975, yaddy yaddy yaddy)

    If you cant stay with the issue then get the hell off of it.

  • joelbear
    joelbear

    It is big. It will not end the Watchtower. It may end door to door selling.

    Why do you think these guys are already experimenting with TV ads. They aren't stupid. They will figure out a way to keep the circulation rates up, ordinance or no ordinance.

    These guys have a ton of money to spend hiring Marketing and PR firms. They are masters at it.

    Yes, we could see major changes in the delivery channels the Watchtower uses, but don't expect this to bring their demise.

    Joel

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit