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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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 Posted: 05/16/05 - 10:24 Post subject: free speech and license plates
I understand not everyone is a Christian, but is it offensive to non-Christians when Christians pay extra to have a Christian message on a vanity plate? Is this silly or legit?
http://www.komotv.com/stories/36833.htm
'I Will Defend To Keep It Based On Free Speech'
May 13, 2005
By Liz Rocca
TACOMA - A Tacoma woman says she feels violated by a complaint about her vanity plate. It simply reads: "John 3-16"
But someone found the Bible verse offensive and now the state is deciding whether she can keep the plate.
"The verse in the Bible says 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,' " says Jane Milhans.
To her, John 3:16 is a message of love, and a great vanity plate. But now, someone has told the state Jane's plate is offensive.
"My first reaction was I was in shock," she said.
Jane says she's had the plate for 21 years without a single complaint.
"It's not profane, it's not bigotry, it's not hatred, it's not evil," she says.
But Brad Benfield with the State Department of Licensing said, "It appears from the complaint that somebody was not happy that a state issued license plate had a religious component."
A Pierce County woman made the complaint, which reads in part: "I was offended that I have to be 'prayed over' by a license plate... What happened to keeping church and state separate?"
We tracked down the woman who lodged the complaint, and she declined an on-camera interview. She says frankly, she's dismayed the state didn't keep her complaint anonymous.
"A lot of people view this as a waste tax dollars to go through this process," Milhans said.
Now Jane says she'll have to defend her plate in front of a review committee, who will decide if she can keep it.
Benfield admits just one complaint can trigger a review.
"We're always interested in finding out if one slipped through the cracks," he said.
They caught one last year. "GOT MILF" was thought to be a play on the milk commercials. It turned out to be a sexual reference to good looking moms.
The state cancelled the plate.
But Jane Milhans vows they won't cancel hers.
"I will defend to keep it based on free speech," she said.
She says she'll fight to spread her message of love.
Last year, the state handled complaints about 16 vanity plates. They canceled four of them.
We should find out next month if Jane can keep hers.
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robp
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 10:47 Post subject:
Personally speaking, I couldn't care any less what people have for their vanity plates.
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 10:48 Post subject:
Oh, lord.
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camelia bedelia
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 11:03 Post subject:
I don’t get why that would be offensive.
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pokychick
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 11:19 Post subject:
A coworker's last name is Sinner. His daughter had that on her license plate. Strangers would stop her in parking lots and act offended, and then try to preach to her.
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gretriever
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 11:27 Post subject:
I'll refrain from referring to the Seinfeld episode. 
Unless it's an obscenity or advocates violence (and I'm not sure how you'd fit the latter onto a plate), it shouldn't matter what a person wants to put on their vanity plate.
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 11:33 Post subject:
| gretriever wrote: | | I'll refrain from referring to the Seinfeld episode. |
I thought about that too, and actually I think thats a much better example of a license plate that would potentially be much more offensive I think.
To me this situation in Washington sounds like a one where the offended is just looking for things to offend them.
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 11:33 Post subject:
You could advocate violence like this: KILL-ALL.
But seriously, I don't see the issue here at all.
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 13:10 Post subject:
I'll agree with her "free speech", it should be kept. I'd add overused "free speech" though.
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gretriever
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 13:32 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: | You could advocate violence like this: KILL-ALL.
But seriously, I don't see the issue here at all. |
Sheesh.
Go ---->  <---- me Talk about missing the obvious!
'course, that could be one an exterminator would want.
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copteacher
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 13:33 Post subject:
If someone finds that offensive they need their head examined.
No problem at all.
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MastrBrewr
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 13:50 Post subject:
I'm sorry, but I think the GOT MILF plate would be awesome.
Some people have too much time on their hands if they're worried about a John 3:16 license plate.
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TriBob
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 14:19 Post subject:
The complainant needs more then prayer.
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rolling rock
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 14:42 Post subject:
| TriBob wrote: | | The complainant needs more then prayer. |
she needs a life!
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gretriever
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Posted: 05/16/05 - 15:15 Post subject:
Though, if you really, really, REALLY wanted to split hairs, she could be charged with tampering with the license plates by placing the colon on them - JOHN3:16. But that would be about all.
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