Bluelens

The Washington Post has an article updating the South Carolina “I believe” plate ‘law’ that I posted about here.

It seems the Americans United for Separation of Church and State has filed a suit to block the creation and distribution of the “I Believe” plates.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for South Carolina, asks a judge to stop the state from making the plates and rule that the law allowing them violates the First Amendment.

I’m glad to see this organization is taking up the call.  Their issue with how the law was pushed through to create this plate is the exact same as mine.  The endorsement of religion snactioned by the government does not belong.

Lynn said his group would not have opposed the “I Believe” plates had they been advocated by private groups. State law allows private groups to create specialty plates as long as they first collect either a $4,000 deposit or 400 prepaid orders.

THIS is what I said as well.  If you want to have an “I believe” license plate then follow the procedures as a private citizen/organization.  This is not something that requires a State governing group to pass a law to allow.  Why?  Why does the Lt. Governor feel that because he is a Christian he can have a special pass to not follow the rules?

Here is the kicker from the WP article:

Another of the ministers, the Rev. Robert Knight of Charleston, said the plates cheapen the Christian message.

“As an evangelical Christian, I don’t think civil religion enhances the Christian religion. It compromises it,” Knight said. “That’s the fundamental irony. It’s very shallow from a Christian standpoint.”

What would I like to see happen?  I would love to see the ‘law’ thrown out as unconstitutional.  I then would not mind seeing Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer ponying up the money and applications necessary to file for the creation of a specialized plate as ANY OTHER god-fearing or god-unbelieving private citizen or organization would do.  Have your “I Believe” plate, I don’t care, but do it with the same procedures as I would if I wanted to have a

Bright

or AA logo on a license plate.