Post by Jesse Morrell on Jun 29, 2006 14:57:37 GMT -5
I spoke today on the phone with the Cheif Deputy Sherrif regarding free speech at Halbrook Lake.
I told her about the situation about a week ago, when I was preaching at the Lake. I said that Deputy Johnson informed me that I could preach at the lake, but if someone complains or calls the cops it's disorderly conduct and she'll bring me to jail.
I told the Cheif Deputy Sherrif that I have found key cases that state that free speech cannot be prohibited because it offends some listeners, and that if the crowd gets out of hand the police are to control the crowd rather then arrest or prohibit the preacher.
I told her that I wanted to work with their department to secure the protection of free speech. I said, "if free speech is not protected when someone does not like it, then free speech is not protected at all." I told her how I wanted to work with them to arrange peaceful outreaches at this beach.
I even said that if they wanted to simply give me a specific time that I could go, like Sunday afternoons, that I'd even be willing to do that. She said, "Well, it is a public lake. I think there is a Halbrook Lake committee but don't think that they give out time slots like that." Implying I should be able to speak at any time.
I told her also that if they simply wanted to give me a certain section of the area that would be fine. That way, if people who want to swim or tan without being bothered can do so, and those who want to hear what I say can come over to my area. I also told her that the area that I was still left plenty of beach space open and was not close to the water, and that my volume was not very loud so you would actually have to come over to hear me, so if people wanted to tan or swim without hearing me they would be able to.
She seems very much reasonable and supportive of free speech there and said that she was just going to make a few phone calls and will get back to me. She asked if I wanted to preach this weekend and I said, "yes, Saturday afternoon." She said she will get back to me by the end of this week.
Please pray that she calls back and says, "so long as you are peacefully speaking you can preach there anywhere at anytime."
Rather then doing a long, drawn out legal process with lawyers and courts, I really hope that this will work.
I told her about the situation about a week ago, when I was preaching at the Lake. I said that Deputy Johnson informed me that I could preach at the lake, but if someone complains or calls the cops it's disorderly conduct and she'll bring me to jail.
I told the Cheif Deputy Sherrif that I have found key cases that state that free speech cannot be prohibited because it offends some listeners, and that if the crowd gets out of hand the police are to control the crowd rather then arrest or prohibit the preacher.
I told her that I wanted to work with their department to secure the protection of free speech. I said, "if free speech is not protected when someone does not like it, then free speech is not protected at all." I told her how I wanted to work with them to arrange peaceful outreaches at this beach.
I even said that if they wanted to simply give me a specific time that I could go, like Sunday afternoons, that I'd even be willing to do that. She said, "Well, it is a public lake. I think there is a Halbrook Lake committee but don't think that they give out time slots like that." Implying I should be able to speak at any time.
I told her also that if they simply wanted to give me a certain section of the area that would be fine. That way, if people who want to swim or tan without being bothered can do so, and those who want to hear what I say can come over to my area. I also told her that the area that I was still left plenty of beach space open and was not close to the water, and that my volume was not very loud so you would actually have to come over to hear me, so if people wanted to tan or swim without hearing me they would be able to.
She seems very much reasonable and supportive of free speech there and said that she was just going to make a few phone calls and will get back to me. She asked if I wanted to preach this weekend and I said, "yes, Saturday afternoon." She said she will get back to me by the end of this week.
Please pray that she calls back and says, "so long as you are peacefully speaking you can preach there anywhere at anytime."
Rather then doing a long, drawn out legal process with lawyers and courts, I really hope that this will work.