Hondo, Texas City Mayor, Citizens Fight to Keep 'God's Country' Road Signs in Town
Freedom From Religion Foundation Says City Should Not Show Religion Preference
The mayor and citizens of Hondo, Texas are involved in a row with the Freedom From Religion Foundation group after the latter requested the city to remove religious road signs.
The sign in particular said, "Welcome. This is God's country; please don't drive through it like hell - Hondo, Texas." The non-religious group said that it is inappropriate for a city to show preference to any religion.
Hondo Mayor Against Removal of Religious Road Signs
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Hondo Mayor Jim Danner said the signs will not be taken down as he and the other residents feel that the country has the freedom for religious expression. Non-religious group Freedom From Religion Foundation apparently sent an email to Danner saying that the road signs intervened with the First Amendment rights.
In their email, the group said that it is inappropriate for a city to show religious preference and the road signs are a testament to that. The foundation apparently received the complaints from a couple of anonymous Texans.
Mixed Reaction on Foundation's Comment
There were mixed reaction among Hondo citizens. Some say that beliefs shouldn't be pushed towards other people while are proud of the road signs. Others explained that the road signs are part of Hondo.
First Amendment expert Eugen Volokh explained that the road signs were made humorous and not at all religious. He compared the road sign text to another humorous line, "In God we trust – everyone else must pay cash."
Mayor Danner Preparing Response Against Group
Danner is apparently gearing up to send a response to the email from Freedom From Religion Foundation. However, the foundation does not intend to bring the non-action of the complaints to court if it ever comes down to that. The foundation's staff attorney, Sam Grover, said that there are bigger issues they can tackle instead the "God's Country" road signs.
Foundation president Dan Barker says that he is open to negotiation with Mayor Danner. He explained that the best solution would be the removal of the signs but a compromise could be reached like changing the words of the signs instead.
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