Bible Study in your home not allowed without a permit

**tjangel** · May 29th, 2009, 07:30 PM

Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their San Diego, Calif. home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.

"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.

"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a Bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.

A few days later, the couple received a written warning that cited "unlawful use of land," ordering them to either "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," the couple's attorney Dean Broyles told San Diego news station 10News.

But the major use permit could cost the Jones' thousands of dollars just to have a few friends over.

My question is - what is so different about this from a book of the month club getting together to discuss the book they read? What the hell other restriction on our freedoms are the government going to impose on us? Where will this end?

Source link http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522637,00.html

**Valasca** · May 29th, 2009, 07:41 PM

What the...?
It's not church...
Oy. So much for freedom of speech.

NO MORE PARTIES EITHER.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · May 29th, 2009, 07:50 PM

The neighbors don't like all the cars parked around on a regular basis. They have county rules the neighbor asked to be enforced. Some yahoo decided it fell under the "religious assemblies" portion of the code.

Last month, someone filed a complaint about the number of cars.
[...]
Wallar said it's the officer’s job to determine what kind of event is hosted at Jones’ house to decide what part of county code the event falls under.

"The Bible studies are one that's probably in a very gray area," Waller said.

That gray area may be causing the problem. Wallar said the county only cares about how any event impacts the surrounding neighborhood.

"We want to make sure -- whether they're on a public road or a private road -- that they're parking safely; that we can get fire trucks in; that we can get police vehicles in," Waller said.

Jones' attorneys told 10News it sounds like the county is backing away from their original warning.

http://www.10news.com/news/19595677/detail.html

**tjangel** · May 29th, 2009, 07:54 PM

Yep - sounds like they are backing away from it pretty fast - good! Thanks for the update. :)

**Dakota Valkyrie** · May 29th, 2009, 08:00 PM

Even before the update, it was pretty obvious why the neighbors would complain. Everyone probably has at least one cranky neighbor. These folks obviously do.

**MichaelJCheaney** · May 29th, 2009, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dakota Valkyrie

Even before the update, it was pretty obvious why the neighbors would complain. Everyone probably has at least one cranky neighbor. These folks obviously do.

I have a cranky neighbor.

I call him Murder-Suicide.

He came after me and Subwoofer with a shotgun last fall, after she chased a rabbit onto his property.

Care to guess how this neighbor dies?

**Just my luck sucks** · May 30th, 2009, 11:20 AM

It's difficult not to get cranky, when a neighbor runs any type of "event" in a residential area. My sister lives next to a million dollar + house, that was recently sold. The new owners have decided to throw party, after party in the house.

Sis found out these are not private parties, the new neighbors are hosting paid wedding receptions. My sister puts up with drunks walking across her lawn and flower beds, trash left behind in her yard, cars parked so that she and her husband are unable to get in and out of their own driveways, the noise to all hours etc.

Sis has not yet called this in to authorities, she's trying to be a good neighbor--she has far more patience than I. The first time I was blocked in, in my own drive? FIREWORKS!

**Athena** · June 1st, 2009, 01:14 PM

This is when it pays to know your neighbors and extend a little courtesy.

Mike and I have always liked to entertain. No matter where we've lived (and we've lived in a variety of environments), if we expect an engagement to be loud, go late, or involve more cars than our driveway has room for, we always post a colorful flyer to every household that might be affected letting them know that, should they encounter a problem with noise, parking or, heaven forbid, any of our guests, we would appreciate it if they called us directly to report the issue.

Works like a charm. Despite some ragers over the years, we've never received a call, nor have we been reported to authorities.

That said, this does seem like a dramatic response from the county for the purpose of fundraising.

**MadmamainNC** · June 15th, 2009, 02:34 AM

That's just crazy.
I worry for the day when people who do want to practice religion in the U.S., have to hide in back alleys to do so.
No matter what I believe, everyone has a right to educate themselves, enrich their spirituality in whatever way they choose, read what they want, and believe what they want.
Since when do we need a permit to congregate in our homes?

Chipping away at our rights, little by little. One day people are going to sit back and say "Gee, how the hell did this happen"?

**Akelda** · June 18th, 2009, 09:57 PM

If it was really about having so many cars packing the area, why couldn't they just write everyone a ticket and maybe just talk to the hosts of the gathering, and let them know it would be a fine next time or something? I really don't think the reason for the gathering should have anything to do with it.

**malq** · June 19th, 2009, 08:44 AM

What they are most likely doing is being exempt from taxes at the expense of the neighbors who are paying their fair share.
It is about time churches began receiving some govt scrutiny.
Separation from church and state has been abused for so long by the greedy it is almost not valid anymore.

**DarkPrincess** · June 19th, 2009, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Just my luck sucks

It's difficult not to get cranky, when a neighbor runs any type of "event" in a residential area. My sister lives next to a million dollar + house, that was recently sold. The new owners have decided to throw party, after party in the house.

Sis found out these are not private parties, the new neighbors are hosting paid wedding receptions. My sister puts up with drunks walking across her lawn and flower beds, trash left behind in her yard, cars parked so that she and her husband are unable to get in and out of their own driveways, the noise to all hours etc.

Sis has not yet called this in to authorities, she's trying to be a good neighbor--she has far more patience than I. The first time I was blocked in, in my own drive? FIREWORKS!

She should pull an Ozzy and throw a big ass ham through their window.

**TwinsPlus1** · June 19th, 2009, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by tjangel

My question is - what is so different about this from a book of the month club getting together to discuss the book they read? What the hell other restriction on our freedoms are the government going to impose on us? Where will this end?

Source link http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522637,00.html

My mouth is literally hanging open.

Damn. I wonder if play groups will soon be banned.

I am sooooo glad I live out in the sticks where nobody gives a shit what you do or how many cars are parked in your drive way.