The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against an Indiana state trooper who pulled over a 60-year-old woman for a traffic violation and, after writing a warning ticket, asked her if she’s a Christian, what church she attends, and handed her a religious pamphlet.
David Bursten, a spokesman for the Indiana State Police, told USA Today that “there is no specific policy in State Police code that addresses officers who distribute religious materials.” (Really? Why not?)
Not surprisingly, I suppose, the executive director of the American Family Association of Indiana, a conservative religious group, didn’t have much problem with it either. While admitting a traffic stop may not be the best time to proselytize, he asserts the trooper has a right to free speech (off duty, yes; on the job, no), and argues that people shouldn’t be offended by proselytizing: “Mormons come to my door all the time, and it doesn’t offend me.” (Mighty big of him.) He asserts, “I don’t think a police officer is prohibited from doing something like that.” (Umm, yes he is, by the Second Amendment, which is why the ACLU is suing his ass.)
I vaguely recall a Washington State Patrol trooper being fired a few years ago for doing this, but couldn’t find anything about it with a quick internet search. Indiana is a red state, so maybe they do things differently there. Funny, though, I’m under the impression the Constitution applies in all 50 states.