Amish man sues to buy firearm without photo ID in gun rights, religious freedom suit

I'd seen the bit about the Muslims winning their suit and thought the exact same thing about the cakes. This case about the Amish man seems cut and dry to me, but with the other examples you mentioned, one has to wonder which weighted dice the court will throw.

Why does an Amish man want to own a piece of modern technology? Doesn't that go against their religion? So he has no problem going against his religion in certain ways but not in other ways?

The Amish avoid modern machinery and electronics in their personal lives. The gun in question could be as archaic as a lever action Marlin as far as any of us knows. Even semi-auto designs can be a hundred years old at this point. All cartridge firing guns made after 1898 are still subject to federal and state firearms laws, and even black powder guns are restricted in some states.

KansasSasquatch said:

Why does an Amish man want to own a piece of modern technology? Doesn't that go against their religion? So he has no problem going against his religion in certain ways but not in other ways?

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I live near a large Mennonite community, and some Amish scattered around, too. They own guns. Might be a SxS 12 gauge or a Rolling Block single shot, but they have guns.

Its easy to figure out, Its persecution of christians !

Why does an Amish man want to own a piece of modern technology? Doesn't that go against their religion?

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No, not necessarily. The Amish culture is not as simplistic or simple to understand as outsiders believe it to be.

So he has no problem going against his religion in certain ways but not in other ways?

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They have rules, guidelines, and principles that don't make immediate sense to "us" and like any religion, what constitutes staying inside the lines only has to make sense to them and their fellow practitioners.

If you get to know or work with Amish folks, you'll see plenty of "modern" machinery and tools of various sorts. And you'll notice that other, even less "modern" items are eschewed.

It's religion. It doesn't have to make sense, to you.

Its easy to figure out, Its persecution of christians !

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You ever notice how many things folks post that you just can't possibly decide whether are jokes or straight lines? It's like reading The Onion around here some times.

Why does an Amish man want to own a piece of modern technology? Doesn't that go against their religion? So he has no problem going against his religion in certain ways but not in other ways?

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You apparently are not well schooled regarding the Amish. Even within the Amish communities there are significant differences in rules. Not to mention that a firearm is not exactly a "modern" invention.

If we upheld the Constitution, no one would be required to provide a photo ID to purchase a firearm. It's a God given right guaranteed (not given) by the Constitution.

But we live in a country where Court justices say a law is Constitutional because 'it's for public safety' (see 'sobriety' checkpoints).

KansasSasquatch said:

Why does an Amish man want to own a piece of modern technology? Doesn't that go against their religion? So he has no problem going against his religion in certain ways but not in other ways?

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a firearm is not necessarily "modern technology"

I'm one of those purists when it comes to liberty...buying a firearm should be as simple as buying any other product.

Ryanxia said:

If we upheld the Constitution, no one would be required to provide a photo ID to purchase a firearm. It's a God given right guaranteed (not given) by the Constitution.

But we live in a country where Court justices say a law is Constitutional because 'it's for public safety' (see 'sobriety' checkpoints).

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This is already in my signature, but it bears repeating here:

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves." -- William Pitt

Amish hunt which is what the fellow probably wants the gun for.
It is kind of an ironic sort of case though. Be interesting how it pans out but I doubt if the Amish community has much political "clout"..?

http://toprightnews.com/alert-this-...s-wear-full-burqas-for-driver-license-photos/

Well if it is OK for some but not others? Equal treatment under the law?

We had a similar thing here back when Wisconsin was going to enact a Picture ID needed for voting. We have a lot of Amish in Wisconsin. Because of the religious beliefs they were exempted from having to have their picture on the ID. The other requirements to get the ID were the same.

Funny, we get local Amish children and others posing for pictures all the time. They'll happily ride in an automobile and come and use your phone. They just can't own them. They can't drive an auto/tractor, but can jack it up on blocks and use the engine to drive machinery by belts. They use Air nailers by using a gas engine on their compressor. Same with table saws and other power tools. Go to one of their woodworking shops someday. Unlike most folks think, they don't cut everything with a handsaw and smooth it out with a plane. When they make cabinets for someone and come to install them, they don't have a cordless drill, but will happily use the customers if they have one.........

A few years back, they tried to claim they didn't need building permits or had to follow local building codes because it violated their religion too. Guess how that one turned out.

I grew up in rural Lancaster county,PA.I went to a one room school with Amish and Mennonite kids for the first 6 years until the new junior/senior high school was built in the 1950's.Their way of life is under assault by modern technology.Their bishops rule on what is acceptable.For instance,no phone in the house,in an outbuilding with a bell in the house is ok.Electrical wiring is taboo but solar powered computers to run a business is ok.They have always used modern rifles and shotguns for hunting with the emphasis on food gathering rather than trophies.

I've seen modern rifles and shotguns inside of Amish made gun cabinets on display in Amish furniture stores, here in IL, including a nice looking camo dipped Mossberg. I don't believe they restrict themselves to "antiques."

The reasoning is pretty simple, to me, anyway. Firearms don't last forever, particularly when you're using them to put food on the table. Old parts wear out, and you've got to buy something to replace them. "A shotgun is a shotgun", "a rifle is a rifle", and modern guns reduce the chance of a wounded critter getting away and suffering somewhere.

I didn't see them toting around AR15's, or packing handguns for self defense, though I do wonder what the Amish would feel about modern guns.

Does self-defense weigh in to their culture at all - would they ever use a gun in self-defense? Or do they truly "turn the other cheek"?

Heavily Amish around here and they are very interesting. Each community has it's own set of rules, Die Ordnung (the rules), which are determined by the local Bishop. I bet that the guy gets his gun. The Amish are exempted from many requirements of the law based on their religion. For example, they do not pay Social Security taxes ( and are not eligible to receive social security, with sounds like a pretty good deal to me!), and they are not required to attend school past eighth grade.

Ryanxia said:

If we upheld the Constitution, no one would be required to provide a photo ID to purchase a firearm. It's a God given right guaranteed (not given) by the Constitution.

But we live in a country where Court justices say a law is Constitutional because 'it's for public safety' (see 'sobriety' checkpoints).

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Quoted for truth.

I would assume it will come down to another form of confirmed ID. Won't be their Social security number tho.

Ryanxia said:

If we upheld the Constitution, no one would be required to provide a photo ID to purchase a firearm. It's a God given right guaranteed (not given) by the Constitution.

But we live in a country where Court justices say a law is Constitutional because 'it's for public safety' (see 'sobriety' checkpoints).

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How is a right granted by a document written by men, not a deity, a "god given right"?

'Murica indeed.

Speedo66 said:

How is a right granted by a document written by men, not a deity, a "god given right"?

'Murica indeed.

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I AGREE!


Also the Amish Aren't as tech free as you would think. They all have cell phones and stuff now.

How is a right granted by a document written by men, not a deity, a "god given right"?

'Murica indeed.

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go back and study your history...

no rights are GRANTED by the BOR......the BOR prohibits the govt from infringing upon those rights which we all are born with.