Pastor Terry Jones to be billed $180,000 for security costs due to his 'Burn the Quran' fiasco

[Tx4obama]

Orlando, Florida (CNN) -- The city of Gainesville, Florida, plans to send a bill estimated at more than $180,000 to Pastor Terry Jones for security costs surrounding his controversial threat to burn Qurans on the anniversary of the September, 11, 2001, attacks, a police spokeswoman said Friday.

Police agencies spent more than a month working on security plans to ensure the community surrounding Jones' Dove World Outreach Center -- the planned site of the burning -- was safe, according to Gainesville police spokeswoman Cpl. Tscharna Senn.

Jones also told authorities he received numerous death threats because of the planned protest, which he called off amid increasing pressure from world leaders.

The Gainesville Police Department said it spent more than $100,000 while the Alachua County Sheriff's Office spent an estimated $80,000 during the weekend of the planned demonstration.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/17/florida.quran.pastor/index.html?hpt=T2

p.s. Be sure to read the rest of the article, it's pretty interesting.

[Fumesucker]

1. Before you celebrate too much, consider the implications of this..

And who this sort of silencing by billing is likely to be used against in the future.

[MadHound]

2. Yep,

If you don't want to suffer the same silencing of your voice, you have to stand up for other's right to freely express themselves.

[Tx4obama]

3. Like who? Other than crazy people that put the American public at risk, who else?

Looks like the majority of the security was probably used to 'protect the public' at malls, soft targets, etc.
Read the whole article.

[Fumesucker]

6. Umm... folks like the RNC 8..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNC_8

As I said, consider the implications.

I'd be willing to bet good money that this tactic will get used far more against the left than the right, that's just the way America rolls..

The "Free speech zones" that were so odious during the Bushie years were an indirect result of abortion protests.

[MadHound]

14. Lots of free speech has the potential to put the public at risk

The Klan marching has the potential, and has, put the public at risk. Same for a number of other groups and people. Silencing somebody, taking away their right to free expression by applying monetary pressure is simply not Constitutional, not right.

What would have happened if MLK or Malcolm X were charged for "security"?

Free speech is just that.

Law enforcement and others had this M.O. They establish a precedent using the least objectionable test case possible. They've done this with things like piss testing, forfeiture laws,and privacy laws. They get a nice little wedge going, people say sure, in this case it is good, and then pretty soon, down that slippery slope you go.

[Extend a Hand]

8. exactly

That would be a very bad precident to set. War protest? oh sure you can but we'll have to charge you for 'security'....

[Skip Intro]

40. Absolutely agree. nt

[Skip Intro]

41. .

[shraby]

4. It couldn't have happened to a nicer person.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Sometimes people should think twice before they try to disparage a whole section of the world's population by burning their holy book. He should have foreseen that he might rile up emotions and end up on the short end of the stick. It's just possible a levy of the amount it cost the taxpayers to protect his sorry ass will make him consider his actions and their consequences a little more carefully next time.

[Fumesucker]

16. Sometimes people should think twice before they disparage a whole section of a nation..

By burning their flag..

Stop and think who this precedent is most likely to be used against before you laugh too hard or too long.

[Abq_Sarah]

28. But it wasn't to protect his sorry ass

It was to protect the public from retribution from the people he was offending.

I notice they don't want to risk "offending" those groups by sending a bill.

[Extend a Hand]

5. I really, really hope they are not allowed to charge the nut.

That could really be used to control dissent and stifle those that would speak out against power. There is just too much potential for abuse.

[KansasVoter]

7. Wow, this does not seem right to me. The police protect everyone for free I thought.

[AmericanMan1958]

11. Not free,, Tax Payers money

[Kaleva]

9. Expressing an opinion is one thing; inciting violence is another.

[Fumesucker]

10. Who did Terry Jones tell to be violent?

I don't recall him ever saying anything about his followers should engage in violence..

[DemoTex]

12. Send the bill to Fox News

Know what I mean, Vern?

[AmericanMan1958]

13. I like that one

[hlthe2b]

15. Speaking of money that will never be collected....

Has the grand Birther Queen, Orly Taitz ever paid her $20k yet?

[Tx4obama]

17. Terry Jones will never pay it. The bank has called in the loan on his church ....

the his insurance has been canceled
probably due to him not having any money.

[quiet.american]

18. Talk about having to put your money where your (big, ignorant) mouth is.

Get out that checkbook, Jones.

[seattleblue]

20. Are you going to be saying that when the police bill the next

left wing protest? This would be a terrible precedent. Some people can't see farther than their key pad.

[quiet.american]

21. PUH-LEEZE. I live in NY. We budget for getting billed for "left wing protests." nt

[seattleblue]

23. PUH-LEEZE Send me a link to prove that.

Otherwise you are just talking out of your ass.

[quiet.american]

25. You've got to be kidding. You don't think NY is a liberal, blue state that holds expensive protests?

Google NY, protests and you'll get a link-a-palooza.

Why are you defending a hate preacher?

[seattleblue]

30. Why are you attacking the Constitution?

Billing for protests is a violation of the first amendment. Anything that can be used against a hate preacher will be used against liberals sooner or later. I goggled NY protests and there was nothing about NY billing protests. Should the people who want to build the Ground Zero mosque be billed for all the protests of that decision? Are they being billed? No. You made it up.

[quiet.american]

33. Why do you hate America? That question makes just as much sense as what you asked me.

Every protest in this country, every assembly, incurs a cost in the jurisdiction where it's held.

It's not a constitutional matter. It's a state and city revenue matter.

The parties who want to build a community center near Ground Zero (NOT a Ground Zero Mosque -- step away from the propaganda) are not the ones holding the protests of that decision. But you can be sure every protest around that costs the city money. And who pays for it? New Yorkers. It's called "taxes."

[seattleblue]

36. You stated protests are billed in NY.

That is not true. They are not billed. You said that to justify billing Terry. What is your unconstitutional justification now?

[quiet.american]

38. Really? Where did I state "protests are billed in NY." (On a side note - are you serious?) nt

[tammywammy]

43. Post #21

:shrug:

[quiet.american]

44. And all the subsequent posts don't shed any light on the subject, eh?

It's very difficult to hold conversations with those who, apparently, if you said, "so if all your friends jump off the roof, you have to as well."

And they come back and say, "Name which one of my friends jumped off the roof!"

[tammywammy]

45. Actually I'd say none of your subsequent posts really prove what you originally said.

I've read of protesters that were arrested that were billed, but not in a situation like this. If it's that common in NY I'm sure you'll provide more evidence.

[quiet.american]

47. I love this re-direction away from the defense of a preacher preaching hate.

NY'ers pay the "billing" of protests in the lost wages of taking a day or days off from work to protest (for those who freelance, or don't have vacation time available, but still make the sacrifice to protest; in higher taxes; in bail monies; in lawsuits against unlawful arrests; in medical bills from police brutality during protests - literally.

But the larger point remains. When additional security is required because of the willful actions of a citizen, someone gets the bill. In this case, it's the hate preacher. Time for him to put his money where his mouth is.

[Tx4obama]

24. There is a difference between a protest & inciting violence. n/t

[seattleblue]

26. Who did Terry tell to be violent?

If you allow the police to determine what protest is "inciting violence" they will apply that label to any protest because that is the easiest way to go. I guess you would have billed Martin Luther King's protests because they incited all sorts of violence. Sick.

[Tx4obama]

27. When Jones said he'd burn the book.......

people in other countries said they'd retaliate if he did.
Knowing that, Jones said he'd do it anyway and nothing would stop him.
Therefore, Jones willingly incited violence on purpose.
Jones is not innocent.

[Abq_Sarah]

29. Exercising a constitutional right

Should be discouraged because it may incite violence from a few unstable loons?

[Kaleva]

34. I think it would have been more then a few. More like tens or even hundreds of thousands.

[seattleblue]

31. So you would have billed MLK because of his protests.

Everything you have said would apply to him. Sick.

[Tx4obama]

32. MLK did not 'promote' violence. n/t

[seattleblue]

35. No he didn't but many of his protests were met with violence.

He knew this but protested anyway. Using the exact same logic that has been applied to Terry then MLK should have been billed. Hate the Constitution much?

[Tx4obama]

37. Wrong. There is HUGE difference between 'inciting violence' & being a victim of it. n/t

[Fumesucker]

39. MLK did things that angered a lot of other people to the point of violence..

By your definition then MLK was "inciting violence".

[Kaleva]

48. But both used different methods for different goals

MLK worked all his life for inclusion, equality and peace while what Pastor Jones wanted was division. Think of what would have happened had MLK proposed a public burning of a Confederate battle flag.

[Fumesucker]

49. There were plenty of people who thought MLK was divisive..

Lots of them in high government positions, like J Edgar Hoover.

Should those people have had the power to bill MLK for police protection of those who felt threatened by him?

I came of age in the deep South in that era and have vivid memories of just how polarized things were at that time and place.

There is no doubt in my mind that if this precedent is allowed to stand then it will be used against those of us on the left who dare to speak out far more than it will be used against the right, that's just the way America rolls.

[Tx4obama]

51. MLK had police protection? Guess you didn't hear HE WAS SHOT.

Being divisive or standing up for POSITIVE change is NOT the same as what Terry Jones did when he purposefully threatened to do something that he knew would incite violence AGAINST AMERICA from foreign countries!

p.s. I will no longer respond to you, since I believe you are an extremist.

[Kaleva]

19. Pastor Jones should have gone to Mecca to carry out his plans.

That way, the only life that would have been lost would have been his.

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. That's the price of fame. (nt)

:shrug:

[Skip Intro]

42. Guy shouldn't be punished for exercising his rights. This is wrong.

I know a lot of people are rejoicing in this. Leaves a scary precedence. A path toward approved thought. I want no part of that.

[tammywammy]

46. Agreed n/t

[Iwillnevergiveup]

50. Well, in the past couple of days

Christine O'Donnell has supposedly raked in $1 million - maybe she could help him out.

:evilgrin:

[dkf]

52. Should we charge the Washington cartoonist for draw Muhammad day?

It's kind of the same thing right?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

53. Anyone still think the right to burn the Koran isn't under threat? N.T.