Fed Judge Strikes Down LA Ban on…Fortunetelling, Palm Reading & Astrology
- Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:45am by
Billy Hallowell
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ALEXANDRIA, La. (The Blaze/AP) — A federal judge has struck down a central Louisiana ordinance banning fortunetelling, palm reading, astrology and similar activities in the city of Alexandria.
U.S. District Judge Dee Drell‘s ruling Wednesday concurs with a magistrate’s conclusion that the ordinance is unconstitutional.
Rachel Adams is a fortune-teller who says she accepts donations but doesn’t charge for her services. She sued the city after a police officer issued her a court summons in 2011 for violating the ordinance. A violation can result in daily penalties of up to $500. TheTownTalk.com has more:
[U.S. Magistrate James] Kirk last month recommended that Drell mow down the Alexandria law that bans palmistry, card reading, fortune telling and other otherworldly communications.
“To apply the ordinance literally would outlaw every ‘amateur psychiatrist, parlor sage and barstool philosopher’ in Alexandria who dares to suggest to another what the future may hold,” Kirk wrote last month.
Kirk wrote that a court judgment supporting Alexandria’s ban of fortunetellers “is not in the cards.”
The city argued the business of fortunetelling is a fraud and inherently deceptive, but Kirk concluded that fortunetelling is free speech protected by the First Amendment.
Adams told The Town Talk newspaper last year that she is a fifth-generation psychic.
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Comments (54)
obxned
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 12:51am“Fed Judge Strikes Down LA Ban on…Fortunetelling, Palm Reading & Astrology”
Thank goodness! Now the governor won’t have to depend on rolling the dice to formulate his plan for the future.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 9:10amFinally. Now they can devote their resources to shutting down those evil bible study groups and get those bastards who dare to fly the American flag.
California, I have my blue sharpie at the ready to color in your star on the flag. New york, you’re next.
Report Post »judyaz
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 12:19amOh no, does this mean Glenn’s going to have to shut down his lemonade stand with free advice soon? What about listening to God and sharing His guidance?
Report Post »judyaz
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 12:16amFreedom of speech includes freedom of fortune telling.
Report Post »SonOfThunder
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:08pmFortune telling, astrology etc are the work of Satan. That is very clear in the Bible.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 11:51amThen choose not to go to such establishments and soothsayers. I believe such spirtituality plays on the gullibility of lots of people (and women seem to be drawn to these performances like flies to crap). I also believe people have the right to exercise free will and I have no problem if a fool and his money are parted by choice. Hell, I wouldn’t give my money to any of these mediums any sooner than I would to some of my local churches. The proper facade doesn’t make greed and hypocricy more palatable. I am a man of faith, but not religion. My choice based on my experiences.
Report Post »Thanks for pointing out scripture, but people have a right to make a choice. Becoming an intolerant stooge is just as sinful in my opinion. You can give people the tools to succeed; you can‘t make ’em use ‘em. Accept that… or spend your life gnashing your teeth over the concerns of others.
Rob Taylor
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:08pmI know a few people who make extra cash fortune telling. No matter how you feel about it they are hustling to make money instead of getting on the dole. That’s the real issue – especially in Louisiana where a lot of fortune tellers are Black folk basically running a small business. Can’t have them stray to far from the plantation.
Report Post »hi
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 6:29pmI don’t think we should ban it, but using food stamps to pay for it should be banned.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 3:10pmO’bamaNonCare was written 100% by TheTidesFoundation! Our Constitution states all laws are to beguine in the HOUSE-0-REPS.! Therefore it should also have immediately been struck down. Does’nt matter if it is/isnot a tax, it’s ILLEGAL! iT’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL for any law to be made outside the Congress of our U.S.A.!
Report Post »Yuuperguy
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 9:26amMaybe you are forgetting, but the law WAS passed by both the house and the senate and the supreme court ruled it legal. All three branches of government passed it. It’s law. Get over it.
Report Post »mikellyusabr
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:37pmThose silly fortune tellers just keep causing trouble. Small fry and stupid. When are they ever going to learn? It’s way past time for those dumb idiots to evolve into a more civilized form, like, say, politicians or scientists who preach man-made global warming.
Now those folks do it right. They are always predicting the future: the end of times is near, humans will cause it, humans deserves it. You can make boatloads of money doing that. Cap and trade here I come! Your run-of-the-mill fortune teller is a piker by comparison.
Get a clue, you gypsies! Trade in your crystal ball for a computer and a lab. You can still play the same game, except you will have a far fatter bank account.
And no locals making laws against you.
Report Post »Ob1zenobi
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:54pmYep, make the laws to suit your agenda, better yet.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:29pmOkay. Was the local paper printing daily horoscopes?
Report Post »Busybodies. They know no bounds. Left/right, secular/religious, progressive/conservative… regardless of where a busybody falls on the ideological spectrum, THEY are the one thing that should be banned.
DarthMims
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:49pmThank you for putting that so clearly, and I agree. A few years ago, my son and I were watching the news on TV, and a story showed a group of protesters in front of a Wal-Mart, holding up signs trying to get people to boycott the store because Wal-Mart supports Pro-Choice charities. The funny part was that another group of protesters had inadvertently planned a similar protest in front of Wal-Mart, holding up signs trying to get people to boycott the store because Wal-Mart supports Pro-Life charities. My son asked me “don’t these people have anything better to do?” I had to laugh.
Report Post »HumbleCitizen
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:11pm“bans palmistry, card reading, fortune telling and other otherworldly communications”.
It’s the “and other otherworldly communications” that’s too broad. The evil can interpret that to mean praying. Considering the war on Christianity the last few decades, there is no doubt this is one logical conclusion of this type of law. I can name many people (on this blog alone) who would prohibit prayer in a heartbeat if they could.
The first recorded biblical text of prohibition against prayer was in Daniel 6:7 by King Darius. The king’s men were jealous of Daniel and the ONLY fault they could find with Daniel was his worship and prayers to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Recent story here on the Blaze…Christian Fined & Sentenced to 60 Days in Jail Over AZ Home Bible Studies.
Report Post »A simple search will provide countless other anti-Christian stories.
ModerationIsBest
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:52pm@HUMBLECITIZEN
A simple search will shine line on the article you posted.
This guy was running a weekly church service in his house(with raised platform and everything), had 2 years to comply with the regulations and refused to do so. He has also had numerous run ins with the law.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:57pmdoesn’t LA have real fiscal issues to be working on instead of social engineering and faux protection? that sun and smog must have permeated the brains of these folks.
Report Post »DarthMims
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:30pmThat’s LA as in Louisiana.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 3:05pmThat’s LA as in “LA–LA–LAND”, CA.
Report Post »vaman
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:42pmAbsolutely no problem. Who doesn’t know all of that mystical stuff is a scam and con?
Report Post »It’s very similar to believing a man walked on water or a boat had two of every animal on it or a woman came from a man’s rib.
Someone might visit a palm reader and pay for advice or someone may seek advice from an invisible man in the sky and pay for it every time the tray is passed around in large building full of pictures of other mystics and conjurers.
The lesson to be learned is one superstition does not invalidate another or make one more “powerful” than the other. They are personal beliefs, where at the end of it all, the person who is apparently more attuned to special powers takes your money money and you’re left with notta. Objective thinking rules the day.
Smiley Face
Posted on July 16, 2012 at 2:52pmVaman, The idea of lumping fortune telling (and the like) with religions that believe in God as just “superstitions” is simply wrong. Your response tells me you don’t believe in a greater being because if you did, you wouldn’t categorize both the same.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:13pmYep, just as the Fortunetellers predicted….
Report Post »brother_ed
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:20pm@THE_MONK
Good one!!
Report Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:03pmTime to Remove the judge from the Bench!
Report Post »DarthMims
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:31pmYeah, I hate it when judges actually uphold the Constitution.
Report Post »katzmeow44
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 4:07pmFortune Telling is just for entertainment. So next are we going to ban commercials? Some would concider many products/services sold to be a fraud as well.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:55amFortune telling, palm reading, etc., eventually involves the aid of demons and the people who go to them are trapped in a fear-fed revolving door that usually leads them to being relieved of their money and other maladies. It is not ‘free speech’….it is a scam that snares the weak minded and the superstitious out of their money. Police regularly investigate and prosecute scams, schemes, and lies that fool people out of their money. This is no different. If fortune tellers believe in free speech then they should give their questionable services for free. The courts were wrong as usual.
Report Post »antitheist
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:40pmWait, so you’re saying that fortune telling involves demons? Wouldn’t that mean that it actually works? Otherwise those are some useless demons. So it’s not a scam? You xtians really need to think before you type.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:51amNancy and Ronald weren’t told (to our knowledge) that he would loose his mind to ALT.
To date, it has not been reported that she has asked for a refund.
Atheists would have a field day.
Muslims cold get around it by calling it Sharia LAW.
If palm readers & the lot were banned, what could happen to Bible readers & preachers…,
& Christians, etc –in general???
>Good call Judge!
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:46amThe problem is NOT the ban on this crap; the problem is the precedent it sets. This will lead to bans on other things that you may be in favor of.
Report Post »It started with cigarettes. Then they started checking your kids’ lunch bags. Then they want to limit the size of your soda. It just keeps going on and on until they control every aspect of your life. Better to let people do stuff you don’t favor. If you don’t like it, don’t do it. Simple.
spirited
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:51amAgree
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:10pmAt least in the good old days they had to amend the Constitution to ban alcohol. Now the federal government bans things by fiat
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:14amIt was banned in NZ a long time ago to protect the gullible from losing their money to these people. The government then decided that people should be able to do whatever they want with their own money.
And they were right.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:12amWell, all Louisiana has to do is add a tax to fortunetelling and then they can ban it….
Report Post »DWilliams08
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 4:02pmHave state sponsored fortune telling to benefit the schools, just like the lottery.
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:11amIf any religion is legal, they all are.
People need fairy tales to get them through their brief and harsh existence.
Report Post »DIVINEPROVIDENCE1776
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:06amHow about banning sharia law in America? Palm reading, astrology, and any new age crap is the least of our problems. Islamofacism is incompatible with our Constitution and any free/rule of law societies.
Report Post »edcoil
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:17amThe good ones knew this was coming and never shutdown… 8-)
Report Post »encinom
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:39amYou do realize that not only Christianity is protect by the Constitution’s free exercise clause? Typical tea ******, no understanding of the Constitution.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:54amENCINOM, We are after all a nation of laws, right? Ok, except for 0bama who can pick and choose the laws that he wishes to enforce. Other than that, just how is the ban of Sharia Law, that so distinctly actually violates existing laws here in so many ways, a violation of the Constitution?
Report Post »Publius Duo
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:45pm@Encinom wrote:
“You do realize that not only Christianity is protect by the Constitution’s free exercise clause? Typical tea ******, no understanding of the Constitution”
Typical liberal ignorant. Freedom of religion is a first amendment right. No where is it listed in the Constitution, nor is there a free exercise clause in the Constitution.
If you want to trash the teabaggers, I would suggest; “If you want to debate, show up with the facts genius.”
Here’s the 1st Amendment, now educate yourself.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The courts have violated this amendment anyway. The of seperation of church and state concept is a lie.
Report Post »DarthMims
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:40pm@ PUBLIUS DUO All amendments to the Constitution are considered a part of the Constitution.
Report Post »Chromo200
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:04amOh crap .. a rule set up by the gov’t to protect us struct down. Not that I am for Palm reading, and Psychic readings, etc. and ripping off the public, but it is ironic that the courts believe in the 1st Amendment. Now if the liberal media will believe in this Amendment.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:00amA federal judge has struck down a central Louisiana ordinance banning fortunetelling, palm reading, astrology and similar activities in the city of Alexandria. So, investment, bond and stock brokers can continue their trade.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:59amInteresting: Reading Omen should promote Voodoo!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:53amWhy ban it. We have bigger problems than this tax on the stupid.
Report Post »RANGER1965
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:04amIt’s a common malady of men and women in power.
Once elected the temptation to view the population that elected them as sheep that need their protection is overwhelming. It doesn’t help that many of them are.
So instead of promoting freedom, and letting people make their own choices, both good and bad, they instead become White Knights instead of leaders. Then it’s only a matter of time before they see the electorate as weak and worthless, and themselves as wise and powerful.
True humility is rare in men of power.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:05amCause holy roller Christians want everone to conform to their ancient book of myths, that is why the ban.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:23am@ENCINOM~~~ Cause holy roller Christians want everone to conform to their ancient book of myths, that is why the ban.
***************************************************************************************************
Uh, NO. It’ s because our LORD says to stay away from everyone of the thing on that list and the practitioners of them.
Don’t know where you get “holy rollers” as most REAL CHRISTIANS I know are very humble people who love and adore their GOD JEHOVAH. If that makes me a “holy roller”, glad to be one.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:29amThe only myth around here is your intelligence.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:59amENCINOM, Now, did you really type that with a straight face? You really feel that is why LA would ban such activities.
Report Post »I bet Bloomberg could get away with it in NYC though.