Atheists face a year in prison for disbelief in U.S state

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Did a bit of digging:

1. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/039a00/285.pdf

"The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God as set forth in the public speeches and proclamations of American Presidents, including Abraham Lincoln's historic March 30, 1863, Presidential Proclamation urging Americans to pray and fast during one of the most dangerous hours in American history, and the text of President John F. Kennedy's November 22, 1963, national security speech which concluded: "For as was written long ago: 'Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."

2. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/039g00/010.pdf

"(1) The Kentucky Office of Homeland Security shall be attached to the Office of the Governor and shall be headed by an executive director appointed by the Governor.
(2) The executive director shall:
(a) Publicize the findings of the General Assembly stressing the dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth by including the provisions of KRS 39A.285(3) in its agency training and educational materials. The executive director shall also be responsible for prominently displaying a permanent plaque at the entrance to the state's Emergency Operations Center stating the text of KRS 39A.285(3);"

3. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/039a00/990.PDF

"Any person violating any provision of this chapter or any administrative regulation or order promulgated pursuant to this chapter for which another penalty is not specified shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor."

4. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/KRS/532-00/090.PDF

"For a Class A misdemeanor, the term shall not exceed twelve (12) months"

The 1st one is a bit of a *so what?*. It is difficult to prosecute anyone of violating it, because how *does* one violate it?

The 2nd one seems to be in direct violation of article VI in the US constitution, however, as it makes a religious belief mandatory for assuming the office of executive director of The Kentucky Office of Homeland Security.

The 3rd one attaches a sentence equivalent to a class A misdemeanor (and the 4th one defines the maximum sentence) for violating a provision of chapter 39a, but not 39g, so my initial assessment is that it would be quite difficult to convict anyone of violating these provisions.

In other words, more than a "no biggie", but less than a worst case scenario involving the combined powers of all the horsemen of the Scourge.

Would still like to see the 2nd one getting torn apart by the Supreme Court, though.

So, this doesn't really have anything to do with a direct attack on Atheism at all.

Yes it is.

Only God can protect Kentuckey is true.

At least it only applies to one person, and one office, and is useful, for all of those County Sheriffs who will want tanks.

At least they did not do anything really stupid, like putting "In God we trust", on the money. The meaning there is about faith based paper.

God willing, and if the creek don't rise, nothing will come of this.

That is simply unconstitutional and unenforceable.

The Tennessee constitution prohibits atheists and ministers from serving in public office, but it, too, in unenforceable.

since the law is not enforceable, what is your problem with it. It simply is a waste of space.

ruveyn

Another story about, quotes the judges who presided over determining if the law was constitutional.....

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/10/29/1938 ... iring.html