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Texans had been 'reining in' the FLDS via state laws

The state needs to start reining in the CPS.

In the case of CHURCH OF LUKUMI BABALU AYE v. CITY OF HIALEAH, 508 U.S. 520 (1993), the SCOTUS ruled quite clearly that laws promulgated with the specific intent of targeting a religious minority are unconstitutional.

Then again, it appears that Texas authorities don't really care about the Constitution.

Schleicher County has a subdivision law.
Ask the County Judge.

The YFZ has a POOR RATING as of September 1, 2007 with the TCEQ. Why? They lied and had a disregard for the rules.

This guy makes me sick to be a Republican. After all this fiasco I don't plan to ever set foot in Texas again, nor help their economy or anything. I wish them nothing but the worst. This people are psycho crazed lunatics who feel that they can just impose whatever they want on whomever they choose. Never move to Texas ever. Don't visit there, don't help their economy, just do everything in your power to make them a weaker and weaker state.

Hopefully one day their state will have as much influence nationally as say Rhode Island because that many people won't want to have anything to do with it.

Down with Texas, boycott Texas, don't have a single thing to do with this Nazi state. If you do, you better watch your back because their little power hungry CPS and Politicians might come in your home when you're not suspecting it at say 2AM in the morning and steal your children because they don't agree with your religion or belief system. What a terrible state we have there. Also, to their Gov. Rick Perry down with you too since you praised CPS for their actions against the FLDS.

FLDSers have lied and broken the law. Yet the State of Texas and CPS are seen as the bad guys. Freedom of religion does not cover rape of little girls, physical abuse, or child labor. If you really want to know about this "religion", research it!

To LDS gurl:
Please NEVER come to texas. Unlike some other FLDS friendly states, we will protect children. We have every religion you can imagine here and we are fine with that. We are NOT fine with CHILD RAPE. I'm sure you do not speak for all LDS. Most of them are against child rape as well. Maybe you are really a FLDSer grown man who "just wants his little girls back".

RandallFox points out the US Supreme Court has already ruled that laws targeted at certain religions are unconstitutional and many here fail to even notice.

And then these same people wonder why government gets bigger and more intrusive every year.

To Texan:
"Protect children" my butt; the highest court in TX said there is no evidence for what you believe. You are a dangerous person. Not even the better people in TX want you. Your kind has only disgraced the state. Not even Iran had a bigger black eye during the hostage crisis of 1979. But then again, Iran didn't take children hostage.

to Jack:
You have no idea what you are talking about. What about the 3 decenting judges? Also, the highest court in Texas also GAVE the lower court the responsibility to make provisions for child safety and to have CPS continue their investigations. Read the actual ruling. You don't even know me, or "my kind". My concern is for the FLDS children. You can go on and ingnore the abuse so you can bash the government. Warren Jeff has wives under 16 at that compound. They are taking his DNA. Just wait till the criminal case comes out. Is it ok with you that a 13year old gave birth last month? How about the 18 year old who gave birth. Yes, 18 is not an issue, but she also has a 2 year old. Do the math.

Well, that was 150 or so years ago, but then there was segregation and cc and r's preventing sale of property to minorities, automatic refusal of jobs to groups the majority felt were less desirable. I am not FLDS, but I think re-writing laws just to target a certain religious group is a bit iffy, at best, if we're going to pay any attention to the Constitution at all.
As to environmental concerns--we've done agriculture stories all over West Texas, and I think there's a lot of ignoring what wouldn't pass muster in a city. Some concerns are valid--some aren't.
I know in Arizona, there are lots of "wildcat" subdivisions that get by--and we've had unpermitted gravel quarries and cement plants in our own county.
Be careful, Texas, ya'all are fixin to get in a world of hurt.

Judging by this article, it looks like Texas increased the age of consent from 14 to 16 specifically to target the FLDS. The Texas "Child Protection" people then went in with guns and armoured cars ON THE BASIS OF A BOGUS COMPLAINT and grabbed over 450 children (except that some were adults and one was aged 27).

Not only should the FLDS people sue the CPS. They should also sue the Texas legislature. There is a direct link between those who changed the law and those who kidnapped the children and assaulted the adults.

There is very good evidence that the 2005 law was aimed at the FLDS because the Utah AG advised the Texas legislature on the entrapment scheme. Only thing is that the law has not been used in court yet, only as a threat to harass the FLDS. Wouldn't it be a hoot to discover that not a single incident will be found to test the validity of the law? I can't wait to get the kids home and then try the first criminal case under the 2005 Anti-FLDS law.

I have a feeling that from a national viewpoint, Utah is the state that has suffered the most damage. At least Texas has for now stopped the statutory rape of young girls.

It appears that besides Utah, the other place best known for polygamy is the middle east and we all know how lousy the Islamic countries treat their women. They have to wear heavy burkas in hot weather, they are restricted in their travel, they are blamed for everything, even rapes. Sounds a heck of a lot like the FLDS.

Thank goodness, Shurtleff could point to some accomplishments when the spotlight landed on him. He seems very competent. But, the fact remains, that if 20 females (5 girls, 15 women) have suffered statutory rape on the Texas compound with a population of 700, then doing the math, about 75 girls are currently being raped in Short Creek (pop 10,000) and 275 women have been subjected to statutory rape in the last four years.

Given that there should be about 350 statutory rape cases and only one or two prosecutions and no or few children removed by Utah/Arizona CPS, it seems Utah could care less about certain crime victims.

To rory:
So, you wish the law was still 14? Regardless, 14 or 16, a child can not consent to an adult. I don't want to assume, but you sound like you are ok with men having sex with children.

Texan - you say "I don't want to assume, but you sound like you are ok with men having sex with children."

That kind of thuggish comment helps to explain the behaviour of the CPS thugs. Before 2005 were the voters of Texas "OK with men having sex with children"?

Rory:
By saying "I don't want to assume", I was hoping you would speak out against men having sex with little girls. You did not, so what are we to assume? Do you think it's ok for a child to have sex with a man? I can't speak for all the voters of Texas, but I was never ok with children having sex with men. To be honest, I did not even know the law. I do now and I'm glad the age has been raised. Also, even with the age of consent at 14, that did not mean consent with a grown man. As far as CPS being thugs.. do you even know what they do every day? At least when I assume, it is based on something.

Texan - you say "Do you think it's OK for a child to have sex with a man"?

Let's put it this way. I would put a guy who has sex with a child on about the same moral level as a person who makes FALSE allegations of child abuse.There is one difference. A real child abuser is often a sick or deeply inadaquate human being who may not be fully responsible for his actions. The false accuser is just an evil thug.

And I won't be entering into any further discussion with you.

To rory:
I must have hit a sore spot. Maybe you are one of those humans who "are not fully responsible for his actions".
Sleep well FLDser....

Another evidence of Texas attacking religion. Allegations, but no evidence over and over again. Change the laws to target FLDS, then still no proof. Pass laws, and limit your own freedoms. Destroy the Constitution as fast as the people will let you and we will quickly pass into communism. Oh Joy! Red China, here we come.

The FLDS won't give you a simple "yes" or "no" answer when you ask them whether having sex with a 14-year-old is immoral, because, in reality, they don't think there should be ANY age restriction.

When an FLDS girl reaches puberty, she's old enough to have Warren Jeffs choose a husband for her.

She only has to be old enough to bare children. Whether she actually wants to be married and start having babies, or not, is irrelevant. In the FLDS faith, the girl doesn't have the right to make that choice.

This is what they teach. And, although not all girls are forced to marry as young teens, this is what they practice.