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'God's Country' Signs In Texas Challenged

CBN

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Hondo, Texas residents are firing back at the Freedom From Religion Foundation for trying to remove a historical sign from their community. 

A sign reading, "This is God's Country, Don't Drive Thru It Like Hell," has been displayed since the 1930s, welcoming people into the city. 

The roadside icon can be seen off Highway 90 on the way into Hondo.

An online petition that has 3,100 supporters reads, "Hondo as a community is proud of this sign and the whole community will be devastated if it is brought down." Their Facebook page currently has 11,876 likes, with pictures of supporters. 

God's Country Sign Facebook Page

Hondo's Mayor, Jim Danner, said he will not remove the welcome signs, despite FFRF co-president, Annie Laurie Gaylor's, letter

"It is inappropriate for the city of Hondo to display religious signs that convey government preference for religion over nonreligion. The display of the religious message 'This Is God's Country' on public property violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits public bodies from advancing, supporting, or promoting religion. It is also needlessly divisive, since it sends the message that nonbelievers are not welcome in the city." 

Gaylor went on to say, "some people may want to flee 'God's Country' faster than hell. Hondo officials could actually be encouraging drivers to speed with such signs." 

However, Mayor Danner has received at least 80 emails from all over the United States in support of the sign. 

The city's lawyer says that the legal action the FFRF wants to take "is based on a misunderstanding of both the governing law and the purpose of the signs." 

Organizers of the petition to keep the sign set up a station outside the Hondo Public Library on Wednesday to get signatures. They plan to continue until they have reached 10,000.


 

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