Feb 27, 2012
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A Louisiana church was ordered to stop giving away free water along Mardi Gras parade routes because they did not have the proper permits.
“We were given a cease and desist order,” said Matt Tipton, pastor of Hope Church in Metairie, LA. “We had no idea we were breaking the law.”
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Tipton said volunteers from his church were handing out free coffee and free bottles of water at two locations along a Mardi Gras parade route when they were stopped by Jefferson Parish officials. The church volunteers were cited for failing to secure an occupational license and for failure to register for a sales tax.
“It kind of threw me for a loop because they weren’t in uniform,” he said. “But once they pulled the ticket out, I was conviniced.”
“We apologized,” Tipton said. “We didn’t know the rules.”
The church had purchased about five thousand bottles of water labeled with the church’s name and website address. They gave the remaining bottles to a local drug rehab center.
A spokesman for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox News that the church had violated the law.
The spokesman said the church was initially given a verbal warning – and then a written warning. He said it was not a citation – even though the warning clearly stated it was a “vendor warning citation.”
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The sheriff’s department said there was “no validity to their complaint whatever their complaint may be.”
Ken Klukowski, a senior legal fellow at the Family Research Council, said the citation was absurd.
“This is a perfect example of why so many people have a problem with big government,” Klukowski said. “The idea that a church needs a permit to hand out water to thirsty people is unfortunate.”
He said it’s hard to believe that the government would get in the way of citizens helping each other out – “especially a church which was just doing its duty to be good Samaritans and help those in need.”
Pastor Tipton said he sent an email to city leaders explaining that they were just trying to show their love to the city “and to serve the city.”
He offered to provide volunteers to clean up trash or even clean portable toilets. However, city leaders did not initially respond and Tipton said he was given the runaround – told to go through three different department heads.
Klukowski said the incident is outrageous.
“The idea that you need an additional level of bureaucracy stopping a church from showing kindness to members of the community is a perfect example of a waste of taxpayer money and resources,” he said.
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It ain't going to get any better folks. We need a total flush of everybody in gov't from the very very top to the lowliest office.
so if someone's dying of dehydration, do i need to go get a permit before helping?
so if someone's dying of dehydration, do i need to go get a permit before helping?
This is about the stupidest thing I have heard of. I very seldom go to New Orleans but now I will make it a point to avoid it like the plague. There is no way I would spend money in a place like that to support a governing agency as ignorant as that.
You know what's really sad… " Government of the people, by the people and for the people…." assumes the people are of one voice. Our country is divided into two opposing camps. One camp wants the government to protect, feed, house and provide free education and healthcare. The other camp believes the government should protect our borders and protect us from our enemies.. then to make sure that each American has the opportunity to work for their needs and keep the fruits of their labors. Both camps want our Government to provide a safety net, as well as relief from acts of God.
The O'Bama government is clear about which camp it represents… my choice is also clear… and I will vote.
The real reason they were given the tickets is because they were interfering with someone else who had applied for a permit to sell water to thirsty people. The church's water was free.
See, that's why Pres Bush took 3 days to send help after Katrina. He was waiting for the Occupational License to be approved.
Bureaucrats – Highly paid individuals whose main purpose is to make life miserable for everyone. Maybe they're the ones that need to get a real job. Oh wait, most of them couldn't make it in the private sector since they would have to produce and be accountable.
They needed an occupational license? A church needs a license to do do good works? I thought that WAS a churches occupation!
Failure to register for a sales tax?
The church purchased the water and was giving it away for ummm… FREE! How do you charge a sales tax on free?
I think its time we turn the tide on government. They seem to have forgotten the constitution limits government.. not us!
Why would the chuch need a vendor permit if they are not selling anything? They were giving away coffee and water not selling it.
I wonder if Jefferson Parish needs to get a really smart, hired gun accountant so that they can salivate over what percentage a tax they would collect on "zero"?
Sales tax on FREE WATER? How absurd can you get? Kindness and decency should not require a permit since you're giving, not selling.
another reason we need less government.
Obviously those illiterate cops didn't look up the definition of "vend".
Dumb! Dumb! Dumb! They were GIVING IT AWAY! Not selling it. For crying out loud. I hope Matt Tipton DOES go through hoops to prove that the so-called "cease and desist" was out of line.
Wait. You can get a permit to hand out condoms? I'd like to see the form for that! So the real problem is that a church had their logo on the bottles. God forbid! (pun intended) that a church make themselves known to the communitity they serve. Government just needs to limit functions to those listed in the Constitution. The Thought Police will be kicking in my door before dawn!
Wait. You can get a permit to hand out condoms? I'd like to see the form for that! So the real problem is that a church had their logo on the bottles. God forbid! (pun intended) that a church make themselves known to the communitity they serve. Government just needs to limit functions to those listed in the Constitution. The Thought Police will be kicking in my door before dawn!
Ya can't fix stupid as far as the Jefferson Parish 'officials' goes.
Ya can't fix stupid as far as the Jefferson Parish 'officials' goes.
If they had be handing out doughnuts with those coffees the Police probably wouldn't have said a thing!
I have never heard of "giving something away" as requiring a business license or a tax exeption requirement. I forget who said it, whoever said it was right. "A government big enough to give you every thing you need, is big enough to take every thing away." Just ask any Russian.
When are those pigeons going to learn? The holy water is not a bird bath!
When are these fools up for election?
When are these fools up for election?
"Failure to register for a sales tax", this to give something away for free? I think I can hear Darth Vader laughing in the background. Get used to it 'little man', welcome to the new 'empire'. On your knees before Caeser, you Christian dog. Oh, and one more thing; I do beleive that the only 'error' here was that the storm troopers concerned here should have indeed been in 'uniform'. Oh? Yes, of course, my mistake, those were 'secret police'. May God have mercy on us all.
Charged for not getting a sales tax permit? What part of 'They were giving the stuff away' do those cops not understand. This was a public service thing that probably kept some people from dehydrating, and they were given a ticket? Remind me never to go to Mardi Gras.
Beyond ridiculous and intrusive.
"Help… someone… I'm choking/having a heart attack/bleeding to death.."
"Sorry. I don't have a permit or a license as a health provider, I can't touch you."
Proving these days ..u can find someone to complain about just about anything…friggin idjuts
What do the Merchants say that sell Water along the route? Here you have a Government sbsidised Church, no taxes, who gets the water free and gives it away with their Logo on it, a pure form of self promotion. While a Merchant has followed all the Rules, paid the fees, made the required paperwork and pays Taxes loses sales. When did they make a Law that Churches were Tax exempt? I know they have been all my Life but I don't know when it started.
Government and politics today are for the most part a corrupt and dirty business. What kind of mindset makes it "illegal" to pass out free water to thirsty people? Sounds like Socialist/Marxist thinking is alive and well in New Orleans.
Notice they were handing out re-branded water. Not innocent bottles of dasani, but items (probably not labeled for sale) to promote their "business". Imagine if a group of muslims were there passing out copies of the Koran what kind of stink that would cause? LOL There is no shortage of special laws in place SPECIFICALLY when large crowds are assembled (i.e. concealed carry restrictions, etc.) Even though I have a concealed-carry permit, I can't carry at a parade, or a football stadium, etc…. it's the law. If there are vendor/advertising/assembly/distribution laws, they should have to follow them too.
Weird how republicans whine that they don't want big government yet this happened in a red state…. pot and kettle people…
So the next time I see a cop bleeding to death from a gunshot wound, I will NOT call 911 as I don't have a good samaritan permit.
So the next time I see a cop bleeding to death from a gunshot wound, I will NOT call 911 as I don't have a good samaritan permit.
Is Obama also the Sheriff of Jefferson Parish?
Did the Federal GFovernment have a permit to hand out water after Katrina, or the Red Cross, or any other organnization! A BIG AMEN to Dana Floyd!
Why do you need a sales tax permit, which suggests you are selling something, to give something away for free? Were they going to charge them sales tax, even though no one bought anything??? This is beyond ridiculous, obviously those plain clothes officers had entirely too much time on their hands.
To do something evil…it never takes a permit or permission. You want to do something good? You'll be strangled in red tape as competing government entities either try to control what you are doing..or, take credit for it.
Did the Good Samaritan get a ticket because he wasn't an MD?
"The church volunteers were cited for failing to secure an occupational license and for failure to register for a sales tax." What part of FREE do these government nutjobs not understand? If they are handing them out for FREE, this is NOT an occupation and there is no sale so there would be no sales tax. Oh yeah, that's right – nothing is free anymore including the citizens of this country… Then there is a statement from the Sheriff's Department which said there was “…no validity to their complaint whatever their complaint may be.” Now this is priceless…no validity to their complaint whatever it is… That's a profound statement if I ever heard one. "Just in case those people have a complaint, just say it's not valid. Don't stop to consider the complaint, cause whatever it is, it can't be valid." Is it because this is a faith-based group that their concerns will automatically have no validity? So, did the church groups who were handing out water clothing and other emergency supplies after Katrina all have the "Proper permits?" Aid to those in need should be allowed under humanitarian principles. Again – folks, think FREE!
The plantation owners do not like the competition.
And what if the church leader was Jim Jones?
What if the church leader was Jim Jones? What then? Think about it more deeply, my friend…you say I'm the most intellgent man you know…Really? Then I implore you to "Think Deeply" about my comment. "WHY?" – Deep Thinkers(such as Jesus Christ) Are Usually Always Despised and Put to Death by The Church. "WHY?"
What then?
What if the church leader was Jim Jones? What then? Think about it more deeply, my friend…you say I'm the most intellgent man you know…Really? Then I implore you to "Think Deeply" about my comment. "WHY?" – Deep Thinkers(such as Jesus Christ) Are Usually Always Despised and Put to Death by The Church. "WHY?"
A government that governs least, governs best! – Judge Napalitano.
funny… they didn't have a problem when the church showed up in large force to help after the levy's broke, after the hurricane devastated and flooded the area. They didn't need a work permit or vender permit or any of that. funny…
They didn't complain about the thousands of dollars of tools and supplies I brought down and left down there either,well… they didn't invite me,I was sent,so they don't have to answer to me….
They sure do hone in on a Church trying to HELP people–but where are they when the have drug dealers on the corners peddling drugs and whatever other illegal items they can get their hands on!
They sure do hone in on a Church trying to HELP people–but where are they when the have drug dealers on the corners peddling drugs and whatever other illegal items they can get their hands on!
I have lived in New Orleans and had to deal with Jefferson Parish officials. This is nothing new. Only in the mind of a bureaucrat can you arrive at the conclusion a church needs a vendor's license and a sales tax certificate when you are giving something away for free and not vending or selling.
Evidently our church has made the news! Wow. Here is what happened:
http://vimeo.com/channels/106162
I wonder what the anti-church police would have done if a very thirsty person was asking this group for bottled water?
typical of the direction our nation is headed. straight into the muslim world, just check our c-i-c in the white house.
no sense whatsoever!