Leaving pro-life literature, where is it legal?

[TraderTif]

So I have dozens and dozens of lovely little pro-life business cards, and I’ve been leaving them wherever I can think of.

And this has gotten me to thinking…is there any place where it would be illegal for me to leave them? I’ve mainly been leaving them in public restrooms, pinned to town bulletin boards, tucked into library books, and places like that.

Does anyone have ideas for especially good places to leave them? And are there places where it might be illegal for me to leave them?
Tif =8-)

 

[KarenNC]

Do not leave them anywhere you would not like your own young child to find them and ask you to explain what they are about.

Frankly, I find this sort of practice repugnant and, honestly, cowardly, regardless of the cause. This is particularly true (in terms of prolife) if they are of the more graphic variety that I have been finding recently. I have had people leave extremely graphic photographic pro-life material on my car in and other areas where my young child has come across them.

Whether it is legal or not, frankly, is beside the point to me. My views on the pro-life/pro-choice issue are irrelevant, because by using this method, you have absolutely no idea of the beliefs or the age of the person who finds this material. It is abhorrent for someone to choose to expose my preschool (at the time) child to graphic horrible photos of dead children against my will simply because we needed to use a public restroom, just as it would be for them to plaster horrible photos of dead soldiers in a battlefield or mutilated animals. Is it the sort of material you would consider acceptable for your child to find?

To me this is totally unacceptable as you have absolutely no control or, it would appear, concern over who finds this material by doing things like leaving them in books, public restrooms, on cars, etc. It is one thing to express your views face to face or on a forum such as this to another adult. Debate me on any issue until the cows come home—I enjoy it. It is entirely another thing for you to remove from me the option of choosing a developmentally appropriate time and manner in which to discuss this issue with my child.

Your cause trumpets respect for the family, respect for human life, compassion for the unborn. Practice some respect for the innocence of childhood and compassion for the children who are already born by not imprinting their young minds with these horribly graphic photos. Whether you consider abortion a sin or not, it is not their sin. Neither I nor any other parent should have to treat everywhere my child goes like a minefield.

 

[Proletarian]

And this has gotten me to thinking…is there any place where it would be illegal for me to leave them?

Canada.

 

[Dauphin]

Canada.

Really? I wasn’t aware of this.

Our country has “hate laws” which dictate that people can’t speak publicly against “the homosexual community”, and “human rights commissions” which decide that Catholic schools have to allow homosexuals to bring their “partners” to the prom, but I’ve never heard that distribution of anti-abortion literature was made illegal. Can you provide a source?

 

[Proletarian]

Really? I wasn’t aware of this.

Our country has “hate laws” which dictate that people can’t speak publicly against “the homosexual community”, and “human rights commissions” which decide that Catholic schools have to allow homosexuals to bring their “partners” to the prom, but I’ve never heard that distribution of anti-abortion literature was made illegal. Can you provide a source?

It was more sarcasm than anything. I’m sure it’s perfectly legal to distribute pro-life literature in your country…for now.

 

[TraderTif]

blink blink Perhaps I should hasten to add that these are not graphic in any sense of the word. They are small, business cards with somewhat-gentler pro-life slogans, like the following…

-Quote from Mother Theresa
lifedynamics.com/Abortion_Information/Pro-life_Product/cards/big/action-card09.jpg

-equal rights slogan
lifedynamics.com/Abortion_Information/Pro-life_Product/cards/big/action-card28.jpg

-Quote from JPII
lifedynamics.com/Abortion_Information/Pro-life_Product/cards/big/action-card16.jpg

etc., etc.

I have no intention of leaving anything **graphic **just lying around!! And I know that these will all end up in the trash anyway, but what’s the problem???

I mean, I wasn’t annoyed when I found pro-gay-marriage literature plastered everywhere (back when VT was debating the issue). Whenever I found it lying around, I threw it away. And I fully expect that is what happens to my little business cards. But, maybe, before people throw them in the trash (or, hopefully, the recycling bin) it will make them think a little bit. I know I thought a lot more about gay marriage when I saw all that stuff, and it made me do research, which made me stronger in my belief that gay marriage is wrong.
Tif =8-)

 

[KarenNC]

blink blink Perhaps I should hasten to add that these are not graphic in any sense of the word. They are small, business cards with somewhat-gentler pro-life slogans, like the following…

The ones that I (and my young daughter) have been finding around, in public restrooms, laying on the ground (and stuck on my car) are more along these lines (be warned, these are very graphic photos):

abortionno.org/Store/business_cards.html

So you would consider it okay to be forced into discussing the topic of abortion with your 5 year old because she picked up one of your cards? Yes, my 5 year old would have been perfectly capable of reading those cards you showed and would have asked what that meant.

I intensely dislike this form of littering under the guise of “helping” regardless of the cause, be it religious, ethical or advertising, but the particular ones I have been encountering have been heinous.

 

[TraderTif]

Well, personally, I think that if a child is old enough to be asking a question about something, then they are old enough to be given an age appropriate answer.

I don’t have any children, but I can remember asking my mother about abortion after reading about it when I was 5 or 6. And my mother responded with something like “Some people don’t think that babies are really people until they come out of the mommy’s tummy. But we want to help everyone understand that babies are still people, even when they are growing inside the mommy.” (Something to that effect.)

I like to think that if I had a child, and he/she came to me with one of these cards and asked “what does it mean?”, I would be able to answer with something like “someone left that out to remind people that babies are people too” or something to that effect.

I do care that chldren may come across the literature I distribute. I do my best to get cards which are as gentle as possible. And I try to leave them in places that would be, at least somewhat, less accessible to children. (When I leave them in public restrooms, I aim for places like the top of the paper towel dispenser, which is usually too high up for children to see easily. When I leave them at the library, I aim for adult books, mainly about abortion and/or sex, etc.etc.)

But I do think that such cards can make many people think. And that’s really my goal, just to make people think.
Tif =8-)

 

[Dauphin]

Well, personally, I think that if a child is old enough to be asking a question about something, then they are old enough to be given an age appropriate answer.

I don’t have any children, but I can remember asking my mother about abortion after reading about it when I was 5 or 6. And my mother responded with something like “Some people don’t think that babies are really people until they come out of the mommy’s tummy. But we want to help everyone understand that babies are still people, even when they are growing inside the mommy.” (Something to that effect.)

I like to think that if I had a child, and he/she came to me with one of these cards and asked “what does it mean?”, I would be able to answer with something like “someone left that out to remind people that babies are people too” or something to that effect.

I do care that chldren may come across the literature I distribute. I do my best to get cards which are as gentle as possible. And I try to leave them in places that would be, at least somewhat, less accessible to children. (When I leave them in public restrooms, I aim for places like the top of the paper towel dispenser, which is usually too high up for children to see easily. When I leave them at the library, I aim for adult books, mainly about abortion and/or sex, etc.etc.)

But I do think that such cards can make many people think. And that’s really my goal, just to make people think.

Tif =

I think you’re doing a great thing. Keep it up!

 

[Amolibri]

The ones that I (and my young daughter) have been finding around, in public restrooms, laying on the ground (and stuck on my car) are more along these lines (be warned, these are very graphic photos):

abortionno.org/Store/business_cards.html

So you would consider it okay to be forced into discussing the topic of abortion with your 5 year old because she picked up one of your cards? Yes, my 5 year old would have been perfectly capable of reading those cards you showed and would have asked what that meant.

I intensely dislike this form of littering under the guise of “helping” regardless of the cause, be it religious, ethical or advertising, but the particular ones I have been encountering have been heinous.

I must agree with you here, Karen. In addition, a property owner can ask you not to leave your cards or tell you not to put cards on people’s windshields in their parking lot on private property. Also, it doesn’t matter what the cause or ad is: I DO OBJECT to anyone putting anything on my car. It seems this is an issue (private property/privacy) on which conservatives could agree!

 

[Catholig]

So you would consider it okay to be forced into discussing the topic of abortion with your 5 year old because she picked up one of your cards? Yes, my 5 year old would have been perfectly capable of reading those cards you showed and would have asked what that meant.

Sure.

Catholig

 

[TraderTif]

I must agree with you here, Karen. In addition, a property owner can ask you not to leave your cards or tell you not to put cards on people’s windshields in their parking lot on private property. Also, it doesn’t matter what the cause or ad is: I DO OBJECT to anyone putting anything on my car. It seems this is an issue (private property/privacy) on which conservatives could agree!

nodding in agreement I never leave my cards on people’s cars. And I don’t leave them just lying on the ground either. See, this is why I’m asking…I don’t want to leave them on people’s private property…but I don’t know what that covers…

I guess I’m wondering, let’s say I’m shopping in a store, or eating in a restaurant, is it legal to leave the cards in the restroom? What about elsewhere in the store? Libraries? If I go use the library at my local state college, can I leave some there?

And does anyone have ideas for **good **places to leave these sorts of things?
Tif =8-)

 

[thomasf]

Here’s a suggestion when your 5 year old reads the card: just tell them it’s nothing to do with them and not to worry about it. If you don’t want to deal with the issue. Otherwise take the time to educate them.

I can remember being a young kid, my mom watched soap operas. For some reason one of the women on the soap she watched was a hooker. I can remember asking what a hooker was. My mom told me not to worry about it, it’s not for me to know about. And I dropped it. Pretty simple.

I think that if people can leave jack chick comics laying around all over, it’s perfectly fine to leave a card saying ‘stop abortion’ or whatever laying around. It’s certainly a better message.

 

[KarenNC]

I think that if people can leave jack chick comics laying around all over, it’s perfectly fine to leave a card saying ‘stop abortion’ or whatever laying around. It’s certainly a better message.

I object just as strenously to those, particularly because with the comic format they are more attractive to children than plain text, and the hatred expressed in those is something I would prefer to shield my child from as much as possible for at least a bit longer.

Honestly, if one doesn’t have the guts to engage me directly but has to litter to do it, I have no interest in their message, regardless of what it is.

 

[boppaid]

nodding in agreement I never leave my cards on people’s cars. And I don’t leave them just lying on the ground either. See, this is why I’m asking…I don’t want to leave them on people’s private property…but I don’t know what that covers…

I think if someone owns the property, you need to get that owner’s permission. Period. It is up to the property owner’s discretion to determine if they want something on their property. So, I would say…that’s a pretty good rule of thumb to use. So, if you want to distribute these cards, just check with the property owner first.

 

[boppaid]

Honestly, if one doesn’t have the guts to engage me directly but has to litter to do it, I have no interest in their message, regardless of what it is.

Karen, I completely agree. And it doesn’t matter to me if I agree with their message or not…face to face, people!

 

[Philothea53]

As I read the posts in this thread I couldn’t help but wonder if those who were so adamantly against leaving pro-life anti-abortion business cards or literature around, at least as vigorously argue to rid our airways of commercials for personal lubricants and Viagra and Yaz and Gardasil, and commercials and television shows with tongue-down-the-throat kissing and partial nudity, etc. How many of these same people would say that the ‘wardrobe malfunction’ at the Super Bowl was no big deal? These are just a few examples of things in our everyday life that are accepted by many who would then in the same breath go ballistic about anything pro-life and anti-abortion.

I think I already know the answer to my question.

 

[Catholig]

Honestly, if one doesn’t have the guts to engage me directly but has to litter to do it, I have no interest in their message, regardless of what it is.

I disagree. I feel that little cards, and bumper stickers are an aid to ones message, that is the person who distributes the cards or has the bumper sticker isn’t afraid to engage in conversation. He is just trying to reach as many people as possible, and trying to do it in various ways. I mean - if you’re on the freeway you can’t have a personal discussion with everyone behind you, but you can have a bumper sticker. And while you can’t talk to everyone that walks into a doctors office - you can communicate a simple truth by a friendly card.

Catholig

 

[Amolibri]

As I read the posts in this thread I couldn’t help but wonder if those who were so adamantly against leaving pro-life anti-abortion business cards or literature around, at least as vigorously argue to rid our airways of commercials for personal lubricants and Viagra and Yaz and Gardasil, and commercials and television shows with tongue-down-the-throat kissing and partial nudity, etc. How many of these same people would say that the ‘wardrobe malfunction’ at the Super Bowl was no big deal? These are just a few examples of things in our everyday life that are accepted by many who would then in the same breath go ballistic about anything pro-life and anti-abortion.

I think I already know the answer to my question.

You do??? I think you assume quite a lot about free speech rights. Censorship is the proverbial slippery slope, my friend.(you seem to know quite a bit about these ‘horrible’ things…more than I do! ) I am all for community and family standards, but when people try to censor the public airwaves…they’d better be careful…someday YOU may be the minority…or have NO power. You still have the power of the purse. Boycotts are probably the best action to take.

NO ONE is forcing you to watch any of the things you cited. This is the “free” market, remember? If people were not paying to see those things, they would not be there. Make your views known to the sponsors. People will not let go of their “forbidden fruit” too easily. We have created a society of voyeurs, it seems to me.

 

[urban-hermit]

TraderTif: You are awesome! I encourage you to be bold and continue leaving your cards in public places, and on whatever private property where you can get permission. See # 13 in the list at this link from Priests for Life:
priestsforlife.org/brochures/youcan.html

You can also call or e-mail Priests for Life with more specific questions.

I know you said you are not distributing graphic images. But even if you were, a kid who inadvertantly sees a graphic picture will get over it, whereas the girl or boy in the picture wasn’t so lucky. I understand why some parents would object to this, but at the same time I also feel those same parents may have lost their sense of urgency about the problem of abortion, or else want to avoid talking about it at all costs, even though it is enormously prevalent. It’s like the elephant in the living room - except most of the time our culture hides the elephant somehow. The graphic pictures are ugly, of course, but they serve the purpose of forcing this genocide into being acknowledged, recognized and discussed. If a loving parent is not the first one to explain abortion to their child, some pro-abortion-choice schoolteacher may end up being the one to do so.

Anyway, the topic at hand is the legality of distributing pro-Life literature - basically a question of free speech. I’m confident Priests for Life can answer any questions you might have.