A group of Amish men in Kentucky, arrested for failing to have proper safety features on the back of their horse-drawn buggies, have been denied in their attempt to seek an exemption on religious liberty grounds. The Kentucky Appeals Court ruled unanimously that the right to religious exercise is outweighed by the safety concerns of all motorists. The Louisville Courier-Journal has more:
"This court is not in the business of tenaciously restricting religious practices," said the decision, written by Senior Judge Ann O'Malley Shake. "Indeed, the freedom to express and exercise one’s religious beliefs is held in high esteem. However, such practices cannot infringe on the rights and safety of the public at large."Shake continued: "If we were to grant an exception to the Amish, we would be placing a greater importance on their ability to freely exercise their religion over the significant safety interests of both the Amish and the public at large."
You can read the decision here.
