Unfortunately (in this case), freedom of religion, in the US, only protects your right to practice your religion free from persecution. You can’t break the law and then justify it by saying it was a form of religious expression.
Laws aren’t just because they’re laws. The police could have simply practiced their right to discretion and ignored the zoning law for the duration of the blizzard.
Scientology seems to get away with it fairly often. And all those holy roller type christian churches bringing conservative politics into their services despite their tax exempt status. But this is where we draw the line - keeping people from dying of hypothermia.
Unfortunately (in this case), freedom of religion, in the US, only protects your right to practice your religion free from persecution. You can’t break the law and then justify it by saying it was a form of religious expression.
Laws aren’t just because they’re laws. The police could have simply practiced their right to discretion and ignored the zoning law for the duration of the blizzard.
Scientology seems to get away with it fairly often. And all those holy roller type christian churches bringing conservative politics into their services despite their tax exempt status. But this is where we draw the line - keeping people from dying of hypothermia.