Ha, how long have you been waiting to use that one? [ROFL1]
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Technically his religious rights take precedence over someone's right to shop there because they can shop elsewhere. It's HIS shop so he can't just have a shop elsewhere. So in the case of conflicting rights I would guess that his right to practice his religion freely supersedes someone's right to buy a wedding cake.
I think this whole thing is stupid actually. If he doesn't want to sell something to someone in his own store he shouldn't be forced by anyone to do so. Especially when it's not a retail establishment where an item is in a package on a wall and just needs to be handed over in exchange for money. he has to actually craft the item from scratch so if someone doesn't want to put forth that effort for whatever reason I don't see how the government can make him. To me this is a bit absurd that this is even something the government get involved with. Next time I go to a BBQ place that refuses to serve me because their out of brisket I'm suing.
Why doesn't the couple just go someplace else? Seems like the easiest solution for everyone involved. No federal rulings required.
Easiest, yes, but I would say that perhaps they're tired of being told that they are second class citizens. In this case, I don't feel that their rights were violated, as they were offered other other fare. Even that may not be enough, though. Anyone else here remember when blacks weren't served in the front of restaurants? Same food, but not the same service, and that practice was brought to a halt.
Yeah, unfortunately you're talking about self government and free market solutions... As if those actually work. (/sarcasm)
I mean, if they're upset that the baker won't make them a wedding cake, they have every right to complain and tell their friends about it. If enough people agree with their point of view, the baker will go out of business. If people appreciate the baker standing up for what he believes in, he will stay in business.
The rights of the recipient do not outweigh the rights of the provider. He should not be forced to bake them a cake, and his reason for not doing so is perfectly legitimate.