This Union Leader story about a police officer opposed to the law he is required to enforce, the drug prohibition of certain narcotics, raises the specter of arbitrary violation of a person's First Amendment prerogatives.
First off, it's certainly possible for the officer in question to still do his work. Many soldiers opposed what they were doing and still did it effectively in war.
Second, to demonstrate the arbitrariness of it, consider this thought experiment: a Muslim officer is an outspoken proponent of polygamy and is also outspoken against the current age of consent. What is it, eighteen in NH? In that he would presumably have the sanction of his religion as Muhammad, peace be upon him, married up to four women, including a six-year-old whom he consummated the marriage to her three years later.
Paging ACLU. Don't cops enforce those laws too? I think we've got a can of worms.
First off, it's certainly possible for the officer in question to still do his work. Many soldiers opposed what they were doing and still did it effectively in war.
Second, to demonstrate the arbitrariness of it, consider this thought experiment: a Muslim officer is an outspoken proponent of polygamy and is also outspoken against the current age of consent. What is it, eighteen in NH? In that he would presumably have the sanction of his religion as Muhammad, peace be upon him, married up to four women, including a six-year-old whom he consummated the marriage to her three years later.
Paging ACLU. Don't cops enforce those laws too? I think we've got a can of worms.
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