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ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) — A federal judge has struck down a central Louisiana ordinance banning fortunetelling, palm reading, astrology and similar activities in the city of Alexandria.

U.S. District Judge Dee Drell's ruling Wednesday concurs with a magistrate's conclusion that the ordinance is unconstitutional.

Rachel Adams is a fortune-teller who says she accepts donations but doesn't charge for her services. She sued the city after a police officer issued her a court summons in 2011 for violating the ordinance. A violation can result in daily penalties of up to $500.

The city argued the business of fortunetelling is a fraud and inherently deceptive, but U.S. Magistrate James Kirk concluded that fortunetelling is free speech protected by the First Amendment.

Adams told The Town Talk newspaper last year that she is a fifth-generation psychic.

http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/jud...-160944496.html

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:4027, old post ID:70065

If someone sells you a vial of magic water that will cure all disease, and the seller truly believes it's magic water, is it fraud when it does not work? Therein lies the problem with fortune tellers. There are outright frauds of course, but a lot of them do believe they can do what they say they can do, despite the fact that they don't. True they are not delivering on the promised service, but they are not doing so with intent to defraud.

On the other hand there are real risks to this type of thing. There are a number of stories of people who have spent their life savings trying to contact dead loved ones. Never really grieving as they chase the specter of a memory.

The social progressive in me though says that it should be legal, and we should fight this nonsense the old fashioned way. By teaching people that it's bullcrap.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:4027, old post ID:70072

The city argued the business of fortunetelling is a fraud and inherently deceptive

they should have included religious organizations then, too.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:4027, old post ID:70110