By David Rittgers
Published April 13, 2011| FoxNews.com
The French government has enacted a ban against face-covering veils, and at least two Muslim women have been detained for violating the new law. Supporters of the new measure say it is consistent with French traditions separating church and state and necessary to counter Islamic radicalization. Unfortunately, the ban will probably create more problems than it will solve. The French could find better ways to counter extremists than banning the burqa.
America’s Founders had it right with the First Amendment: government should refrain from establishing a state religion while respecting the right of individuals to worship as they please. The two goals are not mutually exclusive, and good policy flows from these principles. A third of the Muslim terrorist plots disrupted within the United States are done so with tips from the Muslim community. And America continues to peacefully assimilate immigrants from all parts of the world, a testament to the wisdom of keeping government from telling its citizens how to live.
