A few years ago Time magazine reported an incident that took place in the State of Maryland. A truck driver had been arrested for drunk driving and disorderly conduct. When the police officers arrived on the scene to arrest the man, he became abusive. He began to use filthy and profane language, and repeatedly took God’s name in vain.

When the man was brought before the magistrate, he was still using profane language. The maximum penalty the magistrate could impose for drunk and disorderly conduct was $100 fine and thirty days in jail.

Well, the magistrate wanted to “throw the book” at him. He found an antiquated law, still on the books in Maryland, which had never been repealed, that prohibited public blasphemy.

Since the man had publicly profaned and blasphemed the name of God, the ma…