up question: What is the blue-outlined area that Mike was told to stand inside as he passed out tracts?
Jay answers: The particular intersection that Mike mentioned is an area with a lot of restaurants and bars; it’s a tourist area in the downtown area of Orlando. In order to get customers inside, these businesses will station employees on the streets to pass out two-for-one discount meal tickets or other kinds of “coupons” as Mike called them. The businesses are required to stay in a certain area, because they’re engaged in what’s called commercial speech; the rules are somewhat different between commercial speech and free speech. The distribution of Christian literature is not the solicitation of business; it is not a solicitation of money. It’s supposed to be allowed without interference. You’re not allowed to block businesses, obviously; you’ve got to honor what’s called a reasonable time, place, and manner restriction. But the proclamation of the gospel is not in the same category as the guy who’s giving out two-for-one drink discounts for a bar. That’s just not the way the law is s
