Dear…………..:

I am writing to protest the fact that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has banned the study and use of the Runes for adherents of the holy faith known variously as Odinism and Asatru.
I am an adherent of this ancient faith, and must communicate to you that the study and use of the runes is a vital and integral part of our living religion today, as it was for our ancestors. To deny an adherent access to information regarding the runes, as well as the runes themselves is a violation of the law, on several levels. The United States Constitution guarantees such rights under the first (Religious Freedoms) and fourteenth amendments (Equal Protection under the law), as well as in the Bill of Rights. Artice1, section 3a of the Texas State Constitution states: Equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, colour, creed, or national origin. This amendment is self-operative. (Added Nov. 7,1972.) Article 1, section 6 of the Texas State Constitution states: All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship according to the dictates of their own consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship. But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as maybe necessary to protect equally every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship. Article 1, section 6 of the Texas State Constitution states: Every person shall be at liberty to speak, write or publish his opinions on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that privilege; and no law shall ever be passed curtailing the liberty of speech or of the press. In prosecutions for the publication of papers, investigating the conduct of officers, or men in public capacity, or when the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence. And in all indictments for libels, the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.
The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act was passed by Congress on July 27, 2000 and signed into law by President Clinton on September 22. It provides federal remedies to protect the freedom of religious assemblies and institutions to use their property to fulfil their missions. It also protects the religious rights of institutionalised persons. Aspects of this ban on a vital part of our faith are included within the body of this law.
To state that a ban on the runes is because prisoners can use them as a code is not a compelling reason, unless other languages and symbols for other faiths are banned, also. We wonder if J.R.R.Tolkien’s books (The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings) have been banned and removed from prison libraries as well as rejected by mailroom staff. These books, as with many fantasy genre books are full of runic references, though not connected directly with our faith.
We are also appalled that the home state of President Bush, who has set an example and made a point of righting wrongs and protecting rights on an international scope would seem to be rejecting such noble notions.
In closing, I would like to mention that there are several local and national volunteers and organizations which are willing to offer TDCJ information, as well as free training in regard to our faith and the runes, and that through informal attempts to resolve this matter with TDCJ, such offers have been made.

I thank you for your time and honest consideration.
Sincerely,