Randolph County, USA - When Frank Christner and others from his Mennonite community near Sedalia moved their families here seven years ago, they planned to lay down roots and raise up their children.
They built homes, a church and a school. Leo Kempf opened a meat processing plant; Christner started an excavating business; and his brother, Doug, set up a cabinetmaking shop. The Mennonites created a community along this rural stretch of roadway eight miles southwest of Huntsville. This was to be the promised land.
Plans have changed. A new state law that would force them to have their pictures taken to get a driver’s license has led them to sell their homes. Mennonites believe the Bible forbids them from posing for photographs, so they’re moving to Arkansas.
Christner, 46, and his neighbors say if they adhere to the principles of their religion, they have no choice. Fifteen families have decided to pull up stakes and move to Arkansas, where state law offers Mennonites an exemption from having a photograph on their driver’s license. He said Missouri’s six other Mennonite communities are considering a similar move.
"We aren’t down on the government," said 40-year-old Kempf, who is raising seven children with his wife, Pam. "We believe the government is ordained by God, and we believe we should follow what they say as long as it is not against the word of God. God comes first."
Matt Thornburg is outraged that his neighbors are being forced to leave. He and wife, Diane, have lived in the area for two years and don’t understand why the government won’t make an exception.
"These people aren’t a security risk. They are more than willing to document themselves. They pay their taxes, " Matt Thornburg said. "I want people to know there is an injustice going on here. We don’t want these folks moving out. My gosh, they’re good citizens!"
Maura Browning of the Missouri Department of Revenue said the Missouri General Assembly passed a law in 2004 that tightened security standards for issuing driver’s licenses. Before the change, a religious exemption allowed Mennonites not to have a picture taken to receive a driver’s license. Now, they have the option of not having a photograph on their personal license, but a picture must be on file with the state.
"We don’t have the ability or authority to change state law," Browning said.
State Rep. Gary Dusenberg, chairman of a special committee on homeland security, said Missouri changed its requirements to comply with upcoming federal legislation. The Republican from Blue Springs believes the federal Real ID Act, scheduled to take effect in 2008, will force every state to require pictures be on file when issuing driver’s licenses.
"This has to do with stopping terrorism," Dusenberg said. "It’s unfortunate that these folks are leaving the state. I know the Mennonites are good citizens. It is one of those unfortunate things."
Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., said the Real ID Act is expected to "make uniform the security standards states use for issuing driver’s licenses." He declined to say whether requiring a picture would be part of the proposed standards.
"Eighteen of the 19 hijackers during 9/11 used fake IDs," Knocke said. "The two individuals who flew the plane into the Pentagon bought Virginia driver’s licenses from an illegal alien in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven" convenience store. "Clearly, there is a vulnerability that needs to be addressed."
For now, however, Frank Christner and his fellow Mennonites have to make a living. For him, that means being free to drive and follow his religious convictions.
Christner realizes Arkansas might eventually impose the same restriction as Missouri, but it’s a risk he is willing to take. Arkansas now issues six-year licenses with religious exemptions. "It’s a lesser of two evils," Christner said. "We can either stay here and struggle or move to Arkansas and have at least six years to drive and work."