[Sacramento, CA] Sacramento atheist group StopGod has filed suit against the very goverment agencies who ended an Oroville high school's hostage crisis without injury... simply because they moved the children to a nearby church.

On Friday, a despondent 17-year-old male student of Las Plumas High School in Oroville, California, walked into the school's band room and took 30 hostages, firing two rounds into the ceiling with a .22 caliber revolver.  Lockdown was declared, and while negotiators successfully talked the young gunman down without injury, police, teachers, and school administrators quietly moved the rest of the students to the Nazarene Church across the street.

Today, David Cresner of the Sacramento atheist activist group StopGod accused law enforcement and school employees of violating the constitutional rights of Las Plumas's students by evacuating them to a church. 

"This morning, on behalf of the students of Las Plumas High School," Cresner said during a press conference, "StopGod has filed a complaint in Sacramento Federal Court charging Las Plumas High School Administrators, the Butte County Sheriff's Department, and the Oroville Union High School District with violation of civil rights."

"The complaint accuses these entities of breaching long-standing legal doctrine separating church and state.  It also charges them with coercion, and religious indoctrination. "

School district officials refused to comment on pending litigation as a matter of policy. 

Greg Klinehaus, 45, a local attorney and the parent of one Las Plumas student, offered the opinion that since neither Cresner nor any member of StopGod has a child affected by the alleged "infraction" or is in any way affiliated with the case, the lawsuit will likely be thrown out of court.

"First of all, it's a ridiculous complaint," Klinehaus said. "If this weren't California, the case would be laughed out of court.  Unfortunately, it will probably be heard."

"As for the use of the Nazarene Church, the concept of 'any port in a storm' should apply - those in charge made the proper decision.  The fact that the kids were hustled to safety is more important than church/state considerations."  Klinehaus added, "Frankly, they were lucky that a large building was so close and available."

Cresner disagrees. 

"This case is about more than the safety of a few teenagers.  It's about our God-given right to freedom from religion," Cresner says.  "Not that we would like to see anyone hurt, but it must be kept in proper perspective.  The constitutional rights of millions are at stake."

"When they forced traumatized, terrified children into a house of religion for safety, they gave them the impression that religion is a safe haven... a sanctuary.  It's a classic example of public agencies endorsing religion."

The suit, which seeks what StopGod calls 'compulsory class-action status', meaning that neither the students nor their parents could opt out, asks for unspecified monetary damages and calls for the Nazarene Church to be relocated at least 1 mile away from any school or public building.

Asked why parents or students should have no decision in the matter, Cresner suggests that parents develop a sort of tunnel vision in stressful situations.

"Parents can't be allowed to make this decision," he explained. "Often, they are so focused on the idea of their babies being held at gunpoint by a love-crazed teenager, that they miss the bigger danger posed by the church."

"Thankfully, there are brilliant, progressive thinkers like me, willing to help them out.  I was nearly accepted by Mensa, last month."