Here's an idea: I'd like to modestly propose a constitutional amendment that makes an exception to the first amendment for cases where followers of religion want to erect a house of worship in a location within 20 miles of a place where a follower of that religion has ever committed a serious crime.
Now, surely one could single out the Muslim religion in this amendment, and I'm sure there are plenty (including, perhaps, Harry Reid) who would be all too eager to embrace such a narrow amendment to the first amendment. But my feeling is that this wouldn't pass the sniff test even for a majority capable of passing a constitutional amendment. Though surely on some level most Americans think that Muslims are towel-wearing terrorists who would sooner crash their cars into daycare centers than attend a Jimmy Buffett concert, most would have to stop and have themselves a good solid think about the constitutional demonizing of any one particular religion. Even Harry Reid's religion (Mormonism) was demonized in its day, and its very existence might well have failed to survive a popular vote. So for this reason, my proposal is generic, and goes as follows:
Should a member of a religion commit murder, rape, treason, or grand theft auto on a vehicle capable of transporting more than five adults then a circle shall be drawn on a map around the site of that crime with its center lying on the geographic location of that crime. This circle shall have a radius of 20 miles, and within that radius no other members of the religion to which the offender belonged may erect a house of worship for that religion. This restriction shall last into perpetuity.
Now, I understand a lot of Christian churches would have to close under this amemdment, and there might have to be a grandfather clause effective beginning September 10th, 2001.
And then, and only then, would we have a constitution we could all be proud of.