Terror for Jesus: A gun-toting, evolution-denying, Bible-thumping, Christian extremist is threatening atheists in Tennessee.

Long time Christian activist Pastor June Griffin of the American Bible Protestant Church is making “subtle and not-so-subtle threats” against atheists and other freethinkers behind a new statue of legendary lawyer and rationalist Clarence Darrow.

The statue is set to be dedicated on Friday, July 14, in front of the site of the historic Scopes evolution trial: the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee.

Declaring that “an atheist is not on an equal footing with the Christian,” Griffin told WRCB that she is not happy with new statue, and suggested that she and others would take the law into their own hands if the statue goes up as planned.

During the interview Griffin said:

All history proves the existence of God and Evolution is a joke for any thinking person. This is a very serious matter, the courthouse is a sacred place, you don’t turn it into a theater. Well I know God is real and he’s not pleased with this. You can come in here with all kinds of French opinions of this, that and the other but this is not France and we don’t run on opinions and an atheist is not on an equal footing with the Christian. You (commissioners) have betrayed the people of this county, you have betrayed them. There are people that live on the outskirts and they don’t make appointments with Channel 3, they just do things and I’ve heard talk of ‘well there’s always spray paint.’

Griffin is vehement in her opposition to the Darrow statue. In addition to her interview with WRCB, Griffin also made some outrageous and concerning social media posts. On her Facebook page Griffins uses Psalm 149 to threaten atheists and other freethinkers: writing:

(The non-prophet American humanist association and the non-prophet freedom from religion outfits think they are going to waltz into Rhea County and have all the Christians smile and love them. Here’s news for you: Christians don’t cowtow to the enemies of God. The God of David, Oliver Cromwell, George Washington and Wm. Gannaway Brownlow lives. You will get a nice surprise when you dare to step on sacred grounds of OUR Courthouse. You might bully your way around with our County’s advisor (we have no County Attorney),the historical society, the DA, and the Commission who are afraid of you, but I am not afraid of you. You are worse than devils; the “devils fear and tremble,” but you have no fear of God. You come with your high-minded corruption and your boasted freedom but you will be brought to nothing when we get through with you. You come to us in the name of theatrical equality lawyers, but we come to you in the Name of the LORD OF HOSTS. The County property owners control this House – not you.Our God will bring upon your worst fear. This is not a threat – it is a Promise. Psalm 149. from a Christian saint. June Griffin. For God and Country.)

Note: Psalm 149 is in part a call for the faithful to destroy the enemies of the Lord –

May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all his faithful people. Praise the Lord.

In addition to the above post, Griffin made other statements on her Facebook page suggesting violence was a legitimate option in her opposition to the statue that is being promoted by atheists and other freethinkers.

Also, Griffin told a local paper that she wanted to meet the sponsors of the statue without lawyers, suggesting a violent confrontation may be necessary if the atheists and freethinkers did not see the light. The following is an excerpt from the exchange:

“No lawyers,” she said, “only personal confrontation. Engage them in the debate right there.” If not that, she said, the humanists should have to defend themselves in court, without lawyers, who she says feed on taxpayer money and have no concern for people’s rights. And barring that, Griffin suggests the association form its own militia. “If worst comes to worst, I will challenge them to meet us in their uniforms at King’s Mountain, just like John Sevier did, and we’ll settle it over there,” Griffin said. During the American Revolutionary War, Sevier led patriots to battle against loyalist militias in South Carolina.

Writing for Friendly Atheist, Hemant Mehta spoke with Griffin about her subtle and not so subtle threats. However, despite being pressed, Griffin refused to say whether or not she would engage in violence to protest the Clarence Darrow statue.

Bottom line: Pastor June Griffin – Christian terrorist with a gun.