A city councilman and a local bar owner said today they'll ask Attorney General Jay Nixon whether state liquor regulations barring "indecent, profane or obscene" language or song in bars across Missouri violate constitutional free speech rights.
I'm of two minds here. I mean, I'm generally a free speech advocate, but if we can agree on a definition of "obscene" that would ban the Eagles song "Take it to the Limit" I could be persuaded to go along with this.
Councilman Richard Veit and Marc Rousseau, who runs R.T. Weiler's - a bar in St. Charles' North Main Street entertainment area - said they wanted Nixon to issue an advisory opinion detailing whether the provision bars performers at establishments serving liquor from using certain language and if so, what language. The state regulations also refer to entertainment, literature and advertising material.
Hell, isn't this restraint of trade as well? A solid 30% of comedians have acts that revolve entirely around female body parts and the word "fuck." (Not to mention that this blog would now be strictly forbidden! But this is my virtual livelihood!)
The two spoke at a City Hall news conference after a public hearing on proposed changes in St. Charles' local liquor control rules.
Last month Rousseau had complained...
By the by...have I mentioned how much I love the fact that one of the guys complaining is named Rousseau?? You better watch out or he will drop some serious Social Contract on your ass.
Anyway...
...to the council that the city proposal, sponsored by Veit, included such language. The council last week deleted the specific reference to bad words from its proposal, but the city bill still refers to it indirectly by saying that violations of state regulations could lead to city penalties.
Veit said he didn't intend to violate people's free speech rights and was trying to deal with situations such as bar patrons yelling obscenities at people walking outside an establishment.
Next thing you know they will be telling me I cannot yell at my TV during the hockey game.
Who do they think they are? My wife?
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