College Times

Issue date: 1/17/08 Section: Daily Buzz

Media Credit: Photos.com

Hold on to your ability to use your favorite four-letter words, because it might be taken away sooner than you might think. City officials in St. Louis, Missouri, are considering a bill that would ban swearing along with dancing on tables, drinking games and obscene music.

"Bad bar behavior" is the said reason for this bill proposal. According to an AP article, City Councilman Richard Veit said he proposed the bill because many residents have complained about rowdy bar patrons. Area police are backing it too, because then there will be uniform rules and regulations regarding how to handle these bar situations.

This seems to be an infringement of everyone's First Amendment right to freedom of speech. This is as ridiculous as a ban on reprimanding your child for stepping out in front of traffic or whispering sweet nothings into your lover's ear.

How about if you don't like swearing or people who swear, then don't go to the bar. Isn't it simply unnecessary to make an entire bill to prevent cursing?

If using profane language in bars is going to be banned, then why not ban crying in day care centers, laughing in comedy clubs, yawning in class, screaming in sports arenas and wailing in pain in hospitals?

This is a classic case of the government sticking its nose where it doesn't belong, let alone where it's not wanted or welcomed.

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