Posted on 01/27/2005 9:23:03 AM PST by Glacier Honey
DENVER - A Denver police sergeant is under investigation for reportedly telling a young woman he'd arrest her if she didn't remove a bumper sticker that had a profanity directed at President Bush.
Shasta Bates, 26, says Denver Police Sgt. Michael Karasek approached her in a Denver shopping mall Monday and said that a bumper sticker on her truck, which includes the F-word and the surname of our president, had to be removed. While the message may be offensive to some, it's not illegal.
"He said that I needed to remove my stickers before I left, and that if I didn't and I showed up here again, and he saw me, he was going to arrest me," said Bates.
"He said my First Amendment (right) wasn't covered under profanity displayed on my truck," said Bates.
But Denver's city attorney has said he's never heard of the law that the sergeant was reportedly enforcing. So far, the Denver Police Department is only confirming that an investigation is underway.
But a federal court won't allow South Carolina to have a pro life license plate. We indeed live in sick times.
There's two types of cops in the world --Those who've been caught in their lies and those who have yet to be caught.
This gal was interviewed on the radio here. Now, whether the officer was in the right, I don't know. The defense the gal made was that the bumper sticker wasn't political and she didn't think people would take it that way.
Turns out she has another bumper sticker reading "I might be dating your daughter".
Interesting to say the least.
I'd be curious to know if there is indeed a law preventing profanity in the public arena or not. I truly hope there is and that the police officer is exonerated.
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Unless my eyes mislead me Shasta Bates is a lesbian.
I bet the whole thing is made up BS.
She should get counseling for her mental illness.
Poor taste (not to mention stupid), but illegal?
At least, that is the BS I've been told right here on FR...
I saw that on the local news. The F*** BUSH was blurred but right under it was a sticker that said:
Sick puppy...
I saw a lot of those around here(Northern CO) during the campaign and just before the election. I hope I don't get in trouble for this, the stickers say
BUCK FUSH. Totally childish and not even funny in my opinion.
What a novel way of makeing a political statement by the reporter..
"He said my First Amendment (right) wasn't covered under profanity displayed on my truck," said Bates.
The police officer was wrong and the woman has a right to express her obscenity on her bumper. There have been numerous court cases about this type of thing and the constitution does protect offensive speech.
“Everything one has a right to do is not best to be done.”-Benjamin Franklin
Profanity allowed everywhere and anywhere if it's against conservative values.
I should have put under the article - the reason the cop became involved is because a shopper complained to the police officer that the sticker was offensive
“Everything one has a right to do is not best to be done.”-Benjamin Franklin<
Thanks for the quote. It reflects what my husband and I always say about free speech...Just because you CAN say something, doesn't mean you SHOULD. Some things are still just wrong.
I'm just sick of it! It's in my face now and I'm made out to be the old-fashioned prude!
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What a Crock
I don't think it's any worse that "S##T Happens" or those pics of little boys peeing on a Nascar Number...or whatever. It's all offensive and adding to the vulgarity of our society. People don't even make a pretense of an apology anymore with the old "excuse my French" when they curse in public.
And I think the feminist movement brought about a lot of it.
I am with the cop on this one.
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