Kansas Libertarians stopped from holding event at nudist camp

TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas Libertarians were stopped from holding a fundraiser at a nudist camp in southwest Shawnee County, when sheriff's deputies blocked people from entering.

Shawnee County deputies said they were merely enforcing a court order when they stopped people from accessing Lake Edun on Friday. Last year, Shawnee County District Judge Terry Bullock issued a court order banning "commercial or recreational activities" on the property unless the owners get a permit for such events - something the county refuses to provide.

But Rob Hodgkinson, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Kansas, said a political party fundraiser isn't a commercial activity. He also said the deputies suppressed party members' constitutional right to hold such an event on private property.

Gates were to open at 4 p.m. Friday, said Webb Garlinghouse, who owns the property with his wife, Julie, but an employee called him that morning and said deputies were blocking the driveway. By mid-afternoon, six marked sheriff's cars were parked along the road outside the main entrance.

Hodgkinson said the Libertarian Party moved the three-day event to an alternative site.

Shawnee County Undersheriff Don Long said his office learned about the Libertarian gathering at Lake Edun from county counselor Rich Eckert. A sign at the property's entrance said the event was to run Friday through Sunday.

Patrick Wilbur, vice chairman for the Libertarian Party of Kansas, said admission was to be $75 per person and $90 per couple in advance and $80 per person and $100 per couple at the door. Topics for discussion included property rights and freedom of assembly.

Hodgkinson said the Libertarians needed to make money so they can compete and get people elected.

"We've got a chance to actually elect people, so am I frustrated? You bet!" he told the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Lake Edun, which promotes a clothing-free lifestyle and uses the term "naturist" rather than "nudist," has been at odds with county officials since 1996.

The county insisted Lake Edun (nude spelled backward) was being run as a commercial, recreational facility, even though the property was zoned agricultural. Garlinghouse insisted the camp was focusing on harvesting fish and planting native grasses and trees.

In January 2001, the county gave the Garlinghouses a two-year, conditional-use permit, with the stipulation that they could not try to renew it.

In September 2006, Bullock issued a restraining order banning the Garlinghouses from using the camp for recreation or commercial activities without a conditional-use permit. According to court records, the Garlinhouses' appeal is pending.

Webb Garlinghouse, a Libertarian, said the weekend gathering was to be the political party's first at Lake Edun. It was to include free camping, parking and recreational activities at the lake, plus musical and theatrical performances.

Let me know when you decide to get back on topic.

Are you sure you want to get back on topic... honestly, it is about as funny as the side issues LPers persue... but as you wish..

the weekend gathering was to be the political party's first at Lake Edun. It was to include free camping, parking and recreational activities at the lake, plus musical and theatrical performances.

Wonder what the musical and theatrical performances would be at camp nude? Their website gives us some idea of what it would be... and nudity is ok, because Naturalist do NOT suffer with "BODY PHOBIA" as they phrase it.

http://www.lakeedun.com/playcomp.htm

Following are some suggestions for a story line. These are offered merely to help get your creative juices flowing. They should, in no way, limit or restrict your creativity. A play built from one of these ideas has no advantage over any other plot you may conceive.

A first experience.
A Naturist man or woman who introduces a reluctant spouse or girlfriend to Naturism.
Historical – When did we begin wearing clothes; When did we start wearing swim suits; When did it become mandatory to wear a swim suit?
Religious – Prophets used to strip and preach naked. What would happen if a modern prophet were to preach that way?
Contemporary society.
Hippies.
Being raised as a Naturist and then learning how different you are from the other kids.
What happens when Westerners come into contact with cultures less compulsive about dress.
An office staff discovers one of their co-workers is a Naturist.
A family accidently comes across a clothing-optional beach while on vacation.
SciFi – A space traveler (or time traveler) discovers another (or future) civilization which is highly advanced. Everyone there is naked.
http://www.lakeedun.com/playsugg.htm
Now which would you vote for?
Personally if I was a Naturalist/LPer... I would have to vote third party for a story line of where Nudist suddenly have utopia of having all borders of their park suddenly removed where all can flood over and join in the big happy party... a place so perfect that even the occasional dropped buds don't burn private parts when they hit.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.