Unconstitutional Dress Code Laws - where will it end?

Question

Where are we headed? When our RIGHT to liberty and freedom is being threatened by our own government? Government enforced dress codes? Whats next? Where will it end?

We're AMERICA for crying out loud! Not Malaysia, not Iran, not communist China (all of which have enforced dress codes).

Not only that, but this law is clearly unconstitutional and we will only waste the valuable time of the Supreme Court in order to overturn it when it just should never have been implemented.

Who cares if you don't want to see boxer shorts. I don't want to see speedo's on the beach. Too bad. Don't look at it. We don't need laws to validate OPINIONS.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070829/NEWS01/708290331

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/saggy0829.html?imw=Y

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/saggy0829.html?imw=Y

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,644501,00.html

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20052749,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlin

Sway 27 - what do you call a bathing suit? How are their boxers showing any different the the tops of shorts showing. What if they wore shorts under their pants. Would that be illegal? The point is its not actually obscene. No parts are actually displayed (by the way, where are the laws banning "crack" on gross fat white trash guys?) - and we live in a society where we are born with the right to express ourselves. You are entitled to your OPINIONS, but don't confuse your reasons to dislike something as reason enough to create a LAW against it.

- maybe YOU should read it before you start preaching. These are CITY WIDE laws they are trying to pass, not school dress codes.

For those questioning how this is unconstitutional - are you really that ignorant? Let me spell it out for you:

Our 1st amendment - Freedom of Speech. Since I already know you to be slightly dense, I'll explain even further: The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes preferred, since the right is not confined to verbal speech but is understood to protect any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.

Sagging your pants is protected under our freedom to express ourselves. We can have mohawks, torn pants, wear bikini tops as shirts, and yes, sport saggy pants.

Tupi - why bother answering this if you can't be bothered to read it. This does not only effect students, this is not about school dress codes. Your answer is irrelevant to my question.

Answer 1

Naomi Ward, Atlanta: I am supportive of the ordinance. It is not just unsightly. It is what it represents. It is restrictive and constrictive. It restricts the physical movement. And it constricts the mind.

- this is B.S. first of all, if your going to start trying to regulate how people dress, at least come up with a good reason for it. i will walk around with my pants tied around my head and i guarantee it still wont constrict my mind. where does it say anywhere that the government has the right to regulate what you wear. this is not harming anyone. i think it is much more disgusting to see a largely obese person walking down the street than it is to see someones boxers hanging out, but you dont see a federal weight limit imposed do you? sometime i dont even know what we hire politicians for. they are supposed to be changing our world for the better and this is the best they can come up with. why dont these legislators work on legislation that will help to prevent gang violence or drug trafficking? if they think that anything would be accomplished by this law they have another thing coming.

Answer 2

I'm not sure what Constitution you're reading, but dress codes aren't included in the U.S. Constitution...not exactly. There is the right to wear a black arm band to protest war, and there is the right to expect that your purse may be searched, and those are court findings on liberties available to students. I used to agree that dress codes were just too restrictive; I used to believe that dress codes denied parental rights; I used to believe students needed the freedom to chose their own style of clothing. As time has gone by, I've been proven wrong over and over.

School isn't a platform for self expression via clothing because students have proven they don't know how to dress. They can clearly wear boxer shorts anytime, but they need to learn how to pull their pants up over them! Girls can wear or not wear underwear, but they must be taught that skirts are meant to cover the underwear not accessorize it!

Students have over and over and over proven that they act the way they dress. When they dress like they have no respect for other people, then the act in the same manner. When they dress like they expect to be thrown down and sexually violated in the lunch room, they probably will eventually entertain public sexual displays. When they dress like homeless vagabonds in ragged dirty clothing, they show no self-esteem, and no respect of others. When parents no longer care that their children dress inappropriately then the schools are left with the only recourse, wear uniforms. If you don't want uniforms, then home school. Let your parents how you really act.

On the other hand, help establish and enforce a sensible dress code and uniforms won't be necessary. As long as public funds build schools and pay for educations, students should expect that the public has a right to expect them to dress in a manner that is at least somewhat publicly acceptable, and underwear is made to be worn UNDER clothes not instead.

Answer 3

TIME TO GO RUN NEKKED!!!!!

Saggy pants are dumb... so is the law making them illegal. Although this is more of a personal experience than actual statistics, I tend to see guys with saggy pants as: destructive and stupid. They usually aren't the intelligent people.

It's one of those laws that'll be used sparingly, only used when the police don't have any other reason to stop someone for suspicious behavior. And heck, they'll probably be right. I mean, who in their right mind would wear those? It's got to be hard to walk, not to mention just stand in place. It completely defeats the purpose of pants.

Edit:
I should also have the freedom to: curse excessively in public, even around children, make death threats against elected officials, publicly berate someone and write out how they're stupid/dumb/incompetent they are... oh wait, those are against the law, the second is a felony, and the third can get you sued.

But they're a violation of the 1st amendment! They're violating my freedom of speech! Psh.
You want to fight this law? Then take it to the Supreme Court, now that you've seen what the other side says.

Answer 4

In society rules are made where the majority rules. The rules go even deeper when, as one person already said, you live in a community that may hold to a higher standard.

Living in the "deep south" myself, my community does not want topless bars, pedophiles, criminals, or those who are involved in illegal activities.

Additionally, my community has a standard where walking around with your pants down to your ankles exposing undergarments or skin and private areas is considered disorderly conduct and/or indecent exposure.

One's freedom of speech and expression, according to the constitution, goes only as far as when it does not infringe upon the rights of the majority rule.

New Orleans is considered a wonderful place by some yet not by others. Mardi Gras is great yet the majority of offenders are from out of state. They come to New Orleans thinking that exposing themselves is OK even though the residents find the act repulsive!

Obviously, you live in a community that doesn't maintain the same standards. However, because you don't live in my community....I don't expect you to voice your opinion about how we want to live here!

Best wishes.

Answer 5

This nation has had a dress code for years. We are not allowed to walk around in undergarments or to show anything indecent. Boxers should be put away not everyone needs to see them and the answers to your english test aren't hidden in the creases. I love how my husbands boxers show but I would never let my son wear his pants like that to school, my husband don't to work. You got to start young to learn proper ethic.

Answer 6

I'd love for you to explain to me why it's unconstitutional.

There was a "government-enforced dress code" in place long before this became an issue - you can't go around naked, can you?

Edit: I'm waiting...

Edit II: Freedom of expression does not protect public obscenity. Got any other constitutional arguments? This one didn't even get off the ground. I happen to hold a degree in political science - you're going to have to do better than that if you mean to convince me (or anybody else, for that matter).

Answer 7

I agree. But, it's the deep South. Baptists and the Moral Majority. It's a shame that the younger generation has to put up with this stuff. In my opinion, it won't last. The ACLU or someone else will go after these laws in a court. After all, these clothes don't reveal any more than a swim suit.

Answer 8

schools and colleges in Tamilnadu have brought in the dress code with severe punishment for infringement.
It is only in the church we find violation of this, can u help?

Answer 9

Where in the constitution, will Supreme Court justices Roberts, Alito, Scalia and Thomas find this supposed right to show your butt or display your BVDs in public?

Republicans rule and will for the rest of your generation.

Answer 10

I am with the 1st poster on this-
I think it is a very sad commentary on society that we have to tell people to pull their damn pants up and stop showing your underwear.
I think it's even sadder that people think being disrespectful is a constitutional right that they should exercise.