Picture the future. About 20 friends get together and decide to hang out at the local park. Maybe they are all talking about books, knives, laser pointers, etc. Just then, South Ogden police show up. They say, "Sorry guys, this is a gang-free zone, you will need to leave." "But we are not a gang," someone replies. The police respond, "Sorry but this is a gang-free zone and you appear to be a gang." Just then certain members of our gang "surgically" removed from the group. Who was removed? Well the police have received special training to decide who is a gang member and who is not. We are now told to leave the area and if we return within eight hours we will be charged with a Class B misdemeanor.
This is a possible scenario related to Senator Jon Greiner's "Prohibited Activities of Gang Members" bill for the 2009 legislative session. The bill failed to pass last session, but is coming back in the 2009 session. Sen. Greiner, whom represents our city, among others, is attempting to restrict or eliminate the civil liberty we all have to assemble. I truly foresee future gross miss-uses of this bill, if passed. Gang free zones can be determined by legislative bodies like are own city council. Any time a legislative body doesn't want people to protest, they can just call it a gang-free zone. Then know one can assemble in the area. Hello! 1st Amendment!
This is a possible scenario related to Senator Jon Greiner's "Prohibited Activities of Gang Members" bill for the 2009 legislative session. The bill failed to pass last session, but is coming back in the 2009 session. Sen. Greiner, whom represents our city, among others, is attempting to restrict or eliminate the civil liberty we all have to assemble. I truly foresee future gross miss-uses of this bill, if passed. Gang free zones can be determined by legislative bodies like are own city council. Any time a legislative body doesn't want people to protest, they can just call it a gang-free zone. Then know one can assemble in the area. Hello! 1st Amendment!
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
To read last years bill (which is rumored to be very similar) See Here
Sen. Greiner, Ogden's Police Chief, really needs to make some progress in this next session. Since his election all I have heard is controversy. Controversy and attacks of civil liberty are not going to help him in the next election cycle. His idea has merit, he wants to help with our growing gang problem. But this is not the way.
We hope to analyze and discuss this bill in more detail in the coming weeks. Please feel free to leave your comments.
From where I sit, this bill is bad news.
Note: Skateboarding on South Ogden City Streets is now a Class C Misdemeanor. A much stiffer penalty. (See Here) Those dang Skateboarder gangs!
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The Weber County Forum has a great post related to the Standard Examiner's editoral, and this subject, on Sunday. Weber County Forum: The Standard-Examiner Nixes Senator Greiner's "Gang Bill"
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