Sen. Ford wants to make it a felony to curse
S.C. Senator Robert Ford has introduced a bill that would make it a felony to communicate a profane term in public.
Read more stories on this subject in our Robert Ford topic page. So, yes, the would-be governor Ford (yes, he's running in 2010) wants to make it a state responsibility to arrest and penalize folks $5,000 or 5 years in jail for cursing in public.
His bill says:
A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
To be completely frank, I find Ford's efforts to clean up society admirable but completely unenforceable.
The bill doesn't seem to be a flat problem with the first amendment, but courts would be charged with developing an indecency level of words and what crosses that line and what does not.
And, then to manage all those arrests? And the ramification to tourism, who would want to visit the no cursing state?
So, there you have it.
Robert Ford for governor!
Thanks to NBC News 2 for tipping us off.
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15 Jan 2009 1:13 pm.
As a potential tourist, I can only say: "Fuck Ford".
15 Jan 2009 4:56 pm.
i cant belive this. all those men that died in the revolution whould be POd if they were alive now. to see things like this its just wrong honest to god wrong...
16 Jan 2009 1:49 pm.
What we need is a bill to make it a capital felony for any elected official (like Ford) who, having taken an oath to uphold the Constitution, violates that oath by sponsoring legislation violating the provision of the Constitution.
18 Jan 2009 9:34 pm.
Fucking a that is a terrible idea. Words only have power when asshats like Senator Ford give it to them with this law.
Way to go, let the world know how backwards South Carolina is that they feel the need to legislate morality. Let me know when they make the words "free woman" or "free black man" curse words in South Carolina.
19 Jan 2009 3:19 pm.
Ford you, I can say what I Fording like.
19 Jan 2009 5:26 pm.
Who decides what is "profane" or "vulgar"? This looks like a good way to put every last black person into prison and remove their voting rights.
I think Ford needs a psychiatric evaluation. He's clearly losing it. Worse, maybe Clarence Thomas is his new idol.
10 May 2009 2:44 pm.
Our tax money pays for him to come of with these ideas? I suppose he will determine what is considered a curse word too? Welcome to Ford Country! Where egomaniacs get elected to impose their will upon the masses! (and our tax dollars pay for it) No wonder the rest of America thinks we're a joke... between Sen. Ford and Lindsay Graham - the joke is on us.
14 Sep 2009 1:31 pm.
I think it is an idea that is worth considering. I have no problem with cursing as long as innocent by-standers can't hear it. I don't like to hear profanity, but I really hate it when someone uses it near my children. There is no reason to swear near children. People who swear don't think of others when they do it in public. Don't be selfish and do not allow the dirt of profanity to soil your speech. (Colossians 3:8)"But now really put them all away from YOU, wrath, anger, badness, abusive speech, and obscene talk out of YOUR mouth.
15 Sep 2009 12:05 am.
Why Curse -- I don't disagree with you, but what does any of that have to do with legislation? The answer is "nothing." Speech is free in this country, including speech you don't like - ESPECIALLY speech you don't like. That's the very defintion of free speech.
Your kids are your responsibility, not mine, and not anyone else's. What you expose them to in public is your responsibility to explain, or to avoid.