Tag: Justice

To Smoke Or Not To Smoke

OKay, Irene….where do these people plan to stop this whole thingy?

Oregon smokers have been elbowed out of bars, shooed away from entrances, and now they could get a ticket for lighting up in their own car.

The Oregon House voted Wednesday to fine anyone caught smoking with a child in a vehicle, windows rolled up or not. Minors are defined as children younger than 17 and tobacco as cigarettes, cigars or the loose stuff in pipes.

If approved, House Bill 2385 would make such smoking a primary offense, punishable by a maximum $90 fine for a first-time offender.

I can see where they are going with this and I can see where it would be a more healthy thing…but I also see where it is involving the government into the lives of a family…..child abuse?  Then why not say because the government is not moving fast enough on emissions that they are also practicing a form of child abuse?  We can play this lame ass game for ever.

What To Do About This?

A 14-year-old New Jersey girl has been accused of child pornography after posting nearly 30 explicit nude pictures of herself on MySpace.com — charges that could force her to register as a sex offender if convicted.

The teen, whose name has not been released because of her age, was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. She was released to her mother’s custody.

If convicted of the distribution charge, she would be forced to register with the state as a sex offender under Megan’s Law, said state Attorney General Anne Milgram. She also could face up to 17 years in jail, though such a stiff sentence is unlikely.

Okay sports fans, while I have a problem with child porn and think it is disgusting I have a problem with this story.  The child could have to register as a sex offender for having pics of herself…….thinking……why is that porn?  Could it possibly be that the girl likes her body?  Something not many teens her age can say.

I am sorry, but I do not see this is a crime…now if she was charging aprice to view her pics then maybe, but I guess that since it was on Myspace it is considered public.  Was her space locked to all but friends?  There has to be more to this story than published….so far I do not see a crime that would justify a possiblity of 17 years in the slammer.

I Am Protected!

U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled David Hackbart exercised his constitution right to free speech in 2006 when he angrily displayed his middle finger to another driver during a parking dispute in Squirrel Hill and when he displayed the same gesture to Officer Brian Elledge, who told Hackbart to stop.

“The United States Supreme Court has long recognized that non-verbal gestures and symbols may be entitled to First Amendment protection,” Cercone wrote in his 19-page opinion and order filed Monday. “Moreover, several courts, including federal and state courts in Pennsylvania, have found that the expressive use of the middle finger is protected speech under the First Amendment.”

Now there is a precedent for the use of the middle finger as free speech…….my only problem is that few display it properly.  Just raising you middle finger does convey the thought but it is not proper “English”.  As part of the generation that made the finger a symbol of the times, I cringe when I see people just throw the finger out there, instead of taking the time to learn to display it properly and more effectively.

Where Is The Crime?

Tariq Aziz, for many years the public face of Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi regime, has been jailed for 15 years for his role in the execution of 42 merchants.

Aziz had denied any role in the summary trials of the men accused in 1992 of profiteering during economic sanctions.

I live in the path of Katrina, well actually at ground zero.  I watched as many people profitted from the disaster and the suffering of the people of my area.  Persoanlly, I think what Aziz did to those profiting from the sanctions anbd the misery of the Iraqi people was not a crime, just deserved punishment.

If this type of punishment was dealt out after disasters, it would go a long way at preventing others from trying to take advantage of others.  Extreme?  Of course….Deserved?…Damn right!

Before I get the round of the Saddam hating morons…I am talking about the act of profiteering, not the Saddam regime…..got that?