AZ legislator's "obscene mudflap" ban defeated
A recent amendment to legislation changing the height requirement for rear splash guards on trucks in Arizona that would have resulted in the ban of mudflap images deemed obscene or hateful has been defeated in the state legislature. Introduced by Tempe Democrat Ed Ableser, the amendment's restrictions would have encompassed the cheeky chrome naked-lady-silhouette mudflaps we've all seen countless times before. One of the amendment's other supporters, Theresa Ulmer (D - Yuma), said that the ban would help promote family values and would also dovetail with efforts to curb pornography and sexual predators.
It's one thing to work the well-intentioned family values angle. You lose us, however, when you mention chrome girlie mudflaps in the same breath as porn and sexual predators. They are kitschy, not criminal. What's next? A ban on Yosemite Sam "BACK OFF" mudflaps because the guns he's holding condone violence? This is the problem you run into when going down this road -- the scope of what's deemed harmful or obscene creeps wider and wider.
[Source: AP via Instapundit)
The catalyst for it all came about when Rep. Ableser saw a vehicle sporting mudflaps that used a derogatory term for black children on them. We called Rep. Ableser's office for more information on that, but haven't heard back yet. Suffice it to say that whatever he saw must have been pretty classless and reprehensible, otherwise he would not have been inclined to pen regulatory legislation. That said, the amendment proved too far-reaching, as evidenced by the 31-19 defeat it was handed. It's one thing to find something offensive (we each have our own definition of what "crosses the line"), but legislating good taste is always going to be near-impossible.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Xero 11:15AM (5/19/2008)
Jennifer..
A giant penis with an erection? not sure, but I have seen male silhouettes on mud flaps. normally they don't show the penis just as most female silhouettes don't show nipples and details in the pubic region. You have seen the giant pair of balls hanging under trucks haven't you? I still aint seen a giant pair of silicone breasts with nipples strapped to the hood of a car! Most cars just have le bra.
The male version of hooters? I believe its called Chippendales or something if memory serves correctly.
Speedos? would you actually eat a burger served by a guy in a Speedo? Just go down to the local beach and you can see all the guys in *idk about Speedos still* tight, package showing garments you like. As far as the stripclubs go... get a phone book! one quick Google search and I see at least one in every major town.
True that there aren't nearly as many choices for a woman out there, but they are there. if you fell so adamantly about it, start your own business. I guarantee you will have no problems finding guys willing to take it off for cash.
To the point of this thread. The lawmakers of this country are paid to make laws, whether we need any new ones or not. If they stop they fear for there jobs. Things need to change if we want to preserve what little freedom we still have. They honestly have nothing better to do with their time than to dream up ways to make our lives more controlled. A silhouette of a fully developed female (or male) should not be seen as offensive provided the details aren't there like nipples, penis, vagina or curly hair.
While we are at it lets ban all redneck, blond (you name it) jokes as they may offend some one out there.
"promote family values and would also dovetail with efforts to curb pornography and sexual predators."
Ok. C'mon!!!! what the hell do mud flaps have to do with porno and sexual predators?! Lets ban candy as that is the lure used to kidnap children by sexual deviants! Not mud flaps. "hey little girl, see my mud flaps with a necked girl on em? get in the car." or " do you want some candy? come here" The silhouettes would be more of a deterrent than anything.
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rotorglow 5:36PM (2/21/2007)
Arizona is where I first saw the "giant plastic scrotum" under-truck ornament, hanging from the spare-tire of a lifted Silverado.
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rodri 5:42PM (2/21/2007)
I don't understand it. How sexual can a silhouette be? It's not like it is a photo of some couple having sex. Is a naked body necessarily sexual?
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Mike 5:42PM (2/21/2007)
And I thought that NY was being stupid for trying to ban spinner wheels. Who are these idiots making laws now, how the hell did they get elected? Seriously, their wasn't anything more important than to try to ban mud flaps featuring an nude silhouette?
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Mike 5:43PM (2/21/2007)
And whats wrong with porn?
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Jro 9:23PM (2/21/2007)
Focusing on mud flaps to prevent sex predators??? I think there is a better use of tax dollars than that. Castration would probably work.
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Tony 5:47PM (2/21/2007)
who said she's nude ? she may have a bikini on.
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Tom 5:56PM (2/21/2007)
So ever what happened to land of the free?
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GLENN 5:58PM (2/21/2007)
What happened to free speech and freedom of expression- the basic principles that this country was founded upon.
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Peter Brunton 6:03PM (2/21/2007)
Yes, I can see that having an image of a woman with exagerated breasts on the back of your truck is ceratinly not sexual in anyway. I'm sure every trucker who displays this image is thinking of his mother and trying to honor her memory. NOT
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chuck goolsbee 5:58PM (2/21/2007)
I swear most legislators sit around all day thinking up the most ridiculous laws. Here, have some wisdom:
"The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition
is so powerful a principle, that it alone, and without any assistance,
not only capable of carrying on the society to wealth and prosperity,
but of surmounting a hundred impertinent obstructions with which the
folly of human laws too often incumbers its operations"
--Adam Smith
in "Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations"
"Politics is the seedbed of social enmity, evil suspicions,
shameless lies, morbid ambitions, and disrespect for the
individual. Name anything bad in man, and it is precisely in
the soil of political struggle that it grows with abundance."
--Maxim Gorky, April 20, 1917
--chuck
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Keith Russell 6:11PM (2/21/2007)
--"So ever what happened to land of the free?"
It won, by a VOTE of 31-19.
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iQuack 6:34PM (2/21/2007)
"One of the bill's other supporters, Theresa Ulmer (D - Yuma), said that the ban would help promote family values and would also dovetail with efforts to curb pornography and sexual predators."
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It's typically the Republicans who go nuts over "family values" issues. So, it's refreshing to see a Democrat trying to rescue wholesome families from salacious, truck mudflaps.
Seems the real boobs here are the Arizona legislators, not the images on any mudflaps.
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naggs 6:44PM (2/21/2007)
Seems the real boobs here are the Arizona legislators, not the images on any mudflaps.
+1
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paul34 6:57PM (2/21/2007)
I think we should introduce a bill to buy these "fine" folks airfare to another country, never to return to this one. Umm hello? This is the United States. Meaning I can say whatever the hell I want. Is that REALLY that obscene? No, its just how life is. Get used to it, stop trying to live in your protected shelter of a world. People can say what they want.
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NoNameDenton 7:29PM (2/21/2007)
How stupid do you have to be in order to be offended by a mud flap
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Tal 7:32PM (2/21/2007)
I thought this type of "politically correct" image was only portrayed in the "Bible Belt".
I'm getting f....ng sick of all of this holier than thou BS. Did any of these do-gooders never read "Catcher in the Rye"? You can't erase every thing you think is lewd, evil or pornographic.
Don't law officials have better things to do than police such insignificant displays?
Family values? Teach your children your family values and have them understand not all of the world believes as you do. Be undersatnding of others but don't legislate your beliefs on me.
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Jim Sanders 7:40PM (2/21/2007)
Ugly girls are really jealous of the mudflap girl's double DD breasts.
When ugly girls gain political power, they attempt to take revenge.
It's a jealous lover revenge kind of thing.
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DanMan 9:18PM (2/21/2007)
"As for forms of government let fools contest, for that government that governs the least governs the best." - Somebody famous
Democrat, Republican, who cares the above quote is the only thing that matters.
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tcc3 10:16PM (2/21/2007)
Keep your laws off my mudflaps
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