April 26, 2008

The Nanny State, Tallahassee Edition

Posted by Aurelius @ 5:46 am

Courtesy of Reuters/Yahoo News:

Senate lawmakers in
Florida have voted to ban the fake bull testicles that dangle
from the trailer hitches of many trucks and cars throughout the
state.

Yes, you read that right: Fake Bull Testicles. But why?

Republican Sen. Cary Baker, a gun shop owner from Eustis,
Florida, called the adornments offensive and proposed the ban.

First of all, I don’t understand what Sen. Baker being a gun shop
owner has to do with this, unless it’s to A) prove that he’s REALLY a
Republican (i.e. gun nut, and unstable in general), B) denigrate all
gun shop owners by tarring them by association with this legislator.

My personal issue with Sen. Baker is that he wants to ban something
just because HE finds it “offensive”. In particular, I find the misuse
of government time and resources even debating such an issue as
offensive.

And what fate does Sen. Baker suggest for transgressors?

Motorists would be fined $60 for displaying the novelty items,
which are known by brand names like “Truck Nutz” and resemble
the south end of a bull moving north.

But it seems that there is some common sense among Sen. Bakers fellow legislators:

In a spirited debate laced with double entendre, Senate
lawmakers questioned whether the state should curtail freedom
of expression in vehicle accessories.

Because, in the end, ones sense of Taste and Propriety in such issues in ultimately dictated by a higher power:

Critics of the ban included the Senate Rules Chairman, Sen.
Jim King, a Jacksonville Republican whose truck sported a pair
until his wife protested.

Filed under: Northwest

3 Comments »

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  1. On April 28, 2008 at 12:49 pm, Perri Nelson wrote:

    Personally, I find the things offensive in the extreme. They’re a perfect example of bad taste, and seriously indecent. Proposing legislation to ban them makes about as much sense as proposing legislation requiring people to keep theirs covered…
    Oh, wait… laws already exist regarding that don’t they?

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