The right to bear arms but not bare breasts

[ZenDog]

Well, I guess some of ya'll might have to change your recreation patterns -- It is is a dark day for the right to bare breasts in Memphis. We can still bear arms. Is this boob control? B&B - Beer and Breasts- those are great American traditions. The good news is that if they ban beer sales, we can now carry our weapons into strip clubs since no alcohol will be sold there. We just won't want to go there as much with these new rules.

Strip club rules ban beer, bare breasts

City Council tables less-restrictive measure

By Amos Maki

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Strip clubs will no longer be able to sell beer or show bare breasts when a Shelby County ordinance goes into effect April 29.

The ordinance will regulate the clubs and other sexually oriented businesses because the Memphis City Council voted Tuesday to delay indefinitely voting on a less restrictive city ordinance.

The council, on a 7-5 vote, tabled the city ordinance on its third reading, meaning seven council members can vote at any time to bring the ordinance back up for final reading.

The county ordinance is already under a legal challenge after seven strip club owners sued in federal court in January. All of the county's strip clubs are in Memphis.

Without revealing how he would have voted, Councilman Myron Lowery said the council was "copping out" and showed a "lack of courage and leadership" by not taking a vote.

"This is a tough issue," he said. "That is what you were elected to do, make tough decisions."

Councilman Shea Flinn said the council, which has nine new members, needs to proceed cautiously.

"There is no shame in taking our time," he said.

But Brian Stephens of the Cordova Leadership Council said the council decision and the process of regulating the businesses was "maddening and exhausting" and that citizens who want to rein in the industry must remain vigilant.

"We can't not do anything. The city needs to address it."

Council members were considering an ordinance that would allow beer sales and not require dancers to cover their nipples.

The county ordinance also includes creating a board that will regulate the more than two dozen adult businesses, including strip clubs, escort services, massage parlors, book stores and movie theaters. Background checks of every adult-business employee and owner are also required.

City Atty. Elbert Jefferson pushed hard for the city ordinance, telling council members that approving it could satisfy the club owners who filed the lawsuit.

The county ordinance was based on a state law that the state attorney general has twice successfully defended against legal challenges.

The county ordinance, which also requires dancers to stay six feet from customers and from one another during performances, aims "to destroy, and will destroy the market for live adult entertainment in the City of Memphis," the suit contends.

Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons has endorsed the county ordinance. Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin did not return repeated phone calls.

Council members Flinn, Bill Boyd, Edmund Ford Jr., Janis Fullilove, Wanda Halbert, Reid Hedgepeth and Barbara Swearengen Ware voted to table the city ordinance.

Council members Lowery, Harold Collins, Scott McCormick, Bill Morrison and Jim Strickland voted against tabling the city ordinance.

Councilman Joe Brown abstained from the vote because the sexually oriented businesses are "sinful and wicked."

Boyd said he voted to table the city ordinance because doing so would allow the more-restrictive county ordinance to govern the businesses.

"I wanted to make sure my vote counted," he said.

Contact reporter Amos Maki at 529-2351. To read more stories by him, click on Contact Us at commercialappeal.com and click on his name.

Edited March 19, 2008 by ZenDog

[molonlabetn]

An Outrage!

[Guest tim99ws6]

Early April Fools......Please?! haha, seriously though, that's flat out ridiculous.

[The Rabbi]

Yet another business-boosting move from Memphis. How long until that business relocates itself across the river to AR or south to MS?

[saintsfanbrian]

Hey, Southaven won't take them and they can't find enough people with a full set of teeth in West Memphis.

Seriously though, I was in favor of putting these all in one "red light" business district. Think about the money to be made by the city for catching drunk drivers waiting outside of it. In essence a baited field.

[Guest Len]

Ridiculous, and it sounds like they are following Nashville's lead. Nashville played this very issue out in court for years, costing who knows how much, before a judge ruled they could regulate the strip clubs and the dancers. Now Metro has "Sexually Oriented Business" board that employs an inspector (what a cool job!) and runs a liscencing program. Meanwhile businesses move out, conventioneers have less fun, and the taxpayer foots the bill. You don't like strip clubs? Then don't go into them.

[The Rabbi]

But Len,

They're exploitative of women. And they bring crime with them. And...and....

Yeah, OK I dont believe that either. But those are the arguments. Memphis can less afford the loss of revenue than Nashville, which is still a major tourist attraction and convention center.

[Guest DrBoomBoom]

Ridiculous, and it sounds like they are following Nashville's lead. .

So Memphis is matching Nashville tit for tat?

[saintsfanbrian]

Len,

That makes too much sense. Just like if you don't want to watch it on TV then change the channel. I didn't realize anyone was being forced to go to or work at one of these clubs.

[RedHead_1911]

An Outrage!

A-hem...

[ZenDog]

A-hem...

Red--

I'm sure Molon's interest is purely academic, purely a legal scholar's opinion, a man concerned only with libertarian free enterprise, free speech, small government, etc. I know he keeps abreast of women's issues like the right to bare breasts- (he might even be a feminist)- I hope his post doesn't create any cleavage between ya'll. If you strip this issue down to it's bare assentials, it is a human rights-civil liberties-free enterprise issue, I am sure, a lot like the second amendment, except not. So, I am sure his interest is purely intellectual.

[Guest TNDixieGirl]

A-hem...

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[saintsfanbrian]

I am sure that Eddie doesn't need to venture foot in those establishments. He did tell me that there was a stripper pole that was needed.

[Marswolf]

This all reminds me of Fayetteville, NC. They "cleaned up" the city.

Now you may recall that Fayetteville is the home of Fort Bragg. Even in the 70s, I used to drive down to Fayetteville from Raleigh on pay day to enjoy the company of some friends. Normally, this was in one of the strip bars downtown. Funny how that works.

Well they decided to clean up the area. I have a record about it called Stuck In Fayetteville Blues.

"Girls who used to do business on Hay, can now be found up to five miles away."

[dariks]

More importantly though is if customers are still allowed to BYOB?

[strickj]

Here in Chatt,there is no booze served with our boobs either:mad:

Red--

I'm sure Molon's interest is purely academic, purely a legal scholar's opinion, a man concerned only with libertarian free enterprise, free speech, small government, etc. I know he keeps abreast of women's issues like the right to bare breasts- (he might even be a feminist)- I hope his post doesn't create any cleavage between ya'll. If you strip this issue down to it's bare assentials, it is a human rights-civil liberties-free enterprise issue, I am sure, a lot like the second amendment, except not. So, I am sure his interest is purely intellectual.

[DWARREN123]

As long as there is no violence or drug dealing going on what's the harm in beer & boob's?

I would not go to one but if it is a good club why bother them, just tax them and make money off of them.

[Mike.357]

you mean woman have boobies and nipples?

I bet Joe Brown was shocked to find this out.

Good Lord, it is the American Dream to go to titty bars, it's part of every young mans right of passage. What will they do next? Try to ban guns?

[saintsfanbrian]

As long as there is no violence or drug dealing going on what's the harm in beer & boob's?

I would not go to one but if it is a good club why bother them, just tax them and make money off of them.

Well, around here you have to realize that we are the Buckle of the Bible Belt.

Between all of the COGIC conventions, and Bellevue Baptist Church and all of the other Churches in this region, it is no surprise to me that they are trying to get this stopped.

It all started because of Cooper trying to put a topless restaurant in Cordova. Had he not done that, and the incidences of prostitution at the Purple Passion Hut (Platinum Plus) this wouldn't even be in the light of day.

I don't particularly want a strip club in my neighborhood either, but I don't see a reason to shut them down. Make a section of town where it is legal, typically by an airport, and be done with it.

[Im Neero]

Does anyone know if the ordinance bans the sale of liquor as well? Everything that I have heard has specified beer, without a single mention of alcohol or liquor.

[Paletiger13]

Religion should stay out of Politics or be TAXED!!! Love Thy Neighbor,(strip clubs) lol.

[saintsfanbrian]

Sorry, religion has been a forefront of this nature since its very inception. It will never be out of politics or schools.

You don't like it, you can hand over all of your cash right now.

[Marswolf]

Does anyone know if the ordinance bans the sale of liquor as well? Everything that I have heard has specified beer, without a single mention of alcohol or liquor.

Actually, I think you may have a point. Beer is handled differently than liquor in terms of code.

Regardless, we don't have a lot of problem around here with the tittie bars. Seems like the redneck bars in Kingsport have more fights and shootings. Of course the titties are probably male at the gay bars in Johnson City.

[Guest Phantom6]

What in the world is this world coming to? No beer & boobs? Bah Humbug!

Rodney Carrington sings the anthem for the cause- Titties & Beer (Adult content, turn down the sound at work).

[ame]

[/ame]

[Marswolf]

OMG,

Now I'm going to have to steal some Rodney Carrington MP3s.