How concerned are you that you might go to your local CVS or Target and find some person in their pajamas walking the aisles? Is this a big concern for you?
It is to District 3 Caddo Commissioner
Michael Williams:
Caddo Parish District 3 Commission Michael Williams said it was an
incident at a local Walmart that offended him and some elderly customers
that spurred him to push for an ordinance that would prohibit wearing
pajama pants in public."I
saw a group of young men wearing pajama pants and house shoes," he
said. "At the part where there should have been underwear," his private
parts were showing through the fabric.
Offensive? You bet. Nanny state? Yep. Trying to legislate common sense? Absolutely.
Passing a law like this might put the
People of Walmart site out of business.
Of course the
ACLU has already come out against the proposed ordinance:
The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana released a letter from
Executive Director Marjorie R. Esman Friday afternoon, saying “clothing
is a form of expression protected under the Constitution of the United
States.”
I agree with Commissioner Williams that this is inappropriate behavior but I have concerns about legislating things like this. We've all seen the sagging pants and I remember the discussion when a no-sagging ordinance was passed: many people insisted it was just a passing fad and would go away on its own. (It hasn't.) Others said the ordinance was "profiling" and would target certain groups. (It didn't). Overall, the sagging ordinance in Shreveport has resulted in
31 misdemeanor charges since it was passed in 2011.
Is this a sign of an overall decline in America? Inconsideration of others? Or is it just poor "home-training?" Laziness?
I'm reminded of my mother and grandmother who would never consider going out shopping without stockings and gloves on. You
dressed to go downtown! What would grandmother think of the young mother with three kids going to Walmart in her Family Guy pjs and slippers to buy PopTarts?
Since we already have indecency laws on the books, possibly we should just consider going with that one if some guy wants to go to Walmart with his junk exposed.
Added: After I posted this I went to Super One (local supermarket) and lo and behold...a gentleman about 50 or so was walking with a young child through the grocery store. He was wearing a fur hat, a white crew neck t-shirt, and cartoon print black pajama pants with his slide on fuzzy slippers.
Photo credit: Mike Silva - The Shreveport Times
