Court Says There Is No Constitutional Right To Lap Dances

[matcom]

Damned activist judges :P

<snip>

LA HABRA, Calif. -- There's no constitutional right to get up-close and personal during a lap dance.

That's the gist of a ruling from a federal appeals court. The panel has refused the appeal of a Southern California strip club owner who wanted a local "2-foot rule" overturned.

The city of La Habra requires that lap dancers stay at least 2 feet away from customers during their performances.

Badi "Bill" Gammoh, who owns the Taboo Theater, contends the rule infringes on freedom of expression. The strippers said they also lost money because of the requirement.

A federal appeals court has refused to reconsider a January ruling that upheld the 2-foot rule. But Gammoh's lawyer said their fight isn't over yet.

http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/4346376/detail.html

[underpants]

1. ACTIVIST JUDGES!!! LEGISLATING FROM THE BENCH!!!

Two feet my a**!!!!

[sui generis]

2. well fuck the court

I don't have a constitutional right to masturbate either. Stupid argument.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. Don't give them ideas. (nt)

[MrScorpio]

3. The courts hate America

Damn them to Hell

[Zuni]

4. If Bush could only get his appointees through!

We would no longer have this problem!

[Ellen Forradalom]

5. Bad news for WillPitt

This will be the subject of his next book, I'm sure.

[YankeyMCC]

7. We need a Constitutional Amendment!

[UrbScotty]

8. So much for freedom of expression (nt)

[Beer Snob-50]

9. doesn't the term "lap dance"

bring to mind the idea that they go near your lap?

[Nikia]

10. I wondered if some localities banned it

I recently read about a strip club in Wisconsin that is suing because their locality has a law against total nudity and alcohol at a club. They say dancers have a constitutional right to be nude. The club chose to still serve alcohol, but its dancers now have to wear g strings and pasties.
I commented to my husband that I don't see why they are uncomfortable with nude dancing when I would think that pseudo sex acts would be most offending. Well, I guess that one locality thought that too.
Actually, I am not totally against such clubs. I do think that localities do have a right to regulate business though. The dancers can go home with any man and freely express themselves nude lap dancing if they wish. They are just not allowed to freely express themselves in making money. Business regulations don't just apply to sex work.
I think that it is rather mean for localities to enact these laws in response to a particuliar business. If they have these laws ahead of time though, businesses should be aware of that when they decide where to locate their club.