Sen. Robert Ford pushes to outlaw profanity

By Larry Collins | Reporter
Published: January 25, 2009
Updated: January 25, 2009

State Senator Robert Ford is hoping to outlaw lewd language and is pushing for a bill that would prohibit profanity.

Under the pre-filed bill, profanity could land you in jail for up to 5 years and/or cost you up to $5,000 in fines.

Which words are exactly considered profane is still unclear, but the bill does have a list of qualifications for profanity including words or actions that are lewd, vulgar or indecent in nature.

We spoke to Debra Gammons with the Charleston School of Law about freedom of speech.

She reminds that the First Amendment is not absolute. You cannot say whatever you want whenever you want to.

Courts will usually look at where the words were said and who heard them. Children are usually protected.

Ford said he may run for governor in 2010.

You can read the bill for yourself at http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/query.exe?first=DOC&querytext=profanity&category=Legislation&session=118&conid=4356264&result_pos=0&keyval=1180056 .

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Flag Comment Posted by fergie on January 31, 2009 at 2:36 am

Data boy Robert! Keep up the good work. You go boy! Keep parkin in loading zones, handi-cap spaces, and abusing your legislative powers. I've listen to you for years on TV and radio talk shows, and still you continue to amaze me. Are you frickin kidding me? Please go find a sanitation department that will GIVE you a job, because that's all you are worth. Notice I said GIVE you a job. You sure don't have the qualifications. When are you up for re-election? Please everyone remember this stupid fool when that time comes up! PLEASE! Your !@&&^%@# friend. Damn it! Why?

Flag Comment Posted by rm on January 27, 2009 at 3:44 pm

This takes the cake. I know that our representatives seem to think that the government needs to teach people morals, but this is just going too far!! Everyone needs to remember that morals should be and need to be taught at home by family, not in courts and by the government~!

Flag Comment Posted by LarryCarterCenter on January 27, 2009 at 8:55 am

Where is George Carlin when we really need him? Senator Ford is going to get a law passed to make the "7 dirty words" more than just a FCC "bleep" list, but 5 years in jail? What is most saddening, is that a senior politician is wasting political capital just to make a few church ladies happy? Add this proposal to Ford's call for off shore oil driliing, as "pollution" of ON SHORE fragile EARS as well as off shore fragile water life. Democrats were making some progress in this state but Ford is now pissing much of it away. Go ahead, arrest me Bob, is a urination word profane?

Flag Comment Posted by warlord on January 26, 2009 at 6:00 pm

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/profanity <-- a petition to nullify Robert Ford's bill

Flag Comment Posted by Lets on January 26, 2009 at 2:18 pm

If anyone wants to personally speak their minds. Here is his public information. http://www.scstatehouse.gov/members/bios/0606818109.html Have at it

Flag Comment Posted by lmbarr on January 26, 2009 at 1:27 pm

Someone has watched Demolition Man one to many times. By the way, what party does he represent?

Flag Comment Posted by dkbuth on January 25, 2009 at 5:09 pm

Are you kidding me? Who can determine whether something is profane? And how can you do so without bringing religion into the decision? You can't. Why don't you write a bill that fines that amount for things that are truly harmful--like the noise of bass booming from an auto or nightclub that can be heard from blocks away? Seems such inordinate fines for something that offends one's moral sensibilities make more sense than those that are physically intrusive. Nevermind. Just write laws that make the rest of the state live by your own personal sense of decency and righteousness rather than consider what any regular people of the state would want...

Flag Comment Posted by d966 on January 25, 2009 at 10:06 am

Robert, are you REALLY that stupid? I mean, I knew you were dumb, but are you really really that unbelievably crazily stupid???? You wasted resources to try to tell us what we can say or think? I CAN'T BELIEVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE SOOOO FREAKING STUPID TO KEEP PUTTING YOU IN OFFICE. THEY SHOULD BE SO ASHAMED!!! What about R-Rated films and physician reports? What about nude art? Remember, you tried to make it illegal for college kids to enjoy Marion Square. YOU ARE A COMMUNIST! PLAIN AND SIMPLE. YOU ARE A COMMUNIST.

Flag Comment Posted by Lets on January 24, 2009 at 4:10 pm

This is actually typical of the law makers today. All one needs to do is look at the sex offender laws and see that they "Do more HARM than good." Vote getting self aggrandizing hypocrites. IMO of course. www.cfcoklahoma.org

Flag Comment Posted by darter22 on January 24, 2009 at 12:47 pm

Great, just what we need right now. Another asshat politician who wants to restrict civil rights even more than they have been for the last eight years. F#c*!^% @$$h01e

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Sen. Robert Ford pushes to outlaw profanity

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