Police to limit size of raft-ups????

[wingNwing]

Police want to control size of raft-ups • Top Stories (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital)

Seems that now you'll need a permit to raft up with your friends (at least if you have a lot of friends). I understand big drunken gatherings that get out of control reflect badly on us all. At the same time, I just checked, and yep, the First Amendment still gives us the right to assemble peaceably ...

[erps]

If they are able to require permits because the police may not have the resources to handle possible problems, that rational could apply to all sorts of gatherings on land as well. They need to rethink this IMO.

[kd3pc]

sadly this action is all but mandated by the actions of a few, whom LLEO refuses to punish for their individual actions....it is not PC to do so, and in many cases the arrest is merely a sleep it off...they never make it to court, unless someone backs down or hurts someone, then it is the manufacturer or builder who gets punished big time...

they would rather punish everyone for the acts of a few ir-responsible, selfish, drunks....

[Squidd]

You have the right to asemble, but you still need a permit for a parade or party in the park...

[erps]

but you still need a permit for a parade or party in the park...

it would be interesting to see what criteria is used for issuing or denying them. I can see a permit requirement for a parade down a public street or a permit for exclusive use for a public park but I'm having a problem with the guvmint saying, no you can't assemble. Interesting topic.

[PBzeer]

It would seem, to prohibit raft-ups, they would first have to prohibit anchoring.

[wingNwing]

Originally Posted by erps

... I'm having a problem with the guvmint saying, no you can't assemble. ...

I am too. It's that first amendment thing again ...

[sawingknots]

i wonder if this is a response or pertaining to the wall st. protests

[chef2sail]

I am a large proponent of first amendment rights as well as all rights gaurenteed by the Bill of Rights/ Constitution but come on now:

This does not mean these rights are universally unabridged.

Right of assembly does not give a bunch of skin heads or nazis the right to assemble in the middle of a synagogue, does not give people the right to assemble in the middle of I95 at rush hour, does not give people the right to assmble in the East Room of the White House, nor give 800 boaters the right to assmble and block a public waterway and break the common rules established in the commonwealth and endanger the health and safety of the citizenery. Your rights to assemble stop where it abridges my right of assmbly or freedom of movement or my and others safety. Right to assemblely does not give a company to freely build a chemical plant next to your house. We have created restrictions in the form of zoning laws.

Right to bear arms doesnt mean you can have a tank or an anti aircraft missle or a self made nuclear bomb or bring a weapon to class in high school.

Rights in the Constitution are not necessarily literal or unabridged.


This is not a good argumernt. ( But I know my comments will start a large one I think)

Dave

[Squidd]

I agree with chef... your right to swing your arm ends at the beginning of my nose...

300 ft from a home seems reasonable and 800 in a limited area can be deemed excessive... they even have capacity limits on "assembly" halls..