Don't Ban Saggy Pants, Solve Real Problems Instead!

  • van: Care2 Team
  • ontvanger: South Carolina Legislature
Instead of focusing on laws that actually impact South Carolinians, state lawmakers have introduced a frivolous bill to ban saggy pants. House Bill 4957, which has bipartisan support, would make it illegal for people to wear pants that sit "three inches below the crest of [the] ileum," exposing skin or underwear, in public.

Please sign this petition urging the South Carolina legislature to stop this ridiculous bill from passing and focus on real issues instead.

The bill's sponsors have defended the bill against critics, saying that it does not unfairly target men of color because people of all "creeds and races" wear saggy pants. Unfortunately, just because a law applies to people of different backgrounds, that doesn't mean that people will be targeted equally. One only need to look at the failed war on drugs to see how laws are disproportionately used to target, and in this case incarcerate, people of color.

Even if one were to believe that a saggy pants ban wouldn't unfairly target people of color, it would unfairly impact the poor. While a violation would not be considered a criminal offense and no record will be kept, burdensome fines will be imposed: $25 for a first offense, $50 or three hours of community service for a second offense, and $75 or six hours of community service for each additional violation.

These fines may seem small to some, but for many, a $25 violation is the difference between being able to eat or not for a week. On top of that, unpaid fines could inevitably lead to jail time in a debtor's prison. That's a high price to pay for wearing saggy pants.

South Carolina lawmakers need to focus on important laws that bolster the state's economy and protect the rights of all South Carolinians -- and not focus on laws targeting people for how they dress. Please let lawmakers know you do not support a ban on saggy pants by signing this petition.

Photo: The Ethos Group / Flickr
petitie tekenen
petitie tekenen
Je hebt JavaScript uitgeschakeld. Hierdoor werkt onze website misschien niet goed.

privacybeleid

Door te tekenen accepteer je de servicevoorwaarden van Care2
U kunt uw e-mail abonnementen op elk gewenst moment beheren.

Lukt het niet om dit te tekenen? Laat het ons weten..