St. Charles, MO hack seeks to ban swearing

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on January 8th, 2008

St. Charles (MO) city councilman Richard Veit has proposed a ban on swearing in that city’s bars.

Marc Rousseau, who owns bar R.T. Weilers, said he thinks the bill needs revision.

“We’re dealing with adults here once again and I don’t think it’s the city’s job or the government’s job to determine what we can and cannot play in our restaurant,” Rousseau said.

The proposal would ban indecent, profane or obscene language, songs, entertainment and literature at bars.

A meeting to discuss the proposal is set for Jan. 14.

A ludicrous proposition, of course. Veit will be a laughingstock for suggesting such a law. The bar owner quoted has more of a feel for the Constitution than the elected official. No surprise there.

The implications for standup are obvious. But, while stories like this one brighten the day for AP editors, the followup stories, where the councilman is shunned and his proposal is held up to brief public ridicule, never make the wires.