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Huntington Beach to seek ban on nudity in public
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More from StateHUNTINGTON BEACH (AP) — Police are pushing to ban public nudity after a resident and naturist was frequently seen naked in his home.
Huntington Beach Police Chief Kenneth Small was scheduled today to ask City Council members to ban public nudity.
The law would make it illegal for people to be nude in public or private areas that can be seen by the public.
"That's why we are presenting an ordinance so we can take enforcement action on every incident on people that are walking around naked," said Craig Junginger, police spokesman.
The Naturist Action Committee defended the naturist, arguing that the proposed law would infringe on his constitutional rights. "I don't think we should be in the business of prohibiting something just because it offends some people," said Allen Baylis, a director of the committee and an attorney representing the naturist. "Where do you draw the line on that?"
The issue took shape when Michael Ferreira moved about two years ago into a home two blocks from Main Street. Neighbors frequently called police complaining that they had seen him standing naked in his front yard and inside his home with the windows and doors open.
Neighbors filed complaints with police. Police turned over at least seven cases against Ferreira to the Orange County district attorney, who pressed charges on one case.
In February, Ferreira was charged on suspicion of three counts of indecent exposure. He was convicted of indecent exposure in 1996. He pleaded not guilty to the recent charges in May and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 23.
Posted by ntsqd on July 19, 2007 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like some people need to loose their up-tight Puritanical values.
Posted by larrymu on October 1, 2007 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nudity has nothing to do with indecent exposure. No more then your indecent before your doctor, born that way, in art, nude bike rides or nude walks for cancer going on through out this country or the world. It is when you are doing something overt and sexual in public. The few who think they know it all feel they have to control the rest everyone and take away our free will. Like the terrorist feel that we have to be Muslim or die. This county is so uptight and cloths minded when it comes to art and the nude form. They don't allow nudity in public when other places do like San Francisco for one. Believing the body only has one purpose and that is sex. No wonder we have eating disorders and poor body esteem. Our bodies are the art work of God, we wanted to hide them. Took animal skins to hide the real problem (sin)& now we don't wear them and there's nothing needed to cover now. It's been taken care of. Be uptight about the important things. Let the body free and art flourish. Don't witch hunt but focus on the real crime. Don't pre judge intent, the body is not evil or vulgar, like a steak knife it's what you do with it that is good or bad. Larry
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