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Law proposed in Louisiana to ban low-slung pants

A legislator wants to make it illegal for people in Louisiana to wear low-slung pants that expose underwear -- or more.

The bill, sponsored by Democrat Derrick Shepherd, would make it a crime to wear clothing in public that "intentionally exposes undergarments or intentionally exposes any portion of the pubic hair, cleft of the buttocks or genitals."

In recent years many American young men have begun wearing belted jeans several sizes too big, exposing a sizable swath of their boxer shorts, as a fashion statement. Women too have been pushing the boundaries with increasingly lower hip-hugger jeans.

"There comes a time in every society where we must draw a line of decency," Shepherd said in a fiery speech before the House of Representatives when the measure came up for debate this week.

He was met with catcalls and a facetious chant of "No more crack!"

Shepherd, who represents a suburban area near New Orleans, asked for a delay of a vote, and the measure awaits action.

Some opponents have serious concerns. Heather Hall of the American Civil Liberties Union, speaking at a committee meeting this month, said the bill would institute a literal "fashion police" and a "really invasive violation of the fundamental right to public expression."

House Criminal Justice Committee Chairman Danny Martiny said he agreed with the spirit of the measure, but said it would be impossible to enforce.

"I don't know that it's respectful to pay my respects at a funeral without my shirt on, but that's not illegal; that's just stupid," he said.

"Government can't fix everything," Martiny said.

But there is also support.

"We should be able to say what is moral, what is decent and what is acceptable behavior for our young people," said Glenn Green, a city councilman from Westwego, near New Orleans."
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