>Sender: >To: >X-Original-Message-ID: <006d01bf0533$218616d0$9acf69cf@pacbell.net> >From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: Tatoo you! >Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 12:46:15 -0700 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > > >Owner defends bar's profanity > > The Denver Post - September 18, 1999 > > By Erin Emery > Denver Post Southern Colorado Bureau > > Sept. 18 - COLORADO SPRINGS - The thick, squiggly veins > in Leonard Carlo's head bulge with anger when he talks > about what a state liquor enforcement agent did in his > bar a few weeks back. > > "The m----- f------ came in like a German storm > trooper,'' Carlo said. "He walked in my door and started > ripping signs off my f------ walls. Well, f--- you.'' > > A state liquor agent confiscated 29 signs from Leonard's > Bar II on Aug. 31 because he believed the signs violated > a state regulation that prohibits profanity in bars. Most > of the signs taken included the f-word and a few > contained a derogatory term for women that begins with > the letter "c.' In some of the signs, though, that word > was misspelled, beginning with the letter "k.' > > Signs over restroom doors said: "F------ women'' and > "F------ men''; and signs in other areas of the bar read: > "No f------ tap or draw beer'' and "No f------ children, > animals, tabs or checks.'' > > Carlo, 65, also has the Ten Commandments and a portion of > the U.S. Constitution posted on walls of his blue collar > bar in central Colorado Springs. > > Earlier this week, Carlo called the American Civil > Liberties Union, and on Thursday, the ACLU filed a > federal lawsuit against David Reitz, director of the > state's Liquor Enforcement Division. The suit claims the > First Amendment protects Carlo's right to use language > that others might find offensive. The ACLU is also > challenging the constitutionality of the Colorado > regulation that prohibits profanity in bars. > > "The First Amendment forbids the state of Colorado from > punishing individuals simply for using language that > government officials regard as offensive,'' said Mark > Silverstein, ACLU legal director. "Three decades ago, the > Supreme Court, in a case in which a person used the > f-word to criticize the draft, said, "One man's vulgarity > is another's lyric.' That metaphor is a perfect match for > this case because profanity is Mr. Carlo's lyric.'' > > Neither the attorney general's office nor the Colorado > Department of Revenue, which oversees the liquor > enforcement division, would comment because a lawsuit is > pending. Carlo faces possible suspension of his liquor > license if found in violation of the profanity > regulation. > > That regulation says licensed bar owners must not "permit > profanity, rowdiness, undue noise, or other disturbances > or activity offensive to the senses of the average > citizen, or to the residents of the neighborhood in which > the licensed establishment is located.'' > > Carlo said he didn't put up his signs to be offensive, > and he said people who are offended by them should not > come to his bar. > > "If you walk in and see "f---' and you don't like it, get > the f--- out. There's 700 bars in town,'' he said. > > After notifying the ACLU, Carlo took another step to show > his disdain for what happened. He went to a man known as > "Snake,'' a well known tattoo artist in the Springs, and > had a message tattooed on top of his bald head: "F---U. > Leave me the f--- alone.'' > > And though the government was able to get his signs, they > won't be able to get the one printed on top of his head, > but he's challenged them to do so. > > "Now, m----- f------- - take that one,'' he said. > > "If "Snake' wouldn't have been able to do it, I would > have had it branded up there. And I've still got room on > my forehead,'' he said. > > Carlo is considering a tattoo on his forehead that would > read say something like this: "I love my country, but I > hate my government.'' > > > "If I can't say f--- in here, then pretty soon they'll > say you can't say f--- in your house. Then you won't be > able to say it in your car and by then maybe they'll be > able to put me in jail, and then I can say f--- all I > want in there,'' Carlo said. "They didn't think this > f------ bald m----- f------ would fight them on this. > > "I'm not doing this for me, I'm doing this for everyone. > Because if they get me, baby, you're next.'' > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------