Bill might ban lap dances
COLUMBIA — Exotic dancers would have to stay six feet from strip club customers, and those businesses would have to close at midnight under legislation approved by a House panel this week.
The plan effectively would ban lap dances, and those who violate the law could face up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. Staying open past midnight could mean three years in prison and a $1,000 fine.
A Charleston-area strip club owner said banning dances "would probably kill the business."
"That kind of alleviates the personalness with customers," said Jeff Foster, who owns Thee Southern Belle and Diamonds North.
While courts have ruled that nude dancing is protected by the First Amendment, they also have found physical contact that leads to sexual activity is not protected, attorney Scott Bergthold told a House Judiciary subcommittee.
"There's no constitutional right to a lap dance," Bergthold said.
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KnowAllSeeAll (anonymous) says...
"There is no Constitutional right to a lap dance." True, and there also is no Constitutional mandate to ban them, either.
I wish the members of the General Assembly would just outright ban strip clubs altogether instead of playing these games, hoping to make them die a slow, painful death. They thought they had it down when they said that you couldn't have all nudity in an establishment that serves alcohol and/or food. But, the joke is on them. Thee Belle does not serve alcohol in their club. But they don't mind taking patrons' money to buy booze in their liquor store (conveniently located next door to the club)so they can watch nude women. How's that working out for them?
I would have a lot more respect for these politicians if they would just say that they are Bible-thumpers and that strip dancing violates their sensibilities, instead of pretending that a bill like this would somehow cut down on crime. Sorry, it's never worked before and won't work this time.
To the members of the General Assembly that say they're distressed about lap dances, I would suggest that they never get one.
When I was in college I went to a particular club in Columbia, strangely located next to a church. The pastor came out and shouted at a bunch of us as we were parking our vehicles (off his property, mind you) and said that "y'all wouldn't be hootin' and hollerin' if that was your mother or sister up on that stage, would you?" To which I responded, "Thank God they're not up on stage!!" and then we proceeded inside.
C'mon, this sort of entertainment is demeaning and stupid for women (and men, for that matter), but it's been around for millenia. These aren't brothels, and the overwhelming majority of the patrons go there to have a good time and then go home without causing trouble. And the dancers, many of whom do not have any other job skills, are able to make pretty good money to support themselves by doing this.
March 29, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
Sand castles and lap-dances. It's good to see our law-makers are focusing on the real issues.
March 29, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
POMAWG (anonymous) says...
They will have to pry my lap dances from my cold, dead hands.
March 29, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
South Carolina government is a train wreck that has already happened.
March 29, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
If you are more interested in freedom and personal responsibility and are tired of government interference in your life and business then send your protest to this bill's sponsor Republican SC Rep. Scott Talley at SFT@schouse.org. The bill number is H3679. I don't go to strip clubs but we must defend the rights and freedoms of others before government starts messing with everyone. Of course it already does but we have to put up a fight sometime.
March 29, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jifdeng3 (anonymous) says...
Here we go again, somebody forcing their morals on me.
March 29, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
disco (anonymous) says...
I'm moving - after reading this and the sandcastle story, I just can't believe some of the people of this state. I'm going to Florida where I don't pay any state tax for stupid crap our politicians come up with.
March 29, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mstaterhed (anonymous) says...
Welcome to the Bible Belt... Where God will strike you dead if you don't raise a million dollars to pay for legal fees after sinning against God, your wife, and your congregation by actually hiring a prostitute. I have no problem going to a strip club with my boyfriend, I had no problem with my ex-husband, either. I've even paid for lapdances. It doesn't matter what causes the spark, as long as I put out the fire. I'd be a hypocrite to say that I don't occasionally think of Antonio Banderes or Patrick Swayze now and then to get the 'spark' started in my mind, when I'm tired and not feeling like a fire extinguisher....
March 29, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hutch (anonymous) says...
I hope all those kind of places are shut down
for good. The employees find a higher standard
of work.
March 30, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ginj (anonymous) says...
"That kind of alleviates the personalness with customers," (LMAO) I thought that happened when they took your charge card...
However, the legislature should clean up their own act before telling us how to spend our money. Before they ban them, how about banning EARMARKS first!!!!!!!
March 30, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
georgebushsux (anonymous) says...
Good ole' Hutch, he thinks our government should outlaw nude dancing completely? Bless his heart! What next Hutch, no Playboy magazines or condom's even or even dancing? He's one of many in the "buckle" of the "belt"
March 30, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bpwnz (anonymous) says...
Closed at midnight? Who gets there before midnight?
March 31, 2008 at 12:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sixcar (anonymous) says...
My beef is with taxation. no wonder I can't get a decent response from my elected officials. They're all talking about lap dances! geeez
March 31, 2008 at 4:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
These politicians were watching Footloose a little bit too much this weekend.
Let's start with these little kids that go to these teeny booper clubs and dance with the butt out on some little boys' tally wacker....those are little strippers in the making.
We do not need more goverment in our lives to tell us what needs to be done. Next singing will only be allowed in churches and the only dancing allowed will be praised dancing.
Tha damn Elliot messed it up for everyone!
March 31, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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