First, one of the offending t-shirts for sale:
Let's start with the local reaction:
Shirts with dead troops' names would be banned
By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
Tucson, Arizona Published: 05.15.2007
PHOENIX — State lawmakers voted Monday to approve a law blocking the sale of anti-war T-shirts with the names of dead soldiers on them — a measure one media lawyer says is "unconstitutional about three or four different ways."
The Senate agreed to make it punishable by up to a year in jail to use the names of deceased soldiers to help sell goods. The 28-0 vote sends SB 1014 to Gov. Janet Napolitano for her signature. The measure also would let families go to court to stop the sales and collect damages.
The shirts at issue feature the words "Bush Lied/They Died" superimposed over the names of more than 3,000 military personnel who have died since the U.S. invaded Iraq. Frazer has since come up with some variations, including one that says on one side "Support our Remaining Troops," with "Bring the Rest Home Alive" on the other.
This started in AZ back in January:
Bill would guard soldiers' names
Flagstaff man's use of list of Iraq war dead on T-shirts spurs Arizona legislation
Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 11, 2007 12:00 AM
Dead soldiers' names or photos could not be used for commercial purposes without their families' consent under a proposed law written to stop a Flagstaff businessman from manufacturing anti-war T-shirts.
Shirts with dead troops' names would be banned
By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
Tucson, Arizona Published: 05.15.2007
PHOENIX — State lawmakers voted Monday to approve a law blocking the sale of anti-war T-shirts with the names of dead soldiers on them — a measure one media lawyer says is "unconstitutional about three or four different ways."
The Senate agreed to make it punishable by up to a year in jail to use the names of deceased soldiers to help sell goods. The 28-0 vote sends SB 1014 to Gov. Janet Napolitano for her signature. The measure also would let families go to court to stop the sales and collect damages.
The shirts at issue feature the words "Bush Lied/They Died" superimposed over the names of more than 3,000 military personnel who have died since the U.S. invaded Iraq. Frazer has since come up with some variations, including one that says on one side "Support our Remaining Troops," with "Bring the Rest Home Alive" on the other.
This started in AZ back in January:
Bill would guard soldiers' names
Flagstaff man's use of list of Iraq war dead on T-shirts spurs Arizona legislation
Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 11, 2007 12:00 AM
Dead soldiers' names or photos could not be used for commercial purposes without their families' consent under a proposed law written to stop a Flagstaff businessman from manufacturing anti-war T-shirts.
The bill in the Arizona Legislature mirrors successful efforts in two other states to curb Dan Frazier's T-shirt sales. It's the latest front in a national effort to protect the use of dead soldiers' names and photos.
"All we're saying is if you're going to use a soldier's name, get permission from the next of kin," said Ed Flinn, director of joint programs for the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and a retired active-duty Army colon
Family members of several of the servicepeople listed in the very small type have disagreed and asked Frazier to remove their kins' name. When he refused, they turned to their federal and state lawmakers, leading to new laws in Louisiana and Oklahoma, two bills in Congress, legislation in Texas and, now, Arizona.
This has been an issue for well over a year. This items appeared on an Oklahoma news site about 10 months ago:
Mom Fights to Get Dead Soldier Son's Name Off Anti-War T-Shirts
Friday, July 21, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY — A woman whose son died while serving in the Marines in Iraq is fighting to keep his name off anti-war T-shirts.
Judy Vincent, a Bokoshe resident who lost her son, Cpl. Scott M. Vincent, more than two years ago learned last year that the shirt listing the names of about 1,700 soldiers killed in Iraq, was being sold by an Arizona man over the Internet. The front of the shirt reads "Bush Lied" and the back reads "They Died."
She was successful in winning passage of Oklahoma legislation that makes using a soldier's name or likeness for advertising purposes without consent a misdemeanor. The law goes into effect this November.
The shirt vendor, who identifies himself on his Web site as Dan Frazier, recently issued an open letter to family members who contacted him to protest the use of their loved ones' names on the shirt.
While praising the bravery and sacrifices of the soldiers, and insisting he was not trying to degrade their service, he refused to stop selling the merchandise "no matter how many requests I receive."
"Every name matters, and will be retained to help underscore the horrific loss of life that has been caused by President Bush's rush to war under false pretenses," the letter states.
The Freepers are upset about the shirts and, as a bonus, I just found out that I've been banned from Free Republic again.
Family members of several of the servicepeople listed in the very small type have disagreed and asked Frazier to remove their kins' name. When he refused, they turned to their federal and state lawmakers, leading to new laws in Louisiana and Oklahoma, two bills in Congress, legislation in Texas and, now, Arizona.
This has been an issue for well over a year. This items appeared on an Oklahoma news site about 10 months ago:
Mom Fights to Get Dead Soldier Son's Name Off Anti-War T-Shirts
Friday, July 21, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY — A woman whose son died while serving in the Marines in Iraq is fighting to keep his name off anti-war T-shirts.
Judy Vincent, a Bokoshe resident who lost her son, Cpl. Scott M. Vincent, more than two years ago learned last year that the shirt listing the names of about 1,700 soldiers killed in Iraq, was being sold by an Arizona man over the Internet. The front of the shirt reads "Bush Lied" and the back reads "They Died."
She was successful in winning passage of Oklahoma legislation that makes using a soldier's name or likeness for advertising purposes without consent a misdemeanor. The law goes into effect this November.
The shirt vendor, who identifies himself on his Web site as Dan Frazier, recently issued an open letter to family members who contacted him to protest the use of their loved ones' names on the shirt.
While praising the bravery and sacrifices of the soldiers, and insisting he was not trying to degrade their service, he refused to stop selling the merchandise "no matter how many requests I receive."
"Every name matters, and will be retained to help underscore the horrific loss of life that has been caused by President Bush's rush to war under false pretenses," the letter states.
The Freepers are upset about the shirts and, as a bonus, I just found out that I've been banned from Free Republic again.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment