When the legislature reconvenes in Raleigh in May, lawmakers will once again be faced with pressure to modify state law to enable the City of Asheville to end the annual topless parade.
It is legal for women to bare their breasts in public in North Carolina, though other cities prohibit women from going topless.
Asheville City Council has said it can do nothing to stop the practice, and the annual topless rallies held at Pack Square, because of state law.
Chamber President Kit Cramer said Wednesday she doesn’t care who fixes the problem, as long as it gets done.
She has asked Republican Sen. Tom Apodaca, the chair of the powerful Rules Committee, to handle the matter. He represents part of Buncombe County.
“It is past time for it to have been dealt with, frankly,” Cramer said. “It is irritating that we have to address it at all, but apparently we do.”
Sen. Martin Nesbitt weighted in this way:
Sen. Martin Nesbitt, D-Asheville, said he wasn’t sure about the idea but would take a look at it.
“It’s poor taste but the problem is you can’t legislate against poor taste,” he said.
True, but you can legislate against public indecency — and that’s what this is.
Sad to say, there are women who think this is an appropriate way to behave in public.
