Letter: Was mass gathering ordinance understood? (Printed Nov. 23, 2007)
Editor:
I don’t believe Kennebunkport voters fully understood Question 4 on the Nov. 6 election ballot. The town attorney may not have either. The town attorney said Question 4 - Amendment to the Special Events and Mass Gathering Ordinance “had not received a full legal review.”
Maine Civil Liberties Union (MCLU) Executive Director, Shannon Bellows, said the Question 4 amendment change “violates our First Amendment right to freedom of assembly.” The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America (for those of you who haven’t got it on the tip of your tongue) reads- “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The town attorney stated in a recent newspaper article that there were enough issues of constitutional concern for the town to refrain from implementing the ordinance changes. I hope the Selectmen choose to not bring these changes back again for a vote. MCLU’s Shannon Bellows stated in a recent newspaper article that the ordinance changes should be dropped.
This happened the same week the Flag Art exhibit at the Kennebunk FREE Library was also addressing constitutional issues. Interesting week in the Kennebunks for our First Amendment rights. Our rights seemed to have prevailed...for now!
Annie Sullivan
Kennebunkport
I don’t believe Kennebunkport voters fully understood Question 4 on the Nov. 6 election ballot. The town attorney may not have either. The town attorney said Question 4 - Amendment to the Special Events and Mass Gathering Ordinance “had not received a full legal review.”
Maine Civil Liberties Union (MCLU) Executive Director, Shannon Bellows, said the Question 4 amendment change “violates our First Amendment right to freedom of assembly.” The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America (for those of you who haven’t got it on the tip of your tongue) reads- “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The town attorney stated in a recent newspaper article that there were enough issues of constitutional concern for the town to refrain from implementing the ordinance changes. I hope the Selectmen choose to not bring these changes back again for a vote. MCLU’s Shannon Bellows stated in a recent newspaper article that the ordinance changes should be dropped.
This happened the same week the Flag Art exhibit at the Kennebunk FREE Library was also addressing constitutional issues. Interesting week in the Kennebunks for our First Amendment rights. Our rights seemed to have prevailed...for now!
Annie Sullivan
Kennebunkport
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