FUCK THE LA MARQUE FIRE DEPARTMENT

[defrog]

ITEM [via Don’t Tase Me, Bro!]: A 28-year-old single mother in La Marque, TX is arrested and handcuffed for saying “fuck” in a Wal-mart.

Kathryn "Kristi" Fridge was trying to get batteries ahead of Tropical Storm Edouard. When she found they were out, she said to her mom, “They're all fucking gone.”

Whereupon she was arrested. By a fire marshal. She was charged with disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor.

Fuck.

No, really.

Granted, a Class C misdemeanor is just a fine, but that’s hardly the point. We’re not talking about someone cursing out a cashier at the top of their lungs and making a big scene. We’re talking about a passing comment directed at someone who wasn’t offended by it. I don’t know how loud she might have said it. I don’t care. The point is that Someone In Authority decided that Fridge must be Punished for speaking language he disapproved of, regardless of the context. There’s something horribly wrong with this mentality.

But of course, the fire marshal is being hailed as a hero for dealing with such a dangerous criminal ... at least to hear his boss tell it:

[La Marque Fire Chief Todd] Zacherl said he has received about 15 phone calls from people reacting to the incident. Several accused the assistant fire marshal of abusing his power, but most calls have been positive, Zacherl said.

"The rest [of the phone calls] are, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you,' " Zacherl said.

Yes. Thank you for saving us from the evil woman and her Evil Magic Spell Words. Because if we allow people to curse in Wal-marts, the terrorists win.

Fuck.

The end of words,

This is dF

Comments

[popfiend.livejournal.com]

May I link?

A.....fire marshall?

[garbagecanmusic.livejournal.com]

You can be arrested by a Fire Marshall? Really? I need to look this up because if a Fire Marshall puts his hands on me I knock some fucking heads around.

Wait...does that mean they can taser people too?

Re: A.....fire marshall?

[def-fr0g-42.livejournal.com]

It probably depends on the fire marshal or yr jurisdiction. It might be some adjacent deputy function or something. Still, I'd have had the same reaction as Fridge: "Hey, yr not even a cop!" I'd also probably demand to see some kind of proof that he really did have that kind of authority.

And haven't you heard? Anyone can taser anyone. Just get yrself a taser and start zapping.

[garbagecanmusic.livejournal.com]

(I hit the wrong reply button....sorry...)

[popfiend.livejournal.com]

S'okay.

[def-fr0g-42.livejournal.com]

You may link at any time and at yr leisure. :)