NAC Action Alert
MISSOURI House Bill 1577
May 8, 2002
Click here for more information on Missouri House Bill 1577.
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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT
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http://www.naturistsociety.com/NAC/
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DATE : May 8, 2002
SUBJECT: Missouri House Bill 1577
TO : All naturists in Missouri
Dear Missouri Naturist,
The Naturist Action Committee has been closely monitoring the 2002 Missouri legislature on behalf of
naturists. We have recently identified an extremely threatening situation, and NAC is asking for your help in meeting the challenge.
THE PROBLEM
Freshman Rep. Rick Johnson (D-Jefferson City) has
introduced a rider to a totally unrelated bill that would greatly increase the scope of the state's law regulating nudity, including skinny-dipping and nude sunbathing with friends at your favorite isolated stream or other
remote location.
Section 566.093 of the Missouri statutes presently says, "A person commits the crime of sexual misconduct in the second degree if he [e]xposes his genitals under circumstances in which he knows
that his conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm."
If you and your friends have taken care to assure that your skinny-dipping or nude hiking is in a spot where it is not likely to cause affront or alarm, you're
not in technical violation of the present law. And because it can reasonably be assumed that those who come to a nudist resort will not be affronted or alarmed by the nudity of others, those resorts are protected, too.
However, appended to the existing law, Rep. Johnson has added: "... or while being in a public place, other than a restroom or shower room, in the presence of another person or persons."
Naturism on public
lands in Missouri is clearly and directly at risk. And depending upon the interpretation of
"public place" (and there have certainly been differing legal opinions on the term), nudist parks are suddenly threatened, too.
A LITTLE HISTORY
House Bill 1577 was a run-of the-mill piece
of legislation when it was introduced. It proposed penalties for anyone who improperly tampered with prescription drugs. Although that may be of interest to you, nothing about the bill affected the naturist aspect of your life.
Like so many other measures that pass through the legislature virtually unnoticed, HB 1577 was given a hearing. Predictably, no one testified against it.
Then, in a move that's not uncommon in the Missouri legislature,
HB 1577 was combined with five other unobtrusive but unrelated bills, and a single committee substitute was put together for the entire lot. The result was a rather lengthy but benign hodgepodge that contains a variety of
proposed new laws that most Missouri lawmakers would have no trouble supporting.
It was on the back of this well oiled and likely-to-pass vehicle that Rep. Johnson suddenly attached his potent anti-nudity language.
Johnson made his move quietly without advance warning, and while the action is legal, it thumbs its nose at naturists and other citizens whose input it bypasses. Johnson's last minute amendment was approved without debate by
his colleagues on the floor of the House of Representatives, and that action has completely removed the opportunity for any public comment in a House committee. The bill has been advanced to the Missouri Senate.
WHAT IS NAC DOING?
The Naturist Action Committee learned of this dangerous situation and immediately hired an experienced professional legislative lobbyist. Working with our lobbyist, NAC quickly developed a plan that takes
advantage of the organization's grass roots strength among naturists in the state. NAC and its lobbyist are already working with legislators in the hallways and corridors of the State Capitol. We intend to see that the
anti-nudity language is removed from the conglomerate bill!
WHAT CAN I DO?
NAC cannot do this alone. We need the help of Missouri naturists to be successful in amending this proposed state law.
House Bill 1577, with its anti-nudity rider, has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee assignment is a favorable one and reflects some of the influence we've already exerted. Now NAC needs for you
to contact the seven members of the Judiciary Committee.
[Please note: Contacts from Missouri residents are
extremely valuable. Contacts from those who live
outside Missouri are not likely to help in this
instance, and they may do some harm. NAC appreciates
the interest of all naturists in this matter but
asks naturists living outside of Missouri NOT to
write or call at this time.]
WRITING OR FAXING
Missouri residents: Write or fax your comments individually to each of the committee members. Mailing addresses and fax numbers are listed
later in this Action Alert. Here are some helpful hints:
[1] Always give your name and address. Sign your letter. Unsigned letters are generally ignored.
[2]
If you are a constituent of the senator to whom you are writing, say so prominently.
[3] Be concise and polite. Rambling letters score no points. Insulting letters hurt us.
[4]
Send a separate letter or fax addressed to each senator on the committee. Staff will not make copies or distribute letters.
[5]
Clearly identify HOUSE BILL 1577 as the legislation with which you are concerned.
[6]
Say specifically that you oppose the anti-nudity language that was added as an afterthought on the House floor. Ideas that are to become Missouri law should be given a proper chance for citizen input and should NOT be attached as a rider to an unrelated bill after the hearing process has been completed.
[7]
Ask specifically that the anti-nudity rider be stricken from the bill. This is the portion on page 49 of the printed bill, affecting subsection (1) of section 566.093 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.
TELEPHONING
Missouri residents: You may choose to make your comments by telephone to each of the members of the committee. Their phone numbers are listed later in this Action Alert. Even if you've already written or
faxed your remarks, a phone call is an effective way to follow up. Here are some helpful hints:
[1]
Ask for the senator by name, but be prepared to speak to an aide. Senators are seldom available to take phone calls. The aide is trained to relate your concerns to the senator.
[2]
Always give your name and address. Anonymous calls are ignored.
If you are a constituent of the senator you are calling, say so prominently.
[3]
Be brief and polite. Expressing your deep concern can be beneficial. Insults and snide remarks will do us no good.
[4] Clearly identify HOUSE BILL 1577 as the legislation with which you are concerned.
[5] Say specifically that you oppose the anti-nudity language that was added as an afterthought on the House floor.
[6]
Ask specifically that the anti-nudity rider be stricken from the bill. This is the portion on page 49 of the printed bill, affecting subsection (1) of section 566.093 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.
CONTACTS BY E-MAIL
As a group, Missouri senators have made it difficult to contact them by e-mail. You can leave electronic messages for individual senators through the Senate web page, but no direct e-mail addresses exist. NAC
recommends letters, faxes and phone calls. If you feel you absolutely must try leaving an electronic message, set your Internet browser to the following URL and follow the instructions there.
http://www.senate.state.mo.us/email/mail_request.htm
Committee members Sen. Caskey and Sen. Schneider have chosen not to receive e-mail or electronic messages at all.
WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT?
NAC asks that
you contact all seven members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Sen. David Klarich (R-Ballwin, 26th dist.) Committee Chair
State Capitol Building, Room 331
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Phone:(573) 751-1073 Fax:(573) 526-2609
Office Staff: Patty Waldron
__
Sen. Sarah Steelman (R-Rolla, 16th dist.) Committee Vice Chair
State Capitol Building, Room 433
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Phone:(573) 751-4068 Fax:(573) 751-2745
Office Staff: Jane Rydlund
__
Sen. Mike Gibbons
(R-St. Louis, 15th dist.)
State Capitol Building, Room 226
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Phone:(573) 751-2853 Fax:(573) 751-2745
Office Staff: Kathleen Haslag, Neal English
__
Sen. Anita Yeckel (R-St.Louis, 1st dist.)
State Capitol Building, Room 431
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Phone:(573) 751-2887 Fax:(573) 751-2745
Office Staff: Mary Cottom, Jenifer Zeigler
__
Sen. Harold Caskey (D-Butler, 31st dist.)
State Capitol Building, Room 320
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Phone:(573) 751-4116 Fax:(573) 751-2745
Office Staff: Ronda Griggs, Kim Green
__
Sen. John Schneider (D-Florissant, 14th dist.)
State Capitol Building, Room 422
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Phone:(573) 751-4106 Fax:(573) 751-2745
Office Staff: Donna Mueller, Travis Hume
__
Sen. Harry Wiggins
(D-Kansas City, 10th dist.)
State Capitol Building, Room 423
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Phone:(573) 751-2788 Fax: (573) 751-2745
Office Staff: Betty Lepper, Fred Dreiling
MORE INFORMATION
Additional information about House Bill 1577 and the anti-nudity rider attached to it is available on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee:
www.naturistsociety.com/NAC
Select ALERTS,ADVISORIES & UPDATES and then "Current Alerts" to find NAC's Missouri Action Alert and additional information, including the complete text of
the substitute legislation.
PLEASE HELP NAC HELP NATURISTS IN MISSOURI
The Naturist Action Committee exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. NAC is a volunteer
nonprofit organization that relies on the grass roots participation of naturists who understand that individuals working together can make a difference.
NAC has no membership roster on which to assess dues, and it relies
completely on voluntary contributions from concerned and involved naturists like you. Monitoring lawmakers and retaining professional legislative lobbyists is expensive, but NAC knows that it's necessary for the protection of
our freedoms.
Won't you take a moment to help NAC by sending a generous donation? You may send your donation to the address below, or you may call (920) 426-5009 to donate by phone using your Mastercard or Visa.
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Thank you for choosing to make a difference!
Naturally,
Nicky Hoffman
Board Member
Naturist Action Committee
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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - <ctnudists@aol.com>
Board Member Nicky Hoffman - <nickyh@naturistsociety.com>
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - <naturist@sunclad.com>
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