Hoodies May Soon Be Illegal In Oklahoma, Residents Concerned

Oklahoma residents are concerned about a proposed bill that could make wearing hoodies in public a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and up to a year in prison. Laws have existed in the state that specifically forbid wearing head coverings while committing crimes since the 1920’s and where first enacted in an effort to curb violent acts by the Ku Klux Klan. The new law however, would apply to residents whether they were involved in criminal activity or not.

The bill would also apply to other head or facial coverings as well, as it would forbid an individual to conceal “his or her identity in a public place by means of a robe, mask, or other disguise.” The bill’s language does attempt to make reasonable exceptions and declares that the law would not apply to garments worn for the following purposes:

– Religious ceremonies

– Protection from the weather or elements

– Safety purposes

– Medical purposes

– Parade costuming

– Halloween or masquerade costumes

– “minstrel troupes”

– Circus costumes

– As part of a sporting group

– Mascot costuming

– As part of “other amusements or dramatic shows”

Still, many residents who spoke to local news station KFOR expressed their wariness over the bill. “I think this is a violation of an individual’s right to chose what they want to wear as long as it doesn’t violate the realm of public decency and moral values, and I think this could be very problematic,” Oklahoma City attorney James Siderias remarked.

Another resident, Tracy Wehagen, pointed out that it shouldn’t be anyone else’s business why someone chooses to wear a certain garment. “They might have personal issues for keeping them on; they might have a bad hair day or maybe they have cancer or they’re losing their hair. You just don’t know why,” she said.

Senator Don Barrington (R), who authored the bill, explained his reasoning as follows, “The intent of Senate Bill 13 is to make businesses and public places safer by ensuring that people cannot conceal their identities for the purpose of crime or harassment. …Similar language has been in Oklahoma statutes for decades and numerous other states have similar laws in place.” He reasoned, “Oklahoma businesses want state leaders to be responsive to their safety concerns, and this is one way we can provide protection.”

The bill also seems to come as a direct contrast to the point many protesters attempted to make after the tragic shooting death of unarmed Florida teenager, Trayvon Martin, in 2012. Citizens all around the country expressed their horror at the possibility that the teen may have been profiled as a criminal due to the hoodie he was wearing by donning hoodies themselves in droves. Protesters included everyone from members of the ‘million hoodie march,’ to NBA players, to members of Congress.

photo credit: Sam Cockman via photopin cc

Hoodies May Soon Be Illegal In Oklahoma, Residents Concerned