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Coast police officers have heard scofflaws hundreds of times

An editorial last Sunday asked: Are police officers deaf to violations of noise ordinances?

The answer, according to Gulfport Police Chief Wayne Payne, is an emphatic "no."

Payne said his officers issued 489 citations last year to persons violating Gulfport's ordinance that prohibits the playing or operating of "any sound equipment in such a manner, or with such volume as to disturb the peace, quiet, comfort, or repose of persons in any dwelling, apartment, hotel, or other type of residence."

And Gulfport police have issued 315 similar citations so far this year. Indeed, on April 18 the chief of police issued one himself to a motorist blasting his way down U.S. 49.

Biloxi Police Chief Tommy Moffett reports that his officers are just as conscientious about enforcing that city's prohibition of "any loud noise" that "disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others."

Why then are Coast residents so overexposed to overly loud noise from passing or parked vehicles?

One possibility is that residents have not taken it upon themselves to be part of the solution.

Residents who fail to call the police or who refuse to follow through with the prosecution of someone who "disturbs, injures or endangers" their "comfort, repose, health, peace or safety" themselves become part of the problem by permitting the problem to persist.

As Payne points out, his officers cannot be everywhere and need the public's assistance in locating such scofflaws - and the public's support in prosecuting them.

Those points could and should have been made last Sunday. We appreciate the opportunity to make them now.

Many use free speech

to attack free speech

Having just celebrated the 225th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it is depressing to find that an alarming percentage of Americans are willing to declare that they prefer less independence.

Of 1,102 adults across the nation recently surveyed by the New York-based First Amendment Center:

* 46% think the press in America has "too much freedom to do what it wants," while only 36% think there is "too much government censorship."

* 71% think it is somewhat or very important for the government "to hold the media in check."

* 39% agree with the statement that "the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees."

* 64% disagreed that "people should be allowed to say things in public that might be offensive to racial groups" - and 36% said there should be laws against such speech.

How odd that so many Americans use their freedom of speech to denounce that self-same freedom for others.

Commenting on the findings, Steve Dasbach, the national director of the Libertarian Party, said, "If this survey is accurate, then the First Amendment is in intensive care and may be dying - not of simple indifference, but

because of criminal negligence by the American people.

"Americans don't seem to understand that free speech is not something you can share with the government. Either the people have free speech - and are willing to fervently defend it against all encroachments - or else politicians have the power to control what we hear, see and read. There is no middle ground."

As for Harrison County . . .

At least the residents of the Coast's largest cities have noise ordinances on the books that they can use to quieten their streets and neighborhoods.

Residents of the unincorporated areas of Harrison County are not so fortunate.

At least one man said last week he plans to go to the Harrison County Board of Supervisors and ask that they provide their "rural" constituents with the same protection that their "urban" neighbors enjoy.

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