NH Won’t Ban Women From Baring Their Breasts

I guess the NH House did decide there were more important things to discuss after all.

Wednesday, The New Hampshire House said nay to proposed legislation that would make it a crime for women to expose their breasts or nipples in public.

The 'Free the Nipple' campaign is regarded as the starting point for this legislation that, if passed, would have a made it a misdemeanor for women to show their breasts, (and here's my favorite phrase), "with reckless disregard" for whether it would offend someone.

Some supporters of the bill were afraid that by allowing women to go topless at the beach could lead them to go topless anywhere they choose. They used the term 'rampant nudity'. Little league games and local libraries were destinations that were brought up.

Opponents said such a ban violates the constitution by creating different standards for men and women.

According to the Associated Press:

In its report recommending the bill's rejection, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety said it heard testimony from many who warned that, due to likely acts of civil disobedience, the state would face expensive court fees if the bill became law. The New Hampshire chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union testified that violation of such a law could be considered protected political speech, indicating the state would be unsuccessful in litigation.

Perhaps my favorite line of the decision is this.. "In a state with an average temperature of only 46 degrees, the risk of rampant nudity seems rather low."

The mind tends to wander when thinking about rampant nudity. But here's to another victory against the meddling of government in the 'Live Free or Die" state.