T-shirt maker resists efforts that target his free speech

[azmouse]

This is a column by EJ Montini. Thom Hartman was talking about him this morning on his radio show. EJ is one of the best columnists around.



http://www.azcentral.com/news/columns/articles/0626montini0626.htm



A few years back, after knocking around at jobs that included everything from newspaper writer to bus driver, Frazier, who lives in Flagstaff, started an Internet business selling bumper stickers.

"My wife said that I had a knack for puns, and this was a way to put it to good use," he said.

The business is called carryabigsticker.com and has allowed Frazier to put his political views before the public and still earn a living.

A few years back, he produced a sticker that had on it the names of the then-500 members of the military who had been killed in the Iraq war.

Emblazoned above their names was the phrase, "Bush lied."

"We sold a couple hundred of them, and no one complained at all," Frazier said. "Then we decided to do the T-shirt because there got to be too many names and we couldn't fit them all on a bumper sticker."

***

Frazier said he will fight any attempt to prevent him from selling the T-shirts.

"I prefer it didn't come to that," he said. "But I'll do it. People say that the soldiers in Iraq are fighting and dying to protect our way of life. Our Constitution. Well, free speech is a part of that.

"We should not be in the business of trying to shut someone up because some of us don't like what he's saying."

[MADem]

1. I dunno if these laws in AZ and OK will stand--these dead are public figures

After all, the PENTAGON releases the names, they're published in newspapers and on line:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0626montini0626.html

The new Arizona law makes it illegal to use soldiers' names in products as well as advertising for products unless the manufacturer has the permission of the soldier or a representative.

Doing so was already illegal in some instances. It may or may not be true with a block of hard-to-read type serving as a backdrop. Particularly when there are exceptions in the law for news accounts and for what is described as "art."

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Does he do "Bong hits 4 Jesus" T-shirts?

I think those would sell. :)