uh gee... these things you mention happen in neighborhoods across Austin, or at least in certain neighborhoods, and baseball caps, hoodies and sun glasses are NOT banned from the streets.
I agree. The rule is stupid. Perhaps passed in a panic over the isolated incident at the Univ of Texas PLC... in which case an a visibly *armed* shooter ran into the library... wearing a black outfit and ski mask along with the automatic weapon. So I think the Austin city libraries should ave a sign banning weapons. :) And I could go for one that bans ski masks that completely cover the face.
But baseball caps? Crazy. It's unamerican in many ways to ban baseball caps from a library. Thank goodness I was out of town recently and free to wear my baseball cap in multiple libraries... and not be treated like a criminal.
ps. how can I get in touch with you; I'd really like to know if this library rule is Constitutional. Although some states do have anti-mask laws, Texas apparently doesn't; and the various state rules are written differently;
Ditto.
Ironic thing is that I had just been wearing my baseball cap at my bank, where I had to wait in line about 10 minutes. Bank employees apologized to us for having to wait so long, but no bank employee asked me to remove my baseball cap. (Years ago the same bank was in an uproar because I took two photos in it while with my kids. I was documenting a day out with my kids; I stopped taking photos as soon as they asked me to.)
So after waiting in line and being at the bank counter with my baseball cap on, I go to the library, barely noticed some type-written paper stuck to the inside door saying something about hoodies and sunglasses (neither of which I generally wear)...I didn't give the sign much attention because I never dreamt that what it might have been saying was that I could not wear my baseball cap in the library.
It did.
A nice librarian came over while I was working on the computer - I had been there already half an hour - and said "we have a rule in this library that if you want to wear a baseball cap you have to wear it backwards"). Connecting her request to the type-written sign I had barely noticed, I complied immediately.
But then en minutes before the library closed I walked around a bit (I went to the men's room and then left, as the library was closing), anyway I saw two or three other guys with baseball caps on backwards. None of them looked like suspicious characters to me. Anyway, it was later, after I left the library (which I already have an unspoken "beef" with because they have special up-close reserved parking spots for hybrid cars, which I think discriminates based on wealth), I later thought about the baseball cap incident and said, "This has got to be a violation of freedom of speech." And the idea may not have come into my mind so forcefully had I not been volunteering to teach a U.S. Citizenship class this semester.
Anyway, several states, and also D.C., have anti-mask laws, but they differ in wording and the wearer's intentions. I haven't checked into municipal laws.
This is definitely a hat, er, hot issue, especially with the movement of some nations to ban face coverings.
But to me, a baseball cap only "OBSCURES" one's face when one is looking down, say when one is reading a book!
If you are near Austin and think this law violates first amendment rights, leave a comment, or contact me.
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Re: Re: WTF ...
uh gee... these things you mention happen in neighborhoods across Austin, or at least in certain neighborhoods, and baseball caps, hoodies and sun glasses are NOT banned from the streets.
Re: "For the Safety of Our Customers and Staff"-- We keep the bookshelves and ceiling from falling on you
I agree. The rule is stupid. Perhaps passed in a panic over the isolated incident at the Univ of Texas PLC... in which case an a visibly *armed* shooter ran into the library... wearing a black outfit and ski mask along with the automatic weapon. So I think the Austin city libraries should ave a sign banning weapons. :) And I could go for one that bans ski masks that completely cover the face.
But baseball caps? Crazy. It's unamerican in many ways to ban baseball caps from a library. Thank goodness I was out of town recently and free to wear my baseball cap in multiple libraries... and not be treated like a criminal.
Re: Re: Re:
Yes I live in the Austin environs and think this rule is silly and should be challenged. Or overturned.
Re: so it happened to me...
ps. how can I get in touch with you; I'd really like to know if this library rule is Constitutional. Although some states do have anti-mask laws, Texas apparently doesn't; and the various state rules are written differently;
http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/mcs/masktcodes.html
Re: Re:
are you in/near Austin? How can I get hold of you? I seriously want to challenge the Austin Public Library's "rule."
Although some states do have "anti-mask" laws that mention hoodies -- none mention baseball caps specifically:
http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/mcs/maskcodes.html
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hats
I've never seen anyone manage to conceal themselves with a baseball cap.
totally agree with you - I was "caught" wearing a baseball cap in an austin library; I'm probably going to call the ACLU - I'm not joking.
Re: so it happened to me...
Ditto.
Ironic thing is that I had just been wearing my baseball cap at my bank, where I had to wait in line about 10 minutes. Bank employees apologized to us for having to wait so long, but no bank employee asked me to remove my baseball cap. (Years ago the same bank was in an uproar because I took two photos in it while with my kids. I was documenting a day out with my kids; I stopped taking photos as soon as they asked me to.)
So after waiting in line and being at the bank counter with my baseball cap on, I go to the library, barely noticed some type-written paper stuck to the inside door saying something about hoodies and sunglasses (neither of which I generally wear)...I didn't give the sign much attention because I never dreamt that what it might have been saying was that I could not wear my baseball cap in the library.
It did.
A nice librarian came over while I was working on the computer - I had been there already half an hour - and said "we have a rule in this library that if you want to wear a baseball cap you have to wear it backwards"). Connecting her request to the type-written sign I had barely noticed, I complied immediately.
But then en minutes before the library closed I walked around a bit (I went to the men's room and then left, as the library was closing), anyway I saw two or three other guys with baseball caps on backwards. None of them looked like suspicious characters to me. Anyway, it was later, after I left the library (which I already have an unspoken "beef" with because they have special up-close reserved parking spots for hybrid cars, which I think discriminates based on wealth), I later thought about the baseball cap incident and said, "This has got to be a violation of freedom of speech." And the idea may not have come into my mind so forcefully had I not been volunteering to teach a U.S. Citizenship class this semester.
Anyway, several states, and also D.C., have anti-mask laws, but they differ in wording and the wearer's intentions. I haven't checked into municipal laws.
This is definitely a hat, er, hot issue, especially with the movement of some nations to ban face coverings.
But to me, a baseball cap only "OBSCURES" one's face when one is looking down, say when one is reading a book!
If you are near Austin and think this law violates first amendment rights, leave a comment, or contact me.