Baggin’ Saggin’ Barry

As I was reading CNN this morning, I came across an article that really frustrated me. The article was titled:

Flint Police Cracking Down On ‘Saggers

Police Cracking Down On Plummeting Waistlines

Basically, the police department in Flint, Mich. is going to start arresting people who wear their pants too low. Of all the things to worry about, let’s go around looking for teenagers who like to sag their pants… talk about stupid! Let’s not worry about crack dealers or robbers or rapists or anything that is actually threatening to the welfare of society. Now, we all know that the police did not come up with this one themselves – or at least I hope not. I can only guess that a group of parents (parents, again) got together and complained enough to force the local police to crack down on this fashion statement. Even more ridiculous is the reasoning behind the new law – “Experts and other cities have said the “bare your britches look” reflects laziness and encourages gang activities.”

For goodness sake, who cares how kids wear their clothes? It’s not like these kids’ pants have offensive sayings on them. I mean, maybe SOME kids who sag their pants happen to be lazy or rebellious, but not all. I know basketball players who like to sag their uniform pants, and plenty of celeb rappers sag them. First of all, wearing the pants below the butt is an expression of personal style or preference. Secondly, most teens grow out of this phase – they are only doing it because “everyone’s doing it” and it’s the “cool” thing to do.

What also frustrates me is that someone actually tried to explain the formation and encouragement of gangs by sagging pants. Did anyone ever think that maybe people who join gangs sag their pants after the fact?? Not to mention that this is the most absurd explanation of gang activity I’ve ever heard. It is true that in prison some gangs use the sagging of pants as a signal or to send a message, but I highly doubt that everyday teenagers are in contact with prison inmates getting the 411 on gang fashion. Kids do not walk down their school hallway, see someone sagging his (or her) pants, and then decide to join/form a gang. Formation and joining of gangs us far more complex than a simple fashion statement.

This new law is a complete waste of time and space. Offenders are actually going to be put into jail, as if the court system needs more prison over-crowding. In addition, arresting someone walking down the street because their pants are below the norm is not justified. The Flint community and police department are simply assuming that kids who wear their pants low are into unlawful activity – which is not sufficient evidence or reasoning to arrest someone!

All I have to say is thank goodness I do not live in Flint, Michigan. If the police saw me getting attacked and a kid wearing saggy pants, I would question whether my life would be saved! And if sagging pants is Flint’s biggest problem, then the people in that community need to get out into the real world – spend a night cruising the back alleys of LA. Maybe then they will wise up and focus their police efforts where it really counts.