Missouri Street Preacher Arrested for Violating Noise Ordinance
- Updated Jan 11, 2017
A new Springfield, Missouri ordinance restricts the volume at which street preachers can proclaim their message.
According to SRNNews.com, Springfield city officials have approved a noise ordinance which restricts the volume at which people can speak in public locations.
This ordinance was passed after a street preacher named Aaron Brummitt was arrested and accused of preaching sermons too loudly in the downtown area.
Although officials say that the new ordinance will not restrict freedom of speech, but only the volume at which people may proclaim their message, others disagree.
Dee Wampler, an attorney for Brummitt, has accused city officials of “messing with religious speech.”
Councilwoman Kristi Fulnecky voiced similar concerns, stating that the ordinance could “target religious speech and the First Amendment.”
Brummitt has had run-ins with law enforcement since 2013 when he was accused of being too loud in public places. He agreed to comply with volume restrictions, but complaints against him have reportedly continued.
What do you think? Should there be restrictions on how loud street preachers and others can be when proclaiming their messages?
Publication date: January 11, 2017
