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Whose Fault Is It Anyway?
There seems to have been a lot of media coverage over the past few weeks concerning issues that some may think are leading the community to deterioration. Stories about prostitution on the rise, massage parlors opening on every corner and the addition of adult themed stores coming to our area are just a few of the questionable activities that have been recently covered in the media. In fact, if you believe what we are being told, our county is becoming the proverbial “den of iniquity” that we have been told all of our lives to avoid. Obviously, as with any issue known to man, there are two sides to the story. All of these issues should boil down to two basic questions. Is the business venture legitimate and does the services that it provides fall into the confines of what is legal, as established by those governmental entities that have authority in the affected areas? If the answer to both questions is yes, then the business should probably be allowed to operate as any other business does. Does that mean that we should support this type business? That is up to the consumers.
As a county continues to grow, everyone will see more and more of these businesses that have questionable moral value attempt to set up shop in their neighborhoods. It is up to us as a community to decide how successful these businesses will be. Remember, it is very difficult to keep the doors of a business open if there are no customers. Despite the type of business, if they are successful, you can assume that they have a customer base. I read an article recently from someone who was responding to public outcry about a business of this type coming into a particular area. This person, who was in support of the business opening, stated that usually people are hypocritical. I found this statement interesting and for the most part true. Historically, people have always raised a ruckus when morally questionable businesses come to town. No one wants these types of businesses in their neighborhoods, whether it is a liquor store, adult video, massage parlor or any other non mainstream type of business. But, is their true concern about the type of businesses or is it just the fact that it is coming to their area? Is it hypocritical to protest the location of a business of this type near your home, but then actually do business with such store in a different part of town? For those who simply spot shop, in hopes that no open will recognize them, the convenience of a closer location will eventually be to tempting to resist and voila, suddenly you have a thriving business. Right in the old neighborhood! So, whose fault is it that the porn shop, or the massage parlor, or whatever it may be, is right down the street and across from a church, school, or your house and is thriving? Is it the business owner, or is it you?
If we, as a community, are going to stand up and be repulsed by such business ventures, then we must continue the protest when the newspapers are no longer interested in the stories. We do this by not becoming a customer, at any such location, and we attempt to work within the legal framework to avoid future businesses from wanting to come into the area in the first place.
We have known for a long time about the many interests that mankind may have. Again, if there is no demand, there will be no supply. This is a business principle that cannot be debated. If there is demand, our government officials must take swift action to dictate locations, strict rules and regulations as to how they do business, and then hold them accountable rather than doing a spot check every three months or so. It is obvious in most cases, based on Supreme Court rulings that we cannot deny business applications based on what some in the community may find offensive. We can, however, hold their feet to the fire to ensure that the majority of the community is not negatively affected simply to satisfy the desires of the minority. I have never been a proponent of legislating morals. I am not convinced that it is the place of government to police us, concerning the likes or dislikes that the community may have. It is however, not up to the government to ensure that these likes or dislikes, do not negatively affect the way of life or quality of life that was present before such businesses became a reality. This is done by very deliberate and careful planning. Not at the time that an application is made, but before the application was ever conceived. It cannot be stopped, but surely it can be controlled.
I continue to go back to the story where the public was refereed to as hypocritical. If these businesses in a county prosper, who do we fault? Do we fault the business owner, do we fault the government, or do we fault the person standing in line; just hoping that no one will recognize them? Can you hear me
now?
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Stan Hall is the Director of the Victim Witness
Program for the Gwinnett County District Attorney's
Office. He is also the host of the Gwinnett County
Communication Network's television show "Behind the
Badge."
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