Justice of the Peace Judy Green, a member of the Pulaski County Quorum Court, has placed a proposed resolution on the county governing body’s Tuesday agenda session encouraging all cities in the county to place a 180-day moratorium on “all concerts and performers that promote or incite violence.”

Green, a Democrat who represents a broad district including far east Little Rock and the southeastern portion of the county, says in the resolution:

Whereas, Pulaski County and its incorporated cities have witnessed an alarming rise in violent crimes, gang activity and shootings; and Whereas, concerts and performers who promote or incite violence through their music or messaging negatively impacts our county; and Whereas, the glorification of violent acts and promotion of criminal activity adversely effects our youth; and Whereas, the mass shooting that occurred on July 1, 2017 at a Little Rock nightclub is a horrifying display of violence.

The resolution concludes that the county should encourage a moratorium and encourage cities “to facilitate civil discourse among their residents, promote the engagement of youth in democratic institutions and reform policies and activities to engage all in positive actions of empowerment and improvement of community .”

Give her points for good intentions. Deduct points for not understanding prior restraint and the 1st Amendment in general. Plus, would football, wrestling and mixed martial arts not be among the entertainments that glorify violence? Plus, who’d be the concert monitor/decider?


The desire to do something is understandable. Doing something constructive is harder.

UPDATE: Attention to Green’s proposasl prompted a statement from her, delivered by the county communications office:


“In light of the recent mass shooting at Power Ultra Lounge and the considerable spike in violent crimes we have witnessed, I felt it was important to send a message that concerts and performers who promote or incite violence through their music or messaging is unacceptable. I understand that we can’t compel cities to enforce the moratorium, however something has to change. My hope is that this resolution will send a strong message to our municipal leaders and encourage them to enact tougher laws towards performers who incite violence through their messaging.”

I think criminal law related to “messaging” is difficult territory, too.

Mayor Mark Stodola of Little Rock, on the hot seat over city crime and already facing election opposition in 2018 with crime as a likely centerpiece, actually gets some points in his weekly message for espousing the longer view. After lauding a new multi-agency task force (established by the governor in a tacit rebuke of city law enforcement) and after talking of tougher parole enforcement and ABC enforcement, Stodola went on:

However, we can’t arrest our way out of the challenge. I want you to know that these efforts and our other efforts in the law enforcement arena are not going to alleviate the root causes of crime which are embedded in the issues of poverty, lack of education, lack of employable job skills, lack of a job and lack of adult role models to mentor our children— issues that every urban city in America is facing. As a city we have been working hard in all these areas. However, oftentimes all this hard work gets lost in the frantic moments of a tragedy.

Correct, though not nearly as effective in stirring voters as head-knocking cops and bonfires for rap music.