Ban All Petitions -- Or Take Sides, And Risk Customers?

Although Gov. Charlie Crist earlier vetoed one bill that would have cracked down on citizen petitions, he also has chosen to sign Senate Bill 1920, which allows supermarkets, big stores and other "quasi-public" places to keep citizen petition groups off their property. Several citizen groups had asked him for a veto. I explored the issue in a column earlier this year.

"While I am sympathetic to the concerns of political groups who seek to advocate their positions in places where citizens gather," the governor wrote in his message approving the bill, "the solution to that problem cannot be to force all grocers, shopkeepers, and restaurateurs to acquiesce to potentially disruptive activity at their commercial establishments." Here's a copy of his letter: [Download sb_1920_sign_ltr.pdf]

So the retailers win this one. In a way, though, I wonder if this puts them under the ancient Chinese curse of getting what they wish for. If they now choose to allow some petitions and disallow others, it puts them into the side business of taking sides on political issues -- a bad idea if you are selling groceries, seems to me. They might think it easiest to ban ALL petitions, but I imagine sooner or later they will find one they like, and then they'll look inconsistent if they allow it.

Comments

[Ron]

I'm glad to see the Governor sign this bill. I am tired of the constant government intrusion into areas that should be decided by the business owner. This is why I was against the anti-smoking bill, even though I don't smoke. If the business doesn't want these people in front of their store, harassing their customers, then they don't belong there.