JACKSONVILLE — A church has asked for a citywide ban on low-hanging pants and gold-capped teeth, saying they promote a thuggish image.
Changing the image of young people could help Jacksonville cut unemployment, racial profiling and a rising per-capita murder rate now the highest in the state, said Richard Burton, deacon of Epiphany Baptist Church.
The 250 member independent Baptist church approved the resolution last month.
“They were tired of seeing kids’ underwear,” said Burton, who serves on the NAACP’s national board.
Jacksonville city officials have yet to take up the measure, although Councilwoman Elaine Brown said she was willing to discuss it with church members.
Others were less encouraging.
“I think it’s unenforceable,” Councilman Daniel Davis told The Florida Times-Union for Sunday’s edition.
Duval County public schools have banned sagging pants and exposed underwear, but not removable gold or silver teeth caps.
Dentists say the caps can help breed tooth-rotting bacteria.
A proposal to ban exposed underwear died in the Florida Legislature this spring. Lawmakers in Louisiana and Virginia have also failed to ban exposed underwear.