FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT INFO:
Dr. Ken Larsen
801-533-8658
856 East 100 South #2
Salt Lake City, Utah 84102


 

GOT CONSTITUTION?
"Yes," says Dr. Ken Larsen, "You can fight City Hall and win!"

 

Salt Lake City UT, Wednesday September 12, 2007. Dr. Larsen waited patiently for several hours as Judge Jeanne M. Robison heard arguments for other cases. In Larsen's hand was the argument for his case. The keystone of his argument was a copy of the Utah State Constitution. Marked and ready to quote was Article I, Section 23, forbidding any law granting special privilege or immunity. Larsen's defense was that he believed the Salt Lake City ordinance against smoking tobacco at the Liberty Park Drum Circle violated this section on both racial and religious lines.

When Larsen's was called up to presented his defense, the City said they were not yet prepared to debate the Constitutionality of this ordinance. When asked if they knew the case was scheduled for this day, they answered in the affirmative and suggested a dismissal.

Dr. Larsen objected. "I did not want to walk away from this fight", explains Larsen, "and was prepared to take it appeal it to the highest courts". Judge Robison said she understood his plight, but dismissed the case. Larsen left the Salt Lake City Justice Court victoriously, but the victory was bitter-sweet. "I would have preferred to have this issue examined by a higher authority and to have more public exposure," He said. Larsen feels that the fact the City was unprepared to discuss or debate the Constitutional validity of their ordinance means that Americans and their government has lost their fundamental understanding of what it is to be American. "If we had been allowed to argue the Constitutionality of this ordinance," continued Larsen, "we may have been able to end the ordinance as well as enlighten people about their constitutional heritage,"

Later, Larsen speculated that the City had read his reports and realized this law was constitutionally flawed on several counts. Larsen further speculated that there would be no more citations at the Drum Circle for smoking tobacco, and added that he would be available to assist any victims of this unconstitutional law.