harm who threaten damage to property or injury to persons. Another offense occurs when a .
police officer or other public servant orders an individual or group to disperse, and that .
individual or group refuses. A serious offense against the public order has been committed when .
an individual or group uses abusive language in public areas, creates risk of assault, .
intentionally disrupts any lawful assembly or meeting of persons without legal authority, .
or obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic without authorization. An even more serious offense is .
committed when an individual or group causes disruption in schools or school activities and .
when they enter into or remain inside any school building or classroom without proper .
procedures being followed (Chapter 10.08 Offenses Against Public Order). Perhaps a lesser .
offense to public order is littering, an offense performed when an individual willfully throws .
objects upon public highways, streets, or roads from his or her moving vehicle. "Vagrancy" is .
also considered an offense to the public order, but we, as citizens and taxpayers, need to assist .
those who are in need (Crimes Against Public Order & Morals). .
By now, one realizes that there are some limitations of an individual's rights for the benefit .
of public order. Being a part of the public order, taxpayers sponsor education on First Amendment .
freedoms. It is the individual's own responsibility to learn about his or her freedoms that are listed .
in this amendment. Lack of education and understanding of an individual's right reduces those .
rights and freedom. Currently, many passed laws in the state legislatures, or in Congress, reduce .
these freedoms and allow an increase in the government's ruling of individuals" lives (Finding .
Common Ground). .
Page 3.
In order to protect individual rights, some states, such as California, Utah, and Georgia, .
have educational programs to teach rights, responsibilities, and respect.