"Oh, eloquent profanity, it rolls right off my tongue" (Roll Um Easy, Little Feat, Linda Ronstadt)

This is one bill we would love to see live debate on:

HR 3687 IH, 108th CONGRESS, 1st Session

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, December 8, 2003

Mr. OSE (for himself and Mr. SMITH of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL (Introduced in House)

To amend section 1464 of title 18, United States Code, to provide for the punishment of certain profane broadcasts, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 1464 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by inserting `(a)' before `Whoever'; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

`(b) As used in this section, the term `profane', used with respect to language, includes the words `[ enumerates profane words] compound use (including hyphenated compounds) of such words and phrases with each other or with other words or phrases, and other grammatical forms of such words and phrases (including verb, adjective, gerund, participle, and infinitive forms).'.

Hopefully Atrios or someone who doesn't care about censor blocking software will print the actual words. If not, go here and type in "HR 3687.

One lawyer who read the bill speculates that it just a step toward re-instating blasphemy laws. He says "Profane" is a religious term and refers to blasphemy" and "The antonym to "profane" is "sacred."

Update: Atrios has the actual language up here.

Update: From Urban Legends, origin of the F* word