Seniors afraid of buskers.

This hate filled "I've got mine, now get out of my way" mentality is not a pleasant side of the Campbell River community. Stereotyping buskers as being unemployed, homeless, beggars, and dangerous ("regardless of how polite they appear") flies in the face of free enterprise and to ban them contravenes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and the presumption of innocence. Street performing is protected by these rights, rights that many of our pensioners fought for and rights that are appreciated. Perhaps it will ease the fears of those who worry about their personal space or personal safety that the common law ensures that buskers or others should not impede pedestrian traffic flow, block or otherwise obstruct entrances or exits or do other things that endanger the public. It is common law that any disturbing or noisy behaviors may not be conducted after certain hours in the night. It is common law that "performing blue" (i.e. using adult material that is explicit or vulgar or obscene remarks or gestures) is generally prohibited. It is common law that unless invited to do so, busking for a captive audience where people cannot move away is generally not acceptable. If buskers are indeed panhandlers, then this applies to the likes of George Burns, Bob Hope, Simon and Garfunkel, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, even Benjamin Franklin. Give our talented artists in Campbell River the opportunity to be heard, and trust that the policies and regulations the city is considering imposing will make this a win win situation for everyone.