I think you should need a permit for amplification. Like a busker license. Maybe theirs gets held up a bit.

I just do not understand why people feel the need to force their opinions on others. Some of these people are there everyday don't they have jobs or families.
I was there sat. and there was a child spewing hatred from a bullhorn at the fountain. So sad to be so young and so full of hate the parents should be locked up for child abuse.

There actually is a noise ordinance on the books, the mayor's office, board of health, city solicitor and police department just elect not to enforce it because doing so would negatively impact the revenues of a certain downtown bar that has outdoor amplified music 4 days a week. This same bar also just so happens to pay the City rent each month for the building out of which it operates and the land on which it sits. Interestingly enough, it's not uncommon to see this same City Soliciter frequenting the establishment. Go figure.

Small town politics at its worst.

Sounds like Kimmy the inept may actually be "INEPT".

I don't understand what they are doing! I live in Salem, and have never heard of people using bullhorns. Someone please fill me in!!!

Setting aside the question of why a person would bring their bullhorn and pedestal, and force their opinion down others' ears... When the DNC was in Boston in '04 there was a "Free Speech Zone" set aside where I had the "pleasure" of listening to Fred Phelps and his clan from the Westboro Baptist Church. Why not set aside a distinct zone for these people too?

It sounds like Kimmy didn't do all the research before purchasing "her" condo. Perhaps if there were a smell ordinance in town "she" would be upset over a certain ethnic downtown restaurant making "her" condo smell like Garam Masala.

There are always more people recording what happens than actual preachers, is it that the main way these guys make money is through lawsuits. They push whatever limits they can to antagonize people and hope they get attacked so they can get money? That's my theory anyways.

If I believed in a magic sky fairy I'd probably try my damnedest to make other people believe in my magic sky fairy, so I wouldn't feel so stupid all the time for believing in a magic sky fairy.

Luckily, these people just seem like crazies, so they're having the opposite effect; they're driving people away from their magic sky fairy club. Overall, this results in a positive effect on society. I say, let them be.

I'm just as happy the LaRouchites (they of the Obama as Hitler poster) aren't downtown. When I see the bullhorn people--or the placard people--I just tell them I will report back on Hell. I'm an atheist. I will surely, surely find out what that's like!

These people have a right to say whatever they want short of making threats. Let them say their garbage. But the bullhorn is going to far. God gave you lungs, use them. Jesus did not need a bullhorn. We need to draw the line there. Whatever is needed to do so is fine by me. Should we start a Salem Lawsuit Pool to raise money to pay lawyers when these folks sue? I'll donate. Freedom of speech is different than freedom to harass people trying to enjoy the downtown or dine outdoors.

I absolutely agree, amplification (whether for tour guides or bullhorns) should require a permit-- on a year-round basis not just October. Amplified tours are only somewhat less obnoxious than the bullhorn crowd.

organize a massive attack of water balloons followed by a coating of high fructose corn syrup then covered with halloween corn and cotton candy and sent back to where they came from. trick or treat

It would be nice to see some sort of gay pride event take place right in front of the crazies trying to save us. Wasn't there talk of a "gay kiss in" over the Chick Fil A controversy? If I was a gay man, or at least had more gay friends I would try to get something like that going. Fight fire with fire, peacefully.

What we are seeing is an attempt by SPD to not go too far so as to disrupt the flow of halloween. Bullhorns should never be allowed if they are diturbing residents in their homes. Look back in time and I think halloween in Salem is becoming an event that will have to be squashed at some point.

I agree that the fundamentalist Christians who show up for 10/31 are not really sharing the true word of their God, which is compassion and love - rather their own warped interpretation of the scripture. However, that being said, is it any better to see a local "celebrity" witch standing outside of a certain popular business shouting curses back at them only to be filmed and put out for all to see on you tube? I'd say that this only gives them more fuel for their fire, as it goes against all that is true of this religion also. It also sheds an unfavorable light upon all practitioners of this sacred craft who have chosen this as their form of worship, rather than a venue for a public display of inappropriate antics for their own personal gain. Shame on all of them.

I have done some research on these folks, and I will admit, some baiting of them with my own bullhorn ($34.99 at a store located ironically across from one of their favorite sites to preach...)
First off, these people are violent. I have been threatend by them and their supporters no less than 4 times. On Halloween one of them even resorted to trying to physically shove me around. Rather unconcerting as I am not very tall and he was 6'4" if an inch. We need a better police presence within the crowds that gather around these folks. Besides the violence their followers bring (in the case of last night he was someone who was with them, but never spoke...) these guys egg on the crowd a lot. Which could result in some drunk taking a swing at someone.
Secondly, our own SPD were poorly informed as to how to respond to the situation. I was told by two cops that I was breaking the law by not having a permit for my bullhorn. Yet the preachers did not. We eventually worked this out, but the cops need to be told what the law is and how they can respond. If amplified speech needs a permit, then people should be required to get one and should have to display it like the buskers do. Honestly, I at first was worried that these cops were shutting down one kind of speech in favor for another. Something that should never happen. Ever.