When the Selma City Council was first discussing the idea of creating and passing an ordinance to police the saggy pants epidemic within the city, we tried to use sarcasm and humor to convey our disappointment and disapproval of such a measure.

Now more than three months after it became an ordinance in Selma, the saggy pants ordinance remains a law on the books that is not being enforced.

In a story that appeared in Thursday’s edition of The Selma Times-Journal, the police department said they weren’t enforcing because they were awaiting word from city hall. Other city officials said they were waiting on the police department to begin issuing citations. And, all the while, the public is waiting to see if this admittedly ill-timed ordinance will ever be enforced.

At the time of its proposals, we argued an already understaffed police department should be asked to do more important things than be asked to enforce a city dress code.

Since the ordinance has passed, gun violence in the city has continued. Since the ordinance has passed, property crimes have continued. Since the ordinance has passed, drug crimes have continued.

It is our opinion this ordinance was ill conceived when there are so many bigger issues facing our city, so many bigger fires to fight.

Do pants hanging off a person’s rear end walking down a downtown sidewalk look ridiculous? Yes. But so did Patton leather shoes, bell-bottoms and polyester suits.

It’s time we allow the police department the time, the resources and the support to fight the battles worth fighting and leave appropriate wardrobe to parents.