I think it should be outlawed only because black people react badly when it is used infront of them, even though the context is obviously not racist.
Yet it is hard not to mistakenly use it because it such a part of the black culture. Every rap song has the word nigger used in it at least once, and like Que said, it has lost the racist meaning.
I wanted to post earlier about something interesting that happened. I was talking to my grandfather who had just come back from Virgina where he had been visiting my uncle, Moni. He said,"Monoo took us sight seeing to New York where I saw lots of Negroes dancing on the street for money. Negroes really know how to dance well and are such jovial people."
I was taken back a little and said,"I don't think you are allowed to use that word, because it is taken as racist."
He basically was surprised, and asked me why. He said on TV they use it all the time haha, and that's what they call each other. He basically said,"A Negro is a Negro, what else do I call them"
I can imagine if someone overheard him, they'd take him for a racist old man heh.
and even white guys around here will use it in jest
I still doubt they'd use them infront of other black people, but I get what you are saying.
I think either you should outlaw everyone from using it, or not have a problem with anyone using it as long as they aren't using it in a racist context.