Comments on: Merchants cheer Sunday booze sales as blue laws fall

By: Andrew, Lincoln, CA

Andrew, Lincoln, CA — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:18:07 +0000

There are good resources online if you want to learn about the history, politics, etc. of Sunday blue laws. For example Prof. David Laband has written an excellent book on this topic. This web site has more info:

http://www.sundaybluelaws.org

He definitely shows that whatever the reasons are for promoting blue laws none of them make sense!

By: Cindy, Miami Florida

Cindy, Miami Florida — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:26:02 +0000

I dont think the blue law should be passed, like someone said earlier. its a discrimination. a religious discrimination. and i dont think its fair for someone to make such a law and not considering the fact that people have their different religions and worship on different days. we all serve the same God, why not just let us keep serving him on a different day. it will cause confusion, and persacution will start. there will be riots, and problems started amongst each other. it will be another war. and eventually the end of the world would be near.
I am a seventh day aventist, how would you feel if someone took your freedom away to worship whenever you wanted to? people in the work force have any day they want to take off, why bother which day it is. many people dont have to work on sundays but some choose to because, why its their choice.

By: Bill, Chapel Hill, NC

Bill, Chapel Hill, NC — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:47:27 +0000

Over and above permitting liquor/wine/beer sales on Sunday, the government should be 100% out of the retailing business. In some states, the government owns and operates the retail stores. Every $ spent to run such a system is unnecessary and diverts needed revenue to political patrons and bureaucracy. The state would collect exactly the same amount of revenue without having to pay rents or salaries to store personnel. Plus, customers would have a wider selection.

By: Fred, Wichita, KS

Fred, Wichita, KS — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:18:09 +0000

The real issue is religious discrimination, for or against. If you have a diverse workforce of Christian’s, Bahia, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, etc … you can provide everyone their day of religious choice off. At the same time you should not prohibit me from an activity on your weekly religious holiday of choice. I think an enterprising lawyer could turn this blue law around and prosecute states as encouraging religious discrimination. (For those that are curious I am with the religious majority in the states, but have many friends in the religious minority whom I great respect).

By: db,la,ca

db,la,ca — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:28:30 +0000

ever run out of booze on a sunday
in a blue law state?
you should not have to drive to another state or country
i lived for years in texas
but mexico was 5 miles away
and they got a lot of booze money from texans.
keep that dough in the usa we need every dollar

By: Sean SF, CA

Sean SF, CA — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:49:36 +0000

Fitzpatrick: Massachusetts repealed its Sunday sales prohibition statewide a few years back. Sunday sales are legal after 12 p.m. (with local option, I believe)

By: Justin Columbus OH

Justin Columbus OH — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:48:10 +0000

Time for another archaic law to go by the books . A man or woman is old enough to vote , old enough to serve and die for their country but not old enough to have a beer legally in public. This is the only country in the world with a legal drinking age of 21 . How repressed is that

By: Steve, Parker Colorado

Steve, Parker Colorado — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:02:13 +0000

When I was a child, growing up in NY, we had blue laws. You could go to the movies, bowling, buy a newspaper, go to a drugstore or eat dinner at a restaurant. You could not go shopping, as the malls were closed, grocery stores as well. As I was a child, I don't know whether liquor sales were legal or not. Yes, it probably wasn't convenient – however it was down time for most people in society – and that was good. It was also an era when President Eisenhower had a heart attack and VP Nixon took on his responsibilies. Today VP Cheney has heart problems and goes to work the next day …. good – well I don't think so. We need to take time out and smell the roses!

By: Nate, Omaha, NE

Nate, Omaha, NE — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:28:49 +0000

From Craig, Las Vegas NV
Blue Laws should be called “God laws” or “Let me force my religion on you laws”. Look at the origin of such laws and you will find they are rooted in some fruit cake religous belief. It is time that we past laws that are not rooted in superstitions and faith. I will drink to that on any Sunday.

Nail, head.

By: JR, San Diego

JR, San Diego — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:13:52 +0000

Repealing the Blue Law doesn't force any business to start opening on Sunday. If they don't want to do that, then don't.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:47:38 +0000

Because NJ is not a part of New England!

By: Dr. Dave, Lake Spivey, GA

Dr. Dave, Lake Spivey, GA — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:20:25 +0000

Some of the comments from store owners seem like they are "required" to
open on Sundays. Do they have to open or could they take the day off? I
cannot believe they would be "required" to be open!! That would be worse
than being "required" to be closed!!

Lake Spivey, GA

By: David Bober

David Bober — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:18:24 +0000

Your article is not entirely true as there was no mention of Bergen
County, NJ and their blue laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_law

By: j fitzpatrick

j fitzpatrick — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:17:37 +0000

I think Massachusetts still has this law — except for towns bordering new
hampshire…acknowledging that NH sunday sales hurts Mass. merchants…

By: Joe Bojarski, Toronto Ontario

Joe Bojarski, Toronto Ontario — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:08:25 +0000

I can see this comment getting a bunch of "patriots" in a huff despite the fact that they can't prove me wrong.

If America is a beacon of freedom in the world, why do Americans allow their government to tell them when and what they can and cannot do? It's pathetic hearing of legal businesses that aren't allowed to operate 1/7th of the time for no reason other than the fact that some government entity decided that it should be so.

By: Craig, Las Vegas NV

Craig, Las Vegas NV — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:53:52 +0000

Blue Laws should be called "God laws" or "Let me force my religion on you laws". Look at the origin of such laws and you will find they are rooted in some fruit cake religous belief. It is time that we past laws that are not rooted in superstitions and faith. I will drink to that on any Sunday.

By: sheila former denver colo.

sheila former denver colo. — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:26:38 +0000

ya what he said! and yes it WILL increase the business revenue. i have forgot to buy my wine many of times on saturday and had to eat steak with soda. (yuk)

By: Cheri, Columbia, SC

Cheri, Columbia, SC — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:35:12 +0000

I think it's great. I wish that they would get rid of all the blue laws here in SC, not just the liquor ones. It's more than ridiculous that when you have a store like Wal-Mart that is open 24hrs/day, you cannot go in on Sunday until after 1:30 pm to purchase most things (they have ropes up). These laws are for the dark-ages and need to be updated.

By: Tom Allen, Newington CT

Tom Allen, Newington CT — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:12:45 +0000

I sympathize with small businesses, I really do, but this move to repeal these laws is just absurd. Plan ahead and buy your booze on another day, don't wait until the last minute like Americans do on EVERYTHING else. Like I said, I see where small business is coming from on this but repealing these acts send the message that the government is all for letting America get wasted on ever day of the week.

By: VK, Chicago, Illinois

VK, Chicago, Illinois — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:07:21 +0000

Wow, lots of nonsensical comments.

Tim, you're saying the point of this law is to give alcohol store workers a break on Sunday. Get real. Government shouldn't legislate who works when. They already have laws on 40-hour work weeks, overtime, and such. And even if they should, maybe they should shut down all commerce on Sunday. After all, I bet you like to eat out or occasionally grocery shop on Sundays. I'm sure those people would love the day off.

Matthew: http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-statistics.html According to this site, there were 13,470 fatalities in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. That averages to slightly over 1000 per month. 4000+ soldiers have died in the Iraq war. Come back when you have arguments not based on lies.

Kevin: I'm not exactly sure what you're arguing, but if you're saying the government is supposed to prevent us from addicting substances, by extension, you're saying it's the governments duty to keep us healthy. By that rationale, fast food and a whole bunch of other accepted things in society should be illegal.