Sunday, November 27, 2005
A TURKEY OF A LAW
BY NOW you've probably read of the latest oddity to manifest itself in the great? State of Massachusetts. It seems that due to a complaint - from a competing business, of course - the Attorney General's office is investigating violations in the mandatory business closure on Holidays law, specifically Thanksgiving.
One link of many, from AP:
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/25/D8E3ORNO0.html
There is something schizophrenic about Massachusetts... Homosexuals and lesbians can marry, but you better not sell food on Thanksgiving!
But it is heartening that so little is amiss in the Commonwealth that the Attorney General can afford to spend the public's resource on this issue...
Still, the Attorney General has declined to elaborate on the statute or penalty. So for those interested, there is the internet:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-136-toc.htm
Chapter 136 covers "Observance of a common day of rest and legal Holidays." Thanksgiving, while not mentioned, is covered under section 13, although one might argue the exception of section 14 applies:
"dancing or any game, sport, fair, exposition, play, entertainment or public diversion, including events authorized under chapter one hundred and twenty-eight A, may be conducted on any legal holiday and any labor, business or work necessary or incidental thereto may be performed on any legal holiday"
So you may eat, drink and be merry, and if necessary conduct the business of eating, drinking, and merrymaking...
Oh, penalties? Section 5 states "a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for a first offense, and a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars for each subsequent offense, and each unlawful act or sale shall constitute a separate offense."
Which is damn disappointing! I had hoped for stocks or the ducking stool at the least, and perhaps even a good flogging!
Damn liberals...
One link of many, from AP:
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/25/D8E3ORNO0.html
There is something schizophrenic about Massachusetts... Homosexuals and lesbians can marry, but you better not sell food on Thanksgiving!
But it is heartening that so little is amiss in the Commonwealth that the Attorney General can afford to spend the public's resource on this issue...
Still, the Attorney General has declined to elaborate on the statute or penalty. So for those interested, there is the internet:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-136-toc.htm
Chapter 136 covers "Observance of a common day of rest and legal Holidays." Thanksgiving, while not mentioned, is covered under section 13, although one might argue the exception of section 14 applies:
"dancing or any game, sport, fair, exposition, play, entertainment or public diversion, including events authorized under chapter one hundred and twenty-eight A, may be conducted on any legal holiday and any labor, business or work necessary or incidental thereto may be performed on any legal holiday"
So you may eat, drink and be merry, and if necessary conduct the business of eating, drinking, and merrymaking...
Oh, penalties? Section 5 states "a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for a first offense, and a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars for each subsequent offense, and each unlawful act or sale shall constitute a separate offense."
Which is damn disappointing! I had hoped for stocks or the ducking stool at the least, and perhaps even a good flogging!
Damn liberals...
