"Blue Laws Should be Repealed Once and for All," a Commentary by Alex Crawford

January 19, 2007

Author: Alex Crawford

Source: Independent Mail

http://www.independentmail.com/news/2007/jan/18/blue-laws-should-be-repealed-once-and-all/

My wife and I have lived in Anderson County for two years, and I must say the council members’ decision to repeal, then reinstate the blue laws ranks as the most ridiculous decision I have seen in many years. Imposing Christian beliefs onto everyone in this county is an unconstitutional act, violating the First Amendment. Not everyone in this community is Christian.

Muslims take a day of rest on Fridays. For Jews, the Sabbath day is Saturday. Buddhism, Baha’i, Shinto, Rastafarianism, Sikhism, Jainism, Juche, and Hinduism do not celebrate or practice a specific Sabbath. This is a crime against our Constitution for a state, county or city to think that they have the right to limit one’s chance of business opportunity due to a Christian belief.

We live in America, where capitalism is supposed to dictate one’s financial decisions. By taking away someone’s Constitutional right to run his business, then we violate the very foundations of our economy.

I propose to everyone in your readership to attend the next council meeting, petitions in hand, to protest the council’s recent decision and repeal the blue laws once and for all.