Can someone explain how it is constitutionally acceptable to have Sunday alcohol

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   peeplesposted 10 years ago

   Can someone explain how it is constitutionally acceptable to have Sunday alcohol bans?
   
   I live in a state that still has Blue Laws and slowly more and more towns are getting rid of them, but some cities still have bans on Sunday Alcohol sales. Since the reasoning behind the Sunday alcohol bans not being reversed is related to religion how is this allowed?

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   jjackson786posted 10 years ago

   In some circumstances, power to control alcohol sales is granted to the county or municipal government as opposed to the state, which is usually more restricted in what it can outlaw. There is more freedom on the lower levels of government, and in a few cases it might even be legal for the city itself to determine how it wishes to sell alcohol. Unfortunately, there are quite a few laws that exist within these lower rungs of government throughout the country that are both ridiculous and obsolete, but until those government bodies decide to abolish them, they are still laws. It isn't considered unconstitutional if the local government has been granted the power to control its own alcohol sales through the state, which is its governing body.

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      peeplesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      But their reasoning behind not selling it is based on their religious beliefs that Sunday is a "special day" Isn't that mixing religion and laws?

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      OldRosesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Pepples, my guess is that if someone challenged the law, it would be deemed unconstitutional.  It seems that no one is challenging the law because, rightly or wrongly, the local populace supports it.

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      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      There is no proscription on mixing religion with laws -- Thou shalt not kill. Here the liquor is closed between 2-6 am and not any more on Sundays. Did you know that communist countries take Sunday off for the government?

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      jjackson786posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It would be if the law itself was originally written and/or amended to include religious-based reasoning for its existence. Unfortunately, as OldRoses mentioned, it seems that the locals support it and therefore it will continue to exist.

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   Robert the Bruceposted 10 years ago

   I think this may be a matter of states rights, and by extension, local governments. The Constitution not only prohibits establishing a religion, but also protects the right to practice it. This is where it gets tricky, because many state laws like this one were created in a very different society from today. Though the laws are utterly absurd, I'm not sure that the Constitution clearly prohibits this kind of thing.  Whatever powers were not given to the central government (Constitution) were left to the states.
   
   I agree that these laws should be repealed. It's amazing that many of them are still on the books. I would like to hear CJ's response to this question.

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      peeplesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I saw a news segment where a local politician actually said "people should be in church, not out buying alcohol" It seems this is a mix that should not be allowed.

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      Robert the Bruceposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. That is totalitarianism and a violation of civil liberty. Thankfully, I don't see how these laws could ever make a comeback.

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   Old-Empresarioposted 10 years ago

   The 10th Amendment to the Constitution allows it. The 1st Amendment only states that the US Congress cannot make a law that respects "an establishment of religion". In other words, there can never be an official Church of the United States and there can be no federal laws supporting an actual or a de facto one. The 1st Amendment also states that the US Congress cannot prevent the free exercise of religion. Basically, state and local governments may base their laws on general religious beliefs if they choose.
   Personally, I hate the blue laws too. First, I don't know anywhere in Judeo-Christian folklore that states consumption of alcohol is a bad thing and that it should not be done on Sundays. The Calvinist-Protestant form of Christianity brought it about and it was adopted by Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists in the US. Dietary restrictions are always a characteristic of a radical branch of religion.

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      peeplesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the explanation. That is BS in my opinion!

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      Old-Empresarioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Well, it stinks. But people are allowed to be idiots in this country.

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   JThomp42posted 10 years ago

   I do not think this is a constitutional issue. Rather a local government issue. The law was probably voted in by the people some years ago. I know in the area in which I live there used to be blue laws as well. Then it came to where you could not buy alcohol before 12 on Sundays.
   
   I am only talking about beer. Liquor stores are still closed in this area on Sundays. I can remember when people had to go to Virginia to buy any alcoholic beverage except beer because it was not allowed to own a liquor store in this county. So, I think it is up to the people in the area and how they have voted in the past. They have been given the chance to vote and have been heard.
   
   I really do not understand the concept of blue laws. If someone wants a drink; they are going to take their business and money to where it is readily available. As far as being seen as a sin. The Bible states that it is not what you put into your body; but rather what comes out of your mouth (heart) Everything should be done in moderation. Alcohol is not a sin in my opinion unless it changes your attitude and the person that you really are without it.

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      peeplesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree! Even on a religious level it really makes no sense and instead seems to be a way of attempting to control people.

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      retief2000posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      In many ways it has become an economic and business issue. In Indiana these restrictions remain in place because they benefit mom and pop liquor stores that wouldn't be as able to compete with large established chain stores.

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   FatFreddysCatposted 10 years ago

   I was on a camping trip in the Poconos (Pennsylvania) years ago...when I ran out of beer on a Sunday and went looking for a store to get more, imagine my surprise when I learned that beer/liquor stores in that state are closed on Sundays. I was less than thrilled.

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   cjhunsingerposted 10 years ago

   There is nothing in the Constitution that says that you have a right to drink alcohol, therefore the 10th Amendment kicks in.

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      peeplesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I was referring to the fact the law is based on religion.

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   lone77starposted 10 years ago

   It is not Constitutionally acceptable. Period.
   
   Some local laws are based on popularity rather than legality.
   
   But that's nothing compared to the unconstitutional laws being passed since 9/11. It's now illegal to protest in certain circumstances. You can go to jail for life without a trial, attorney or phone call. HR347 and NDAA 2012 gave us this. Obama is such a sweetheart traitor he said of the Gitmo prisoners that they should stay there indefinitely, even if found innocent.
   
   The Corporate Party has taken over but so stealthfully that most Americans still think they have a choice.

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