Posted on 12/30/2008 10:59:15 AM PST by RedDogzRule
From changing the color of baby chicks to shooting effigies to properly honoring the glory of the log cabin, Americans have spent valuable legislative hours throughout the years making sure we're on the straight and narrow. As a New Year arrives, here are 10 wacky laws that remain on the books across the country: 1. In Billings, Mont., it is illegal for anyone to sell, harbor or give away rats as pets or toys for any purpose other than to feed snakes or birds of prey. Scientists, however, can keep lab rats. 2. Using profanity is against the law on playgrounds and in public parks in Columbia, Md. 3. The last Sunday in June each year is Log Cabin Day in Michigan. 4. In Michigan, it is legal to kill a dog for attacking chickens, livestock or people, but you can't snuff the pooch in a high altitude decompression chamber or by electrocution. 5. In West Virginia, anyone who taunts someone who decides not to participate in a duel or who declines to accept a challenge is guilty of a misdemeanor and can be sent to jail for up to six months and fined up to $100. 6. In Kentucky it is illegal to sell, exchange, offer to sell or exchange, display, or possess living baby chicks, ducklings, or other fowl or rabbits that have been dyed or colored.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
How silly, AND xenophobic.
Sounds totally reasonable to me!
It must be against the law to serve Iced Tea in Massachusetts ‘cause they never would accept my order for it.
“No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.
- US Constitution, Article II, Section 1”
Ok maybe this is funny, but I have to stop crying first.
I'd imagine that you better not have Silly String with you at the time....
If you're wondering, it's difficult to clean up Silly String on the city streets after a Parade. It melts. The nuke law came about when the City Council wanted to protest nuclear arms (and at the same time give Brookline a run for their money for being most foolish politicians) during Reagan's Administration.
They considered it a “seasonal” drink I think (only in summer) although they would serve “Long Island Iced Tea” all year around.
I don’t know it’s still the case but I recall reading that as late as the 1960s an old law was still on the books making it permissible to shoot dead anyone crossing into Mass. from Ct. — an reflection of the Puritans’ disgust with Thomas Hooker.
Ouch
Reminds me of a visit to a Chinese restaurant up nawth. The wiater asked what I would like to drink with my peeper steak and fried rice, and I replied unsweetened tea. He brought me a pot of hot unsweetened tea.
Here’s a link to actual wacky laws - and much wackier ones than listed here.
http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/massachusetts
Mass - It is illegal to give beer to hospital patients.
Um, that would be ‘waiter’ and ‘pepper steak’ ... need more tea.
"Sir, we only serve it during the Summer.
*Miss, the Forth of July is next week. Just when in the He!! does Summer begin around here?*
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Ordered two *teas* and a glass of ice. Pissed them off big time.
It is against the law to pay income tax.
If it isn’t on the books, it should be.
I moved to Houston, Tx in 1978. I went to a grocery store on Sunday to buy food and kitchen items such as frying pan. pots, etc. Was not allowed to buy the pots and pans due to “blue” laws. Ofcourse the local KKK bookstore down the street in Pasedena was open for business on Sunday.
You can’t call a man “boy” in Jonesboro Georgia.
You think that is funny, I remember flying over Texas on a few Sundays, and all adult beverages were suspended because of “blue” whatever.
I don’t believe that law has existed anymore for a long time...at least for aircrafts.
In Rep of Panama, you can get sued for defamation for calling a crooked politician (which they are all) a crook!!! LOL!!!
hahah....
I just love a slice of Wisconsin sharp cheddar with that coconut creme pie. Yum.
I assume this was tongue in cheek, but having lived in that fine state, your comment carries the odour of “reality in Wisconsin”.
Hard to believe that Madison is the state capital. Just what were they thinking?
I also heard that if you flunk your drivers license three times, they give you a yellow license plate.
1. No pet rats in Montana: Makes sense for a heavy agricultural state to want to control pests. In California you are not allowed to bring certain fruits from out of state.
2. No profanity on playgrounds. I absolutely agree. Kids shouldn't have to be exposed to foul mouthed louts in public.
3. last Sunday in June each year is Log Cabin Day in Michigan.Whatever.
4. In Michigan, it is legal to kill a dog for attacking chickens, livestock or people, but you can't snuff the pooch in a high altitude decompression chamber or by electrocution.Shoot the dogs humanely.
5. In West Virginia, anyone who taunts someone who decides not to participate in a duel or who declines to accept a challenge is guilty of a misdemeanor and can be sent to jail for up to six months and fined up to $100. I agree. Trying to taunt someone into a fight of any kind is not cool.
6. Ok, this one is bizarre.
7. At shooting ranges in Massachusetts, it is illegal to shoot at targets depicting a human -- whether as a figure, effigy or a silhouette -- unless you're a public safety officer performing official duties. bizarre again.
8. In Alabama it is against the law to alter the natural appearance of the teeth of a horse or mule to make the animal appear younger than it actually is. Consumer protection.
9. In Alabama anyone performing a marriage rite is entitled to a fee of $2 per marriage. Double it.
10. In Alabama it is against the law to exploit a bear by promoting, engaging in or being employed at a bear wrestling match, or by subjecting a bear to surgical alteration of any kind, including, but not limited to, declawing, tooth removal and severing tendons. It would be interesting to see what brought this law on.
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