[WayneS]

Has anyone considered the possibility that these gentlemen were being purposefully ironic?

Of COURSE such a ridiculous Bill will not get passed, as should NOT such ridiculous laws as anti-smoking bills, seat belt laws, helmet laws, gun storage laws, etc. They ALL interfere with individual liberty.

It’s only a matter of whose ox is getting gored (or pig, in this case).

Isn’t it at least POSSIBLE that they are trying to make a point about government run amok?

[mrsmel]

That was the first thing that crossed my my mind—Mississippi is the last state where a law like this would find favor with either party.

[mmichaels1970]

Has anyone considered the possibility that these gentlemen were being purposefully ironic?

Yes. See post #49. I hope this is the case. I did read the bill several times before posting. I'd guess The Smoking Gun did as well. In either case, whether it is serious or ironic, to me it still sends a message about where we are heading if we allow our government to continue to "run amok".

[mmichaels1970]

Here is another link.

Representative Mayhall admits he does not think his bill would pass but that it was, indeed,a serious effort on his part because of the “urgency of the obesity crisis and need for government action."

[ellery]

“I called lead author, Rep. Mayhall, and asked if this was serious legislation or tongue-in-cheek to make a point. He kindly took a moment to answer my question while the legislature was in session. He said that while, regrettably, he doesn’t believe his bill will pass, this is serious. He wrote it, he said, because of the ‘urgency of the obesity crisis and need for government action.’ He hopes it will ‘call attention to the serious problem of obesity and what it is costing the Medicare system.’”

http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/01/no-fat-people-allowed-only-slim-will-be.html

[Hawthorn]

> Has anyone considered the possibility that these gentlemen were being purposefully ironic? <

You nailed it. It’s long been clear to me that your typical Yankee often has trouble appreciating the sense of humor of a good ole boy from the Magnolia State!