The Wichita City Council last week deferred until today a decision on allowing Sunday liquor sales. It should approve this ordinance change from the bench and let the free market work seven days a week.
A dozen surrounding communities have approved Sunday sales, so Wichita already has Sunday sales — just not in a way that’s convenient for consumers or that benefits Wichita retailers.
Some local liquor store owners oppose the change, saying they don’t want to work extra hours for an uncertain economic advantage.
But no one is forcing them to open on Sundays. The new ordinance simply allows retailers who do see an economic benefit in Sunday sales to open on that day.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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19 Comments
Randy makes the greatest point, nobody is forcing them to be open on Sunday. Is it too difficult a concept for people who don’t want Sunday liquor sales to not have their stores open or not buy anything on Sunday? It’s almost like they haven’t figured out a tv dial to change the channel from offensive programing.
Did I say tv dial? Yeah, I don’t think they have those anymore.
DougI keep trying to change the WEBLOG “dial” but, darn it, you pop up on every channnel, I mean thread!
So, because some store owners don’t want the extra hours, a LAW should be continued prohibiting sales? I miss the connection there.
There is also nothing saying that the church people must buy alcohol on Sunday, either. If they don’t like it…don’t purchase on your church day. But, that does not give them the right to force their beliefs on others.
Raptor,
You know this is *all about* forcing beliefs on others. The conservative radicals have decided that their version of “morality” dictates that they must impose *their* specific standards on everyone else. It’s their path to salvation, and anyone who doesn’t follow it is doomed to eternal damnation.
Good Point Raptor: “There is also nothing saying that the church people must buy alcohol on Sunday, either. If they don’t like it…don’t purchase on your church day. There is also nothing saying that the church people must buy alcohol on Sunday, either. If they don’t like it…don’t purchase on your church day. But, that does not give them the right to force their beliefs on others.”
The same could be said for gay marriage. There is nothing that says churches would be forced to marry gays. There is nothing that forces anyone to marry someone of the same sex. If they dont like it, dont do it.
And as you said Raptor, “that does not give them the right to force their beliefs on others.”
Same ol’ conservative play book. Whatever YOUR weakness is, pin it on the other side.
They clearly want to force their beliefs on us, so they accuse US of forcing our beliefs on them.
Typical, even laughably predictable.
Wow, you guys basically said it all already…
But, I went to one of the Larger stores last night to get the new Bulavard Lunar Beer and it made me think of something… Sunday sales is like larger vs smaller stores. The larger stores tend to carry more selection, higher end beers, wine, etc… Smaller stores just carry usually just a few brands and a few types. No one forces small stores to carry less or big stores to carry more. They all have their nich, and sunday sales should be the same thing. Small stores tend to have very different hours too, like the one by my house, they are open at lunch time, they close in the afternoon and they open again about 3 and close at 10. They can do that, its called demographics. Allow the store owners to decide.
(FYI, it took me looking in 4 stores before i found that beer.)
The idea that religion has anything to do with this is ridiculous. The store owners in Wichita don’t want to be open on Sunday because they don’t think they make enough money doing it. The religion bashing is a straw man.
There is no reason to have a law on the books, if they don’t want to be open, don’t open.
Todd…the facts suggest that it IS a church issue, and always has been. This is a hold over of the various ‘blue laws’ forbidding certain activities on Sunday. Various church leaders have been quoted on television saying they will organize petitions to halt Sunday sales. They plan on using their congregations to distribute the petitions.
It most certainly is a church issue.
From the news release that announced the city council voted for Sunday liquor sales:
Pastor Wade Moore of the Christian Faith Centre in Wichita has already said he would be willing to organize a petition drive against Sunday sales.
So, these church people will force an election–wasting tax dollars–and 65% of the population will vote for it. What a waste of time and money.
The church people need to get out of government..or lose their tax exemption.
Will churches start paying some property tax to offset the costs associated with their actions? Doubtful, that would entail them spending money on something other than exercise equipment, basketball courts and luxury cars.
Wichita spirits stores will support Sunday sales, if not now, then within the next year or two, because surrounding communities are doing so. Support will start at the edges, where Saturday sales diminish first. It’s a comparative advantage phenomenon: “They’re selling on Sundays, and taking a big chunk of our Saturday sales.”
If the stores don’t want to be open on Sunday – with or without the law – they will not be open. This is a law who’s time has passed.
The church people need to get out of government..or lose their tax exemption.Posted by: raptor | April 24, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Raptor,
What the churches are doing is perfectly legal and ethical. They operate under the same 501c3 rules as any other charity, and charities are allowed under c3 to participate in limited (no more than 15% to 20% of their budget) issue advocacy.
What c3’s are prohibited from engaging in are candidate campaigns.
Tom…you make a valid point, but it just rubs me the wrong way. They would scream if the government tried to meddle in church business…yet they are free to meddle with government AS a church, not individuals.
Just seems wrong….but, as you point out, it is “legal”…
Can we get enough signatures to have a vote on the ballot whether or not to allow churches to be open on Sunday?
Actually it will be QT, Dillions and Wal-Mart that will be happy.
Many people buy 3.2 and people will buy on Sundays.
Gee, won’t this law put those guys with a trunkful of booze who sell after hours and Sundays out of business? How will they support their families now?
All I know is that the liquor store in Maize that’s open 7 days a week is jam packed with people buying booze on Sunday. They’ll probably be disappointed if the Sunday liquor sales goes through, it’ll sure cut into their business.I never really understood why they banned liquor sales on Sunday anyway…it sure does nothing to deter people from drinking if that was the intention.
“Todd…the facts suggest that it IS a church issue, and always has been. This is a hold over of the various ‘blue laws’ forbidding certain activities on Sunday.”
You are talking about the origin of blue laws, not the reason they are still on the books. The reason they are still on the books is because, just as car dealers fought being open on Sunday (see Bulger lobbying Topeka), it is the same thing with the liquor dealers. They simply do not want to be open on Sunday, and they do not want anyone else capitalizing on that unwillingness.
And yeah, of course the bible thumpers are going to have their say on it, but it isn’t going to make any difference.