The Wichita City Council’s Tuesday agenda includes the issue of whether to allow Sunday liquor sales. Two years after the Kansas Legislature and governor approved such sales, and with 63 percent of Wichitans favoring them, the council should just do it, our editorial argues.
“It’ s about government not dictating what days of the week that private businesses can operate. There’s no compelling reason to keep this outdated restriction. People already have a right to consume alcohol on Sundays. Why should government refuse to let them buy it on that day?”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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39 Comments
It is pretty silly. I’m all for observing the Sabbath if that is your belief (I try, but it doesn’t usually happen) but telling others who don’t observe it that they can’t run their business or purchase alcohol on that day is just silly. And they’re just pushing customers from businesses within the city to outside of the city, doesn’t sound like a good economic move to me…
I would also like to add that I have immense respect for businesses who choose to stay closed that day to allow their employees to spend time with family or practice their faith, but they shouldn’t be forced to do that.
These “blue laws” continue to perpetuate illegal government respect of establishments of religion and need to be ended.
No, I don’t drink, but fail to see why a “church day” should be a legal reason to prohibit activity that is legal on other days.
Churches have far too much influence on government as it is, and perpetuating laws like this continues that power.
Any church that gets involved in politics/government needs to have its tax exempt status revoked.
How about a compromise? If the bible thumpers don’t want liquor sales on Sunday then they have to teach science and logic in their churches. Somehow I don’t think they’ll go for that.
No wonder the church is against pagans; the pagans have learned how to make alcohol from the church priests and now excluded the church out of their cut on the profits.
Which version of the “sabbath” should we shut down? Saturday? Friday? Why Sunday, which is for a particular religion?
In all seriousness, the Sabbath is Saturday. The ‘bible thumpers’ – myself included – should understand that. Sunday was established as the Sabbath when Christianity and Paganism were merged by the Romans. Just like Jesus was born in the spring and not in December. Those that bother to look a little deeper than the bullet points of their religious leaders should know the facts.
Fine with me; although if you can’t plan for one day without availability of liquor, you may have a problem.
Some of the most vocal opponents of Sunday liquor sales are the “Mom and Pop” stores, who want their day off without losing out to the competition.
Outlander – Aren’t the “mom and pop” stores already losing out to the competition now that so many of Wichita’s suburbs are selling liquor on Sundays. Maybe before the suburb liquor sales that was a valid concern, but now, they are already losing. So the liquor stores that want to compete should be allowed to.
I do realize that the Sabbath is technically on Saturday, but most people consider it as being on Sunday (or are just too ignorant to know the difference) because that is when most churches have services. No to mention who wants to ruin their Saturday night parties:)
No sales on Sunday. what does that do to the impromptu gatherings at your buddy’s house for the football game?
I don’t see how the problems of mom and pop liquor stores should be a matter of law.
Raptot and DougDoes every issue have to evoke anti-religious posts?
There is no law, no Constitutional prohibition, against any faith making its public policy views known.
“The right of the people to petition their government” — this right belongs to those in the pews as well.
Churches have ALWAYS been involved in American politics, from before the Revolution, through slavery, civil rights, etc.
That having been said, I think the city has a right to go either way on this.I do believe that fewer drunk driving fatalities happen on Sunday evening than on other days. There are safety issues.
Raptor, sorry, no offense intended.
Paul – do you have any data to support the thesis that there are fewer drunk driving fatalities on Sunday than, for example, Tuesday? It would surprise me considering the fact that the bars are all open on Sundays.
501(c)(3) organizations are exempt from paying taxes, and donations to them are tax-deductible. As part of their tax-exempt status, they are prohibited from engaging in any efforts or advocacy to elect or defeat a candidate for public office. Furthermore, the IRS has said that 501(c)(3) organizations can’t spend a “substantial amount” (widely interpreted as under 20% of their budget) on issue advocacy and lobbying.
Churches fall under this 501(c)(3) prohibition on electioneering. However, far too many of them engage in it anyway. When Raptor suggests churches have their tax-exempt status revoked, it’s only to level the playing field with the other tax-exempt charities that actually follow the rules.
It’s not “anti religion” to expect that every organization claiming tax exempt status obey IRS regulations.
BenThe fact that most of us have to work on Monday morning could have as much to do with it as any blue laws.I will check on it, even so.
Paul – that is why I used Tuesday rather than a weekend as my comparison. Especially since the bars are open.
What is special about Sunday?
BenBest I could do:
http://money.aol.com/insurancecom/insurance/canvas3/_a/most-dangerous-days-to-drive/20060622180609990001
“It’s sad, but true – Independence Day is the most deadly day of the year to drive. Alcohol consumption certainly plays a part in many fatal road accidents, and as you can see, the top three deadliest days coincide with traditional times of celebration. Be especially careful on the roads during any holiday season.”
Interesting:
“Deadliest Days of the Week to Drive
1. Saturday2. Sunday3. Friday4. Thursday5. Monday6. Wednesday7. Tuesday ”
So, having liquor stores closed on Sunday causes it to be the second most dangerous day of the week to drive?
How many of the Sunday fatalities are actually “Saturday night” fatalities?
Not a problem, Econ..no offense taken. I honestly am not actually anti-religion. And, since I don’t drink, these laws don’t affect me anyway. My ‘burr under the saddle’ is the church people who want to legislate their beliefs on the rest of us, whether it is adult stores, gambling, alcohol sales, etc.
Their choice and right is to worship as they please. Their rights do not extend to telling me how to live my life.
Actually, all laws are the result of somebodys morality. Historically,, this has been the generic church,driven down to the lowest common denominator of the amount of freedom we were willing to give up for “best of society”
Tom – good point! 3AM is “late last night”
raptor – also a good point. I too don’t have a dog in this fight; it doesn’t effect me one way or the other. But, like you, I don’t want them telling me what to do any more than someone else telling me I can’t eat pork.
The AOL list of the most deadly days are fixed dates on the calendar but I have heard that the most dangerous days to drive in a year are actually the Monday following the change from and to Daylight Saving Time but because that occurs on a different date every year, it would not be listed on a fixed date calendar.
How about a compromise? Let them sell liquor and beer but not before noon on Sunday. Sunday morning should be a time of quiet whether one worships or not. Here in GA, no liquor or beer is allowed to be cold on Sunday but there are forces trying to change that and this was suggested as a compromise here and I think it is a good idea. Other activites are banned before noon on Sunday including lawn mowing, leaf blowers, loud music and any exterior construction work.
I don’t drink much these days but if I do, it is only beer and I can always get it before Sunday if I want it.
Back in the early 60s it was illegal to sell MILK in Georgia. Come up with a logic for THAT.
Yanks for the mammaries Ben.
I couldn’t think of anything else to udder. :)
AARRRRGGHHHH!!!!!!
Yank god that he stopped with utter ideal out of his system when he made the woman.Think of the bra that she would had have to wear for support.
Back in the early 60s it was illegal to sell MILK in Georgia. Come up with a logic for THAT.
Not just Georgia but many states including Missouri banned any sales on Sunday of anything. There is no logic for it except that religious nuts controlled the country then as they are trying to do now which ought to scare the hell out of you. Read this:http://www.correntewire.com/regent_university_grads_fill_the_bush_administration
Paul said:”There is no law, no Constitutional prohibition, against any faith making its public policy views known.”
I never said that there was. The case of the alcohol prohibition is religious nuts forcing their religious views upon everyone else. Nobody is forcing them to drink but they are forcing us not to. It’s a shame the obvious has to be pointed out to you but it’s not the first time.
Having moved here several years ago from another state that battled with the blue laws I can say that there is a lot of background on blue laws that have nothing to do with religion or churches.
A lot of the opposition to Sunday sales of (name the product) is the business community. For them, it was a way of knowing that their competition was forced to compete 6 days per week but they did not have to pay for 7 day per week employees.
This came to a bitter end when a surrounding community opened up on Sunday. Then business switched their allegiance to advocating Sunday sales, first for nonfood items, then for liquor, when they were forced to compete on a 7 day basis.
The Churches were the vocal opposition but the real money against opening on Sunday came from the business community.
I guess I don’t understand. Why wait til Sunday to purchase Liquor? You don’t wait until you run out of gas to stop at the Quick Trip.
I am all for Sunday sales. I thought this was the land of opportunity. It seems to me that we went to Afghanistan because a backward, religious driven society was making up some rules that we did not agree with. Hey here is a great idea, let’s also pass a law that you can only buy burkas on Sunday. Maybe we can also stop the consumption of wine on Sunday even if it is bought in advance (Sorry all you folks that are Catholic) Don’t give me no Sh** about not serving wine. Are you following the ceremony, or just faking it? I hope Jesus didn’t turn water into wine on a Sabbath day! Just think.. if the Romans only allowed alcohol sales on certain days of the week, communion might consist of a shot of water!
Seperation of church and state= good idea.
Allowing religion to dictate laws= what are brave men and women are fighting against.
Can’t having Sedgwick County people running out of hootch on Sunday, they might go through withdrawal.
Yeah, instead of drinking at home, they’ll just drive to a bar to have a few – then drive home. Good move. I would rather have them party at home than to be on the roads.
“You don’t wait until you run out of gas to stop at the Quick Trip.”
I guess that depends on how drunk you are:)