Why Georgia's ban on Sunday alcohol sales is dumb, part two

Senator Seth Harp, sponsor of the bill in question 

Welcome to “The Georgia Ban on Sunday Alcohol Sales Is Stupid, Part Two.” When last we left off, your intrepid Examiner was taking a time out from railing against a certain mindset so that he could go to his favorite bar for the afternoon.

I almost got snowed in there, BTW. I can think of worse things.

An Update on The Bill

One of which would be the failure of the bill I mentioned in Part One, which would allow local jurisdictions to decide themselves regarding the Sunday sale of beer, wine and liquor in their grocery and package stores. This bill will once again have a hearing this Wednesday (March 4th!). If you want to voice your opinion about this matter, contact Senator David Shafer at 404-656-0048 – he’s the State Senator who has scheduled the hearing. Also, contact your local Senator and tell him how YOU think he or she should vote when (and if) the vote comes around

In the meantime, allow me to pick up where I left off – discussing a few of the finer points of this debate. I had just actually given props to the thumpers who weren’t hiding their religiously motivated stand behind a thin veil of public awareness and concern.

Alcohol Ban, Excuse #2

Now, these people claim that Sunday alcohol sales would be yet another blow to the moral fiber of America, that it’s simply anti-Christian to have sales of alcohol on the Christian holy day.

OK. That’s cool. But… does this mean that Georgia, and the U.S. by extension, is favoring one religion over another? If we ban alcohol on the Christian Sabbath, shouldn’t we, out of fairness and deference to other major religions, also ban alcohol sales from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday (for the Jewish community)? Or all day Friday (for Muslims)? If we ban it on Christmas, shouldn’t it also be banned all of Hanukkah? All of Ramadan?

You know, it’s funny how the Jewish, Muslim, and otherwise religious populations of Georgia are generally silent on these issues. I know many of them, and they typically require adherents to their faith to abstain OF THEIR OWN VOLITION. They don’t seek to make everyone else – willing or not – to adhere to the tenets of their faith.

Personal Responsibility and Government Interference

What it comes down to is personal responsibility and choice. I don’t think that legislation which would set personal limitations on Christians, Jews, Muslims or atheists is a good idea. On the other hand, I don’t think that any government should dictate when and where I can purchase and consume alcohol (unless I’m underage or about to operate a vehicle). I think that choices in ALL these regards should be left to me, for good or ill.

On that note, I have to give you this link to an editorial by Bob Barr. Yeah, it’s Bob Barr, but he nails the political ramifications of this entire matter on the head, and if I gave you my opinion on that aspect, I’d just be repeating what he said.

OK. I’m running out of room again. Therefore, let me hold off on discussing the economic benefits that allowing Sunday alcohol sales would generate, and let me remind you to make your voice heard (yes, even you thumpers out there). Contact your Senators. Call David Shafer. Tell Sonny Perdue that you’re gonna pray for the passage of this bill.

So, until Part Three, I’m out. I’ll see you at the pub.