Mass. Investigates Defiance of 'Blue Laws'

AP ^ | 11/25/5

[SmithL]

BOSTON - Massachusetts' attorney general is launching an investigation into several supermarkets that stayed open opened on Thanksgiving in defiance of the state's Puritan-era Blue Laws.

The laws were passed in the 1600s to keep colonists at home or in church on Sundays. Parts of the laws, such as the ban on Sunday liquor sales, have been repealed, but a prohibition on most stores doing business on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, has not.

"If these stores want to open, there's a way to do it: Change the law," David Guano, a spokesman for Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, told The Boston Globe. The office didn't say what sort of penalty the stores could face.

The Globe reported that at least six stores, all Super 88 Markets, were open on Thanksgiving. One Super 88, in Quincy, shut down after a visit from police that day.

Reilly's office had earlier warned the Whole Foods supermarket chain not to open on Thanksgiving after a competitor complained. Wal-Mart, Family Dollar and Big Lots also received warnings.

Super 88 officials said they didn't know about the warnings.

"We don't celebrate" Thanksgiving, said Rudy Chen, a former manager of a Super 88 in Chinatown who now works at the chain's headquarters. He said the store he managed was always open on Thanksgiving and no one complained.

[VOA]

heh, until last year you couldn't sell alcohol on sundays at all
and they actually enforced that one.

Well, I guess like most "progressive" states, there is a limit on fun.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

They must be repealed. Nothing, absolutely nothing should impede cash flow!

[raccoonradio]

er, by the way the spokesperson is named David Guarino (former TV reporter, I believe) not David Guano. Oh, guano!

[raccoonradio]

>>This is the same Attorney General of Massachusetts

And Thomas "Joe Friday" Reilly is RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR of the Commonwealth.
Is he a Democrat or a Republican? Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?
Raise your hands if you know. Anyone?

Yes, Mr. Reilly is a Democrat.

[af_vet_rr]

If I were in any position to do so, I would break every blue law, then take it to court and sue any agency that got in my way.

I am positive I would win... these laws are not just unconstitutional on their face but also enforced sporadically, which also violates the spirit of justice.

I agree completly - they are ridiculous. I've not heard one logical argument in their favor, other than it's easier to keep them on the books and not enforce them.

[Political Junkie Too]

Parts of the laws, such as the ban on Sunday liquor sales, have been repealed...

I was recently visiting in New Hampshire, and I was surprised to find that the first rest stop (not an exit) past the Mass/NH border on Interstate 93 in NH doubles as a liquor store -- there's one in each direction. I'm told it's for the Mass shoppers.

-PJ

[maryz]

I'm told it's for the Mass shoppers.

I seem to recall that MA used to put state troopers just over the MA side of the border to "discourage" MA shoppers. I believe they stopped that, but NH still cheers every time MA does anything to further encourage NH shopping -- in addition to the NH state liquor stores, NH doesn't have a sales tax and cigarette taxes are much lower.