Articles Posted in Weird Laws

In Kansas (and probably lots of other states), absolutely. By law, the Bible reins supreme, and stands alone. Here’s the text of Kansas statute 19-1906:

Bibles for prisoners; ministers to have access to jail. The sheriff of each county shall provide at the expense of the county for each prisoner under his charge, who may be able and desirous to read a copy of the Bible or New Testament, to be used by such prisoner at proper seasons during his confinement; and any minister of the gospel desiring to aid in reforming the prisoners and instructing them in their moral and religious duties, shall have access to them at seasonable and proper times.

Now I’ve got nothing against the Bible (or the New Testament), but providing it as a basic right? But what about, say, the Old Testament, the Qur’an (Koran), the Talmud, Vedas (Hinduism), the Tripitaka (Buddhism), the Book of Mormon (I’m being open-minded), Dianetics (I’m being very open-minded. I think they’re nuts, but our government accepts them as a religion.) And don’t forget about the right to access to “any minister of the gospel … at seasonable and proper times.”

Have they not seen “Footloose,” one of the best Kevin Bacon movies of all time? People, you can’t stop dancing, as Kevin Bacon proved beyond any reasonable doubt. So who dares to question the lessons of “Footloose?” The Indian State of Andhra Pradesh, that’s who. Why? To stop obscene dancing. This is sounding very familiar… Just swap preacher John Lithgow for Home Minister K. Jana Reddy.

What does the new law do? It bans “dancing in clubs, bars and pubs.” Not to worry though. Per Mr. Reddy, “orchestra and singing accompanied by eating and drinking, however, [is] permitted at these places if the managements obtained amusement licences.”

Look, I’ve seen “Footloose” several times (please, don’t tell anyone), so let me tell you how this is going to end. The leaders will realize that dancing is not really a problem, and Kevin Bacon will dance off into the Andhra Pradesh sunset. (You can read a little more here.)

So when Timothy Joseph Boomer, then a 28-year-old engineer, fell into the Rifle River in Michigan, he let fly a bunch of curse words. No problem, except for (1) a law that makes it illegal to use vulgar language in front of women and children, and (2) the presence of a woman and 2 children. Incredibly, a deputy heard him and charged him with violating the 105-year-old law. What do you think happened?

The trial judge said the ban on cursing in front of women was uncontitutional, but not the ban on cursing in front of children! The appeals court chucked the whole law, reasoning that

“This … would require every person who speaks audibly where children are present to guess what a law enforcement officer might consider too indecent, immoral, or vulgar for a child’s ears.”

The case is Michigan v. Boomer, 655 N.W.2d 255 (Mich. App. 2002).

From a BBC article, here are some crazy British laws that were never repealed:

It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament

It could be regarded an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British king or queen’s image upside-down.

Eating mince pies on Christmas Day is banned.

In the UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants.

The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the King, and the tail of the Queen.

It is illegal not to tell the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing.

It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament wearing a suit of armour.

Absobloodylootely barmy! To read the rest of the article, click here.

Japanese law forbids the importing of photographs showing male genitals. Why would I know this? No, not because of a recent trip to Japan. Because, returning home from a trip abroad, Japanese publisher Takashi Asai was carrying a book of Mapplethorpe photos that he published in Japan in 1994. Under Japanese law, imported genital photos are illegal. So how did he make the book in the first place? When he brought the negatives in years ago, customs did not check them.

Mr. Asai is challenging the ban. Although he lost in the lower court, he is confident that the Supreme Court will rule in his favor. To see some of Maplethorpe’s work, click here.

After 10 years of marriage, some couples need to try something to reignite their passion. But this? Arthur Friedman told his wife that he wanted to watch her have sex with other men and women. So she did, and decided to go German – German Blinov, that is, one of the people involved in this hoped-for marital jumpstart. The feeling was mutual. Blinov, who was also married, divorced his wife. Natalie Friedman kicked Arthur to the curb.

“As you sew, so shall you reap” is only partly true here, because Arthur turned around and sued Blinov for alienation of affection, claiming that he caused the Friedman marriage to end! Scary thing is, the jury bought it. The judge then awarded Arthur the perfectly logical sum of $4,802 (huh?). Seeking revenge, finding humiliation. To read more, click here.

4real. Yes, for real. Pat and Sheena Wheaton named their son “4real.” Only one problem – in New Zealand all children must be registered with the government within two months of their birth. When the Wheaton’s registered 4real, it was rejected because names beginning with numbers are against the rules! But wait – the government is in negotiations with the Wheatons. Said Registrar-General Brian Clarke:

The name has not at this stage been rejected. We are currently in discussions with the parents … to clarify the situation.

Should negotiations fail, 4real Wheaton will go in the books as “Real Wheaton.” For real. (You can read more about this here.)

You bet (while you still can!) Better get down to Louisana and catch a cockfight before it’s too late. It’s the only state that still allows cockfighting, but not for long.
The Louisana House and Senate have both approved of the repeal of a section of state law that declares chickens are not subject to the state’s cruelty-to-animals laws.