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Discussion Topic Update: Massachusetts Eyes Sunday Hunting
Here’s the latest on this topic, from the Boston Globe:
Jim Wallace likes nothing more than a day out in the woods . . . with his 20-gauge shotgun.
But with all the meetings and programs he runs as the director of a nonprofit organization, he has little time to fire his Ruger. Making it harder is a law more than a century older than the United States that prohibits him from hunting on Sundays, often the only time he has available.
The ban is one of the last of the blue laws - the same code that outlaws frightening pigeons from another person's property, exhibiting albinos for profit, and kissing in public - and one of the few actually enforced.
Lawmakers on Beacon Hill will consider a bill today that would repeal the hunting ban, sending it the way of the Sunday ban on alcohol sales and other Puritan-era laws.
"It's discrimination, pure and simple," said Wallace, of Newburyport, executive director of the Gun Owner's Action League of Massachusetts. "Why is it that hunters are the only ones who can't enjoy their sport on Sundays in Massachusetts?"
What do you think?
My dad would throw an absolute fit if I mentioned I wanted to go fishing on Sunday!
Sunday meant family, church, and various assorted sundry activities, NOT going to the lake or woods!
As soon as I got away from home, I broke both rules. (along with many, many others!)
A little (?) older and wiser now, though I don't necessarily see a real difference, I am beginning to see his side! I go to church Sunday morning's. Visit with friends and family Sunday afternoon! I will still go hunting/fishing on some Sunday's, but I always, repeat, ALWAYS, spend a few minutes reveling in the beauty created by God. Loren Green once put out a song (actually, recitation I think!) in which he stated, "...the place where I worship, is the wide open spaces, built by the hands of the Lord!"
Any man (person) that can stand in any outdoor world, and not be awed by God's handiwork, doesn't really understand!
Bubba
Posted by: Bubba | November 12, 2007 at 08:35 AM
Rules were meant to be broken, Bubba.
Posted by: Blue Ox | November 12, 2007 at 09:18 AM
I'll second that.
Posted by: Tommy | November 12, 2007 at 09:21 AM
The same laws that protect my right to freely worship God on Sunday (or any other day) should protect other people's right to do other lawful things on Sunday. Repeal the ban.
Posted by: David E | November 12, 2007 at 09:31 AM
Some people don't believe in God and don't go to church on Sunday.
Why shouldn't they be able to hunt whenever they feel like it?
Posted by: jstreet | November 12, 2007 at 09:47 AM
Virginia also bans Sunday hunting. I wish it would be ended.
Posted by: Brian M | November 12, 2007 at 10:20 AM
Especially when you work five days a week and it seems like five Saturdays in a row have been windy as all get-out. Sundays would be nice - but no go in NC, and the debate has gone south for a long time here.
freaking sucks!
Posted by: Tommy | November 12, 2007 at 10:21 AM
maybe instead of lobbying for sunday hunting, we should lobby for four day work weeks. ha!
yrs-
Evan!
Posted by: Evan | November 12, 2007 at 10:53 AM
I think it should be a personal choice. Lets not make an argument out of it. The greatest cathedral Ive ever seen is the great outdoors. Personally I feel closer to God in the woods alone than in a church with a crowd. Then again Im very private and protective of my religous beliefs.
Posted by: Greg | November 12, 2007 at 12:04 PM
The crux of the argument is safety not religion. Residents want one day a week without hunters in the woods. Hunters want the time to enjoy their short season sport. I see letting gun hunters have the woods for a few sundays a year, then everyone would be happy.
What ever happened to compromise in this country. It's all about winning/losing, my way or the highway. It's stupid and it's why nothing is ever accomplished in politics @ the local, state and national level.
Posted by: jstreet | November 12, 2007 at 12:17 PM
I live in AR and have never even heard of this "ban" on hunting on Sundays. This is one of the most insane arguments I've ever heard. If AR ever passed a law against hunting on Sunday I would move out of the state immediately!
Posted by: Shane | November 12, 2007 at 12:50 PM
I live/hunt in Virginia and this ban is ridiculous and is a sore subject in my home as family obligations have filled the last two Saturdays and crushed any hopes of being able to hunt those weekends. There are a million different benefits of allowing Sunday hunting, not only to hunters but to businesses as well. A family member of mine who lives in Mississippi was planning a weekend trip to VA so we could chase some turkeys. When I explained to him that it was against the law to hunt on Sunday he was confused and for the most part speechless. Needless to say, he didn't waste his time driving to VA. The ban should be lifted.
See the link for a great argument.
http://blogs.roanoke.com/wildlife/hunting/guest_entry_on_sunday_hunting.html#more
Posted by: Joe | November 12, 2007 at 01:28 PM
We have a Sunday ban in PA and it really hurts. We can't even hunt on preserves. It's hard to work all week and not be able to hunt because of weather or family obligations. I sure wish PA would follow MA and repeal the ban and that's about all I would emulate from MA.
Posted by: Andrew | November 12, 2007 at 02:59 PM
In england the law dictates that you MUST be in the park practicing archery on Sundays.
http://suburbanbushwacker.blogspot.com/2007/10/sundays-are-for-archery.html
it's true!
Posted by: suburban bushwacker | November 12, 2007 at 04:10 PM
I live in Ma. and I think this would be great! I hope it happens.
Posted by: JD | November 12, 2007 at 06:03 PM
OK lets go there! Separation of church and state!!!! Shane goin a little over board? JD Explain yourself.
Posted by: Greg | November 12, 2007 at 07:01 PM
With a thought train like that Greg, I don't know if you really could stomach anything else from JD!
Bubba
Posted by: Bubba | November 12, 2007 at 07:43 PM
Old laws were put on the books like this because they wanted people to show up to worship on Sundays and hunting in the fields detracted from this. This is truly a seperation of church and state issue. Another related issue along the same lines is places that don't sell alcohol on Sundays because of fear of people showing up to church drunk. I see no reason why we can't go to church on Sundays, then hunt and drink afterwards if we want to.
Posted by: William | November 13, 2007 at 01:11 AM
Wm.
In a perfect world, what you say makes sense. Alas, ours isn't perfect, nor will it ever be.
You make a perfectly valid point, unfortunately, it ain't gonna change! Ergo: LAWS
Laws that don't mean squat because people won't abide by them due to the law's....you pick the word!
Just like the old saying, "A lock only keeps the honest man honest!"
Same with laws, they only keep the honest man honest!...moral!...ethical!
Laws don't make people, people make laws!
Bubba
Posted by: Bubba | November 13, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Everything has to be in moderation guys!
And as soon as I can figure out how to hunt/drink/play less - I will let you know the secret!
Posted by: Tommy | November 13, 2007 at 01:07 PM
At least we know what day to fish. I live in PA, and I must say it is very hard to get time in with all the other obligations. I don't do the whole church scene. So why would the day of the week effect me? This coming Saturday I got suckered into a birthday party. You all get the idea.
At least we can hunt coyotes.
Posted by: Kevin | November 13, 2007 at 08:05 PM
Connecticut also has no hunting on Sunday's. The politicians say that Sunday is a family day. I would like to take my family out hunting on Sunday. Saturday's have a lot of kids sports happening. Some of the times I have to work on Saturday too. It is time to get rid of the old laws and wake up in the 21st century. Rich
Posted by: Richard Rogers | November 15, 2007 at 12:00 PM
I live in Taxachewzits and I think we should work on Sunday and hunt Mon. - Sat. Then we'd really upset all the political God fearing gun activists. But the police told me I couldn't work in my own back yard on Sunday. Oh well........
Posted by: Willy-T | November 18, 2007 at 02:56 PM