Sunday alcohol sales in Georgia.

Nobody says they HAVE to be open. The Georgia Christian Coalition has spearheaded this crusade to stop Sunday Sales.

As an atheist, I don't like being told what i can and can't do because of the bible.

Sorry Duke- the BIBLE doesn't tell you anything. It's a BOOK. Your states laws, by YOUR elected officials tell you what is legal or illegal to do. Put the blame where it belongs. Just because a Christian group gets behind an issue doesn't make it law. You're painting with a pretty broad brush. Do like Poop did- write your legislators. Or better yet, send them some $$$. They only listen to their constituents or lobbyists. They are the ones to make it or break it.

minimac wrote: Or better yet, send them some $$$.

But that's my beer money!

I don't drink, and I am not religious, this whole thing makes me wonder what is NOT getting solved in that state.

That is not to say that the state I am in is doing any better.

minimac wrote: OMG!!! The World is going to hell in a hand basket and it's all the religious rights' fault!!! All because some people can't buy hard liquor on one day of the week. I guess they are way too busy on the other six days to get their booze, or keep a supply at home. That's right, it can only be replenished on Sunday. Blame it on the "Bible Thumpers", not the retailers that don't want to be open, or the workers that might enjoy a day off, or the legislative process. It's just easier to blame the "Bible Thumpers". This response brought to you by a proud( and offended) Bible Thumper.

I'm not as angry with the Baptist lobbyists as I am with the politicians who are being swayed by their threats (see original post.) And again, (see other posts,) it's not an issue of convenience, it's an issue of these lying scumbags running on this 'tea party' philosophy of less government intrusion and more individual and economic liberty, then ignoring this philosophy and selling their votes to the highest bidder/most intimidating extortionist.

Retailers don't make laws; legislators do. This legislation doesn't even approve Sunday sales, it merely allows voters in individual communities to VOTE on the matter.

Regardless of how silly the issue may seem to you, think for two seconds how you'd feel if the local mosques lobbied to force all women in your area to cover their faces, or outlaw the sale or possession of a Bible.

Vote conservative, suffer the consequences. All they know how to do is limit personal freedom, all the while talking about smaller government and growing it in the back room.

In reply to minimac:

On the one hand, you do have a point about who literally passed the darn laws. They are theoretically my representatives as well, and I don't feel very well represented by stuff like that.

On the other hand, beyond the basic stuff we all mostly agree about ("don't hit your neighbor with a frying pan", etc), it's worrisome to have to take up amateur lobbying to avoid having folks trying to make their particular holy book into law.

A significant difficulty as I see it is that the legislators listen to money and votes; Churches are able to assemble blocs of these things which are relatively coherent. I don't like the notion of having to organize an equivalent opposite to a church just to lobby to keep religion out of legislation. It makes sense for people who share a belief to form a church. If I had my druthers, I wouldn't need to get together with people to actively engage in not believing together.

I think another difficulty is that within the giant mass of people in the middle who aren't riled up on either side, there are non-churchgoing folks who sit it out, and moderate religious folks who either sit it out or don't want to vote against the more vociferous of their flock, even though if left to their own devices they don't have any particular desire to deprive their neighbor of a spontaneous Sunday gin and tonic. But here I'm guessing at the internal workings of other people, and I know better than that.

In any case, these very forums have been an excellent reminder for me that there's an awful lot of middle ground and an awful lot of reasonable people in most camps. Sometimes I need that.

We drove an mGB to washington leaving jax on a sunday morn figuring get a cold one when we stopped in Ga or South carolina . The clerk at first gas said got bad and worse news they are both dry states . When I seen Pepeat south of the border and went under I- 95 cold relief . Back to your previously scheduled debate .

SupraWes wrote: Vote conservative, suffer the consequences. All they know how to do is limit personal freedom, all the while talking about smaller government and growing it in the back room.

A bit myopic.

DILYSI Dave wrote:

SupraWes wrote: Vote conservative, suffer the consequences. All they know how to do is limit personal freedom, all the while talking about smaller government and growing it in the back room.

A bit myopic.

It's what happens when rose-colored glasses don't have corrective lenses.

I'm watching this thread with a mixture of bemusement and irritation. The state I live in has one of the highest percentages of atheists in the world and we don't have Sunday shopping. At least you guys can get milk and veggies on the "holy day"...

I work on my cars often on Sundays. My garage is 30 minutes away from where i live.

How am i supposed to work on my car if i can't get beer right down the street on the way to the garage?

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I work on my cars often on Sundays. My garage is 30 minutes away from where i live. How am i supposed to work on my car if i can't get beer right down the street on the way to the garage?

You know the beer doesn't come out until the work is done- if you want the work done!

minimac wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I work on my cars often on Sundays. My garage is 30 minutes away from where i live. How am i supposed to work on my car if i can't get beer right down the street on the way to the garage?

You know the beer doesn't come out until the work is done- if you want the work done!

The beer prevents me from hitting the car with a hammer when it all goes wrong.

You should strive to be more like the ant than the grasshopper and have ample beer and snacks on hand

I love living in Missouri for this reason. We have had Sunday sales for a long time and we can buy damn near anything in a grocery store. If my area is any indication, it hasn't hurt the dedicated liquor stores one bit. I have 2 within a mile of my house, and 2 grocery stores that sell booze within the same distance.

I grew up and went to college just across the border in Kansas (still drive there everyday for work) and I remember when we got Sunday sales there. Nothing bad happened that wasn't already going on Monday-Saturday, and it looks like they might finally getting liquor sales beyond 3.2 beer in grocery stores in Kansas. It's about time.

...Back from the dead, but for good reason...

PASSED!!!!!

http://www.wsbtv.com/politics/27213620/detail.html

Still can't believe that state-wide support is only 52%, and I'm guessing nearly all of the opposition is coming from good ole' Glen Beck loving Republicans. Facepalm. Also, I'm guessing there's not a snowball's chance of my county supporting Sunday sales on a referendum, but my state senator did state via email that he strongly supported the bill.

Nope, your county doesnt stand a chance in Hell, neither does Forsyth County. So.... I will have to venture down to Fulton to grab mine... better than driving up to Tennessee or Alabama...

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: Nope, your county doesnt stand a chance in Hell, neither does Forsyth County. So.... I will have to venture down to Fulton to grab mine... better than driving up to Tennessee or Alabama...

I am closer to TN than Atlanta.

so without reading the 3 pages, what is/was the argument for not selling on sundays?

WilberM3 wrote: so without reading the 3 pages, what is/was the argument for not selling on sundays?

Jesus doesn't want us to drink on Sundays, but he's apparently totally cool with shopping at Home Depot and cutting your grass on Sundays. Nevermind that whole 4th commandment thing. Also, according to Jerry Luquire, president of the Georgia Christian Coalation, we'll now all be FORCED to buy alcohol on Sundays.

All I've got to say is:

I support communities in their fight to limit alcohol sales on Sunday. Nothing wrong with preserving an air of quaintness. Why are we all so hell bent on getting ahold of stuff that's bad for us anyway? Besides, any drunk worth a damn would know to stock up on Saturday.

In reply to 1988RedT2:

Conversely, one hopes you support communities that support Sunday alcohol sales; preserving "quaintness" isn't the issue.

I don't think we're all "hell bent" to get alcohol on Sunday's; we want to be able to make the choice for ourselves. Besides, life may prevent stocking-up on Saturday and life occurs on both days of the weekend.

Yes, I live in a Georgia county that's likely to support local referendums. If the law doesn't change, so be it; but I have the opportunity to cast my vote when it didn't exist before. That's a good thing......