Blue laws
Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, are laws designed to restrict or ban some or all activities on Sundays for religious reasons, particularly to promote the observance of a day of worship or rest. Blue laws may also restrict shopping or ban sale most often on Sundays in the western world. These laws are enforced in parts of the United States and Canada as well as some European countries, particularly in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Norway, keeping most stores closed on Sundays.
In the United States, the U.S. Supreme Court has held blue laws as constitutional numerous times citing secular basis, even though the origin of the blue laws were for religious purposes. Most blue laws have been repealed in the United States, although many states still ban the sale of alcoholic beverages or cars on Sundays. Bergen County, New Jersey is notable for their blue laws banning the sale of clothing, shoes, furniture, home supplies and appliances on Sundays.
Although most blue Sunday laws have been repealed in the United States, Bible prophecy predicts that Sunday observance by law will be legislated worldwide as a misguided solution to some global crisis. Here are few recent headlines:.
FOX NEWS asks on FB if all stores should close on Sundays (April 2020)
“Should all stores close on Sunday to allow staff a day off to recuperate?”
See post on facebook
Mayor Cam Guthrie: After COVID-19, I suggest everything be closed on Sundays to rest (March 2020)
“Just putting this out there for consideration: Once we kick COVID-19’s butt, I’d suggest that everything be closed on Sunday’s again so that we can appreciate the importance of what taking a pause in our busy lives really means. I think our body, mind and soul would thank us.”
See post on twitter
Premier of Quebec closing businesses on Sundays in April, to give employees a chance to REST (March 2020)
“With a sudden upswing in positive COVID-19 cases and three more deaths, Premier François Legault has announced nearly all stores – including grocery stores – will close on Sundays for the month of April to give workers under intense pressure a break.”
See post on The Province
Malaysian Minister says Sunday Should be Made a Rest Day with Family (January 2020)
“Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh has proposed that Sunday be made as a ‘rest with family’ day … She said the proposal could also serve as part of preventive measures in dealing with work-related stress issues … so that those who work would have the time to rest on Sundays. If they don’t do so (get rest), they will be physically tired and get stressed to go to work the next day.”
See post on The Borneo Post
Sunday is one step closer to becoming a holiday by law in Antigua and Barbuda (October 2019)
“Sunday is one step closer to being concretised as the 12th public holiday recognised by the laws of Antigua and Barbuda … this government is very happy to endorse the recommendations of those persons who got together. And we will make Sunday, for the first time in Antigua and Barbuda, a recognised public holiday.”
See post on the Observer
New York Times Columnist says ‘Maybe it’s Time to Declare a National Sabbath’ (March 2019)
“Maybe it’s time to declare a national sabbath. Maybe it’s time to step back from the scandalmongering and assess who we are right now.”
See post on the NY Times
New Italian Government plans to put Ban on Sunday shopping (September 2018)
“The new Italian government will introduce a ban on Sunday shopping in large commercial centres before the end of the year as it seeks to defend family traditions, Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Sunday. In a bid to spur economic growth, the then Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti liberalised Sunday trading in 2012, despite pressure from the Roman Catholic Church and unions who said the country needed to keep its traditional day of rest … Earlier this year, Poland restricted Sunday shopping as the conservative government in Warsaw pushed ahead with what it said was a return to Roman Catholic values.”
See post on Reuters
European Sunday Alliance calls on all its supporters to take action against Sunday Work (March 2018)
“The European Sunday Alliance is convinced that working on Sundays endangers the health and safety of workers as well as the social cohesion in our societies … Only a well-protected common work-free day per week enables citizens to enjoy full participation in cultural, sports, social and religious life and allows for reconciliation. That is why the European Sunday Alliance commits itself to safeguarding a work-free Sunday.”
See post on CESI
New Jersey Mayor says Protecting Sunday Blue Laws “will always be his number one priority” (January 2018)
“Responding to a recent opinion article by NorthJersey.com correspondent Jackie Goldschneider, the mayor said that protecting the blue laws, which prohibit shoppers from purchasing certain items on Sundays, ‘has always been and will continue to be my number one priority … As long as I am in office, the protection of our beloved blue walls will always be priority number one.”
See post on The Daily Voice
Lawmakers in Poland approve a gradual ban on Sunday shopping after push by Catholic Church and Trade Unions (November 2017)
“Poland plans to restrict Sunday shopping from next year, as the conservative government pushes ahead with what it sees as a return to Roman Catholic values.”
See post on Reuters
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
