Welcome
Sunday closing laws, or Blue Laws, have a long history. In the United States,
Blue Laws date back to the colonial times. Across the ocean, restrictions on
Sunday activities go back to the days of the Roman Empire under the
Emperor Constantine. A discussion of Sunday closing / Blue Laws isn’t just history
because the policy debate over Sunday closings has a way of periodically
springing up, first in one community, then in another, followed by yet another.
By nature these closing laws are far reaching and affect everybody. For example in 1789, even George Washington, “then newly elected President of the United States was not immune from prosecution” of its stringent rules. And so it comes as no surprise that “repeal and attempted repeal has not been taken lightly by especially interested individuals and groups on both sides of the issue.” Any new or additional Sunday closing laws or a more determined effort at enforcing laws that remain on the books would not be taken lightly either.
Blue Laws, written by David N. Laband, was first published in 1987. This present edition is a reprint of the first publication with minor changes to the peripherals, an example being the cover, but there are NO changes to the content itself.
The book “explores the issues, the arguments, and the interest groups in favor of, and opposed to, blue laws…” Whatever one may think of Sunday closing or blue laws, it is hoped that this book will inform the reader and help clarify the issues. Read More
