It's been said that there are two things a person should not watch being made: laws and sausage.
Indeed sometimes you just have to shake your head when you read about laws and lawmakers and lobbyists. Of course, sometimes you find yourself in the fray, giving your two cents because the issue at hand is so important to you. That's what makes our republic grand, isn't it?
I've been following 3 legal-type situations for some time now. Some of them seem silly to me and others seem so ridiculously logical that you wonder why we are paying people to even argue stuff like this.
1. Our county of wants to sell a block in the county seat to Walgreens. The block right now has an abandoned gas station and a parking lot on it. With the proceeds of the sale, the county would fund several worthwhile projects...one of which is near to my heart...a library for our area. The proposal went through three readings in the council and was all but passed before people started coming out of the woodwork opposing it. Apparently this block WAS the location of the home of the guy who designed a big monument in Washington. 'WAS' is the operative word here...the house isn't there anymore. It was moved long ago. Or razed...I don't know. But it isn't there! And the block is adjacent to city and county buildings. Opponents don't want to put something there that will fight with the architecture of those buildings. Like an abandoned gas station doesn't already? And then the city chamber of commerce is opposed to it! That's what I didn't get. One local business owner actually said: "That corner is the entranceway to the downtown district. It isn't the place for a drug store with a neon sign on it. I'm sure they mean well, but a Walgreens won't last long and a government building is there to stay." The county council did ask Walgreens to go back to the drawing board and come up with a plan that would make the building blend better with the surroundings. For the life of me I can't figure out why this business person thinks a Walgreens won't last long. But at least they will pay a hefty bit of taxes while they are there...providing revenue the municipalities could certainly use. Government buildings down pay taxes. Neither do empty lots.
Another business owner seemed to have a clearer head about it. He said he believes a Walgreens could only help struggling downtown business owners by generating additional taxes. And the increase traffic to the downtown area couldn't hurt his business either.
2. Parking cars on the yard. The big city to the north of us has been wrangling over a hot-button issue for some months now. Should they pass an ordinance banning parking on residential yards? I realize this is going to really display my northern roots but...I never would have even considered that someone would want to park their car on their front yard. But apparently a lot of people do. And the people who don't want them to stop. Drives down property values, ruins yards, looks unsightly. What I find funny about this is how long it's dragged on. I started reading in the paper about this last winter.
3. "Guns are banned on these premises" Minnesota passed a conceal and carry law, which took effect May 28, that requires the state to issue permits to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident 21 years of age or older who applies for a gun permit, passes criminal and mental health background checks, and takes a mandatory handgun safety training every five years. Well, that was a big jump for MN, you can be sure. But the law gets a bit ridiculous when it comes to banning guns on certain property.
Guns are outlawed at the State Capitol, but can’t be restricted at local city halls, or at churches. Under the law, churches are required to post a notice that guns are banned on the premises, but also to give oral notice to every person who enters the building. "Welcome to our church...by the way, guns aren't allowed in our building". Say that a few hundred times each morning!
So, some churches are banding together to challenge the constitutionality of the law.
My sources are:
The Lancaster News
Spirit of Hope UMC website
The Charlotte Observer
7:51:33 AM 
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