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From: david@cvl.UUCP (David Harwood)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: liquor laws
Message-ID: <434@cvl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-May-85 10:18:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: cvl.434
Posted: Tue May 14 10:18:33 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 16-May-85 06:37:59 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Computer Vision Lab, U. of Maryland, College Park
Lines: 61

Reply to a question
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>From: atkins@opus.UUCP (Brian Atkins)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.religion,net.politics
Subject: Violation of separation church and state????
Message-ID: <1192@opus.UUCP>
Date: 13 May 85 03:34:41 GMT

I have a question, which I would like to hear argued by any parties
from all these news groups.  I have a very lay understanding of separation 
of church and state and would like to see good arguments pro and con on 
this particular example, which I feel is in clear violation (and if it isn't,
under current interpretation, I would like to see an new interpretation).

Here is the example.  Here in Colorado, it is against the law to sell liquor
(and automobiles) retail on Sunday.  Bars and restaurants can sell prepaired
drinks and whatnot, but you can't buy bottles of the stuff in liquor stores.

I presume that this law is motivated by the Christian sabbath, as I can
see no other reason behind it (if this isn't the reason behind it, please
let me know what is).  

Assuming this, Is this not a clear violation of the separation of church 
and state?  Is S of C & S a basis for constitutionality, is it just custom,
or does it only apply to laws which seek to restrict religious practices?

If replies are sent to the net all can follow the argument (assuming
someone other than myself is interested...).  If this bothers someone,
sing out and I'll formally request replies to myself via mail rather than
net.

Ever seeking enlightenment...

Brian Atkins   ...{attunix, hao, allegra, ucbvax}!nbires!atkins
NBI Inc., P.O. Box 9001, Boulder CO 80301	(303) 444-5710

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	I rarely drink, so as far as I'm concerned they can
ban liquor (and automobile) sales six days of the week, and 
perhaps we wouldn't have so many deaths and injuries because
of drunk drivers, especially on weekends when people are on
the road.
	As I understand it, the principle of separation of church
and state is primarily to minimize government interference in
religion, where religion does not harm civil rights. It can hardly
be said that banning sales of these two things (or of other less
dangerous things) on Sunday is harmful at all (although it might
make business in these things less efficient or profitable). There
frankly some things are more important than money -- and here there
are three more important things than business -- religion, safety
on weekends, and democratic opinion.
	The other purpose of separation is to insure religious
tolerance and freedom from persecution by others, so that the
state does not discriminate between sects (so long as they do not
clearly harm society).
	Would you like to support a law to ban liquor sales
six days a week? I can see plenty in favor of this, which has
nothing to do with religion.

				David Harwood