Thank God I don't live in Utah.

UTAH

— New laws make any daily drink specials illegal, essentially banning happy hour.

So, just average the regular and happy-hour prices and charge accordingly. Stupid law...but consider the source. Hey Utah mormons...you can't legislate every aspect of non-mormon society. They'll find ways around your ridiculous rules.

Utah has great skiiing. Just bring your own beer!

Used to fill the back of my truck with beer before heading to SnowBird, Park City, Brighton, Solitude, Alta.....That 3.0 beer Utah has is nasty.

Banning Happy Hour???

Man, some people just don't want you to have any fun at all!

Yup, it looks like Utah is most UnAmerican. Like the Marijuana subject, it's not about the booze it's about free enterprise. The religious FOOLS and CONTROL freaks are just using the dumb a$$e$ that drink and drive as an excuse to clamp down on things that don't agree with. The entire government from the federal all the way down to the local is law happy. If they see something that they don't like or agree with, well then "let's pass a law and ban it". Never mind that they are going against the Constitution. 'cause to them the constitution is just a piece of HEMP paper. Yes my friends for those of you that did NOT know our beloved United States Constitution is written on HEMP paper. Do you see their HYPOCRISY. They are laughing their a$$ off at us. They are laughing at you!!! It doesn't matter if you are conservative or liberal, democrat or republican it is the same scenario. They tell us what they think we want to hear to tickle our ears and make us feel good just so we will vote for them and then do whatever the hell they want after they are in office. It happens every time 100% without fail. This government has turned into the very thing that our forefathers fought against in the 1700s. We Need to FORCE them to pass a law that if they lie, tell a half truth, omit (fail to inform us in any way) or commit any dishonest act of any degree that is proven with evidence that they are to be FIRED instantly on the spot with zero chance of EVER serving in ANY public office of ANY kind!!! One other thing, it should also include their campaigns. They did not fight so that you FASCIST CONTROL FREAK PIGS could come along and STEAL it away from me!!!!!! The constitution states that we have the RIGHT to pursue happiness!!!!!! It does NOT specify, dictate or limit how!!! The government is waaaaaaaaaaay over stepping their authority!!! The last I checked it was we the people who were SUPPOSED to be the BOSS and NOT the other way around!!! I would like to know when we the people are going to quit being so gullible and stop believing their LIES!!!!

I used to be a far right conservative until I grew a brain. At the same time I don't agree with the far left either they are just as loony as the far right just on the oposite side. These days I'm thinking that a moderate mind set is a pretty well balanced and a more common sense approach.

I never thought it possible to screw up Utah more than it already was but they figured out a way. that's determination for you. its a long drive to get around that state but its well worth the extra miles.

Massachusetts banned happy hour almost 30 years ago. Hopefully its another place you ridiculous bigoted people won't visit.

a ban on happy hours after a climax.... is that next

That is the best new law. I have nothing against having a drink at HOME. Drinking and driving is dangerous and should be considered attempted murder.

I used to be a far right conservative until I grew a brain

Too bad no one has put a ban on being a dick

The thing that caught my eye was North Carolina.....so corporations have more wiggle room to cheat on taxes because the state won't have funding to pursue them? Sheesh....how about extending that "tax break" to the average taxpayer also?

To professormarine,

If they did that, they'd have to arrest 99% of our Government, much of the American police force, the IRS, the FBI, and most of the people. It would probably be a HUGE tax drain, but it would be worth it just to get some of these scumbags out of office, LMAO!

@ KevinT...

"Drinking and driving is dangerous and should be considered attempted murder."

You can't be serious. "Attempted Murder"?

I'm sure you'll say you are serious, for whatever reasons, but attempted murder implies that you intended to commit murder by having some drinks, getting into your car, and driving down the road. Not to get to your next destination, but to go out and kill someone.

Don't get me wrong, drinking and driving is something no one should do. It's dangerous and very careless of the person committing the crime. Unfortunately, I've made the mistake and was lucky enough to have only been caught doing so, rather than hurting someone. Eventually the charges were lowered, but to think you might now consider me a person who "attempted to commit murder"? That's just silly, and it's that line of narrow thinking which causes laws like this.

For the record, and I'm not privvy to the politics behind this law being passed, but in the end, this law will surely limit the amount of drunk drivers as it won't be as cheap to get loaded after work anymore.

The article says they banned daily drink specials. I bet it wont take long for a smart bar owner to say "then we will have a week long special between 3-5 on such and such then next week we will offer such and such at a special rate." maybe they have a clause in their law for this but if they don't its a definate hole. Utah needs to lighten up a bit and exchange their Kool-aid for a beer

@ Kevin, so because of drinking & driving all drinking should only be done at home? Really? How about tougher laws on people that drink & drive and stop messing with us responsible people?!

I would live in Utah!

I imagine 1920s Prohibition-style "speakeasies" opening all over Utah.

No, the password is swordfish.

Utah - Yeah...not my kind of state.

utah bar owners - happy hour: drinks : regular price. But an appetizer is $2.00, or whatever you would have reduced the price of the drink by. Now you have accomplished two things: given a reduced beverage and appetizer, and also limited the number of drinks. people will have to either buy more appetizers or pay regular price for the drink.

We have a bar in town that takes your car keys when you order. before you get your keys back - blow the breathalyzer. .08, and you wait. They will give you any non alcoholic drink you want ( including near beer). When you blow .06 or less, you get your keys back. One of the most popular, and safest bars in town. This is a university town, and most bars have 5 or more bouncers. This one has one.

I didn't hear anything about 'Nightly" drink specials!

God forbid anyone takes my happy hour away from me... there will be blood...

@Bosslimo

For a republican party that claims to want less government, they sure know how to pile on the regulations and requirements.

So if some republicans want something they ALL must want it also? Pretty good example of the liberal collective-mindset. Don't think for yourself, just follow along behind whatever your leaders want.

i didnt hear anything about the law being because of mormons..just because they dont drink dosent make it their fault for the passing of this law. if your so pissed at the mormons dont go to utah and go drink somewhere else..honestly i dont think it that big of a deal when you look at what else is going on in the world every day

Bar owners should just do what restaurant owners did in Chicago when the city banned restaurants from selling pate de foie gras. The law stated they could not sell the delicious food, but said nothing about giving it away. So, instead, restaurants charged for the crackers and gave the pate for free. Not one restaurant or patron went without the wonderful, scrumptious stuff, the PETA people were royally PO'ed, and the city, acknowledging it was stupid to pass such a law, accepted defeat and repealed it. Utah bar owners should do the same. "Charge" for the chicken wings and gave the drinks away for free. It's always fun to stuff it up the noses of moralistic busy-bodies.

@Jerry-1903677

That's what I was thinking about drinks. At least for mixed drinks. Jack & Coke: regular price $6.00 but then charge $3.00 for the Jack and $0.01 for the Coke separately.

Of course the Utah law is from, by and because of Mormons. This is a classic case of what you hear so much about on the 'vine as what we supposedly need more of, majority rule.

I was a lot happier about seeing that Nevada firebreathing is finally going to be closely regulated. I can't tell you the number of times that I've almost been killed or seriously hurt by unlicensed firebreathers, and I'm sure that the same is true for almost all of you. Or maybe not. (In all honestly, somehow I missed hearing about the incident that prompted this law. Or maybe it was just a legislator's pet, "hobby horse" bill and it finally got easier just to go on and pass it than for the others to hear anymore about it -- the reason for lots of odd laws.)

I'm not generally in favor of laws that attempt to limit the behavior of responsible adults - and this one does not. As a customer, you are free to drink as much as you want. The law attempts to limit the creation of an environment (drink specials) which would encourage increased drinking during a brief period of time. People pound down as many drinks as possible during "happy hour," before the prices go back up.

When I lived in Michigan, it was illegal for bars to have "two for one" drink specials, because it encourages extra drinking. The bars were free to offer half-price specials, though. The Utah law seems to me to just be a stricter version. Not "moralistic," though, because you can buy as many full-price drinks as you want.

My favorite new law is that students will be forced to learn about homosexual contributions to society, like gloryholes, cruising locations, homosexual bars for a quick hook-up, leather, uniform, and oh the list goes on and on, not the least of which is the joy of sodomy.

I`m L.D.S. and i thought god teaches free agency . I agree Utah tries to over govern & take american citizens freedom of choice away.Forcing people to think like you or believe is wrong. I still love Utah & all the over bearing mormons down there.

@ Professor Marine:

"I used to be a far right conservative until I grew a brain

Too bad no one has put a ban on being a dick"

You made me ink! I don't necessarily agree with you, but I disagreed while laughing my pants wet.

yelley4...

It never stated mormons but do you have any idea what group runs that state? Hell, they do a fairly good job running the state of Idaho as well. In Utah, SLC is slowly becoming less and less mormon...just kills them! Just like Boise in Idaho. The rest of the state treats Boiseans no different than Californians...like they are from Mars or something.

There's a much easier way for restaurants and bars to get around it - instead of calling the cheaper prices happy hour, make that the normal price during those times of the day. Then for the other times, call it "sad hour" where prices are more expensive.

I guess there wont be anyone joining the Arm forces in Utah..There no happy hour for the last good bye..

i didnt hear anything about the law being because of mormons..just because they dont drink dosent make it their fault for the passing of this law. if your so pissed at the mormons dont go to utah and go drink somewhere else..honestly i dont think it that big of a deal when you look at what else is going on in the world every day.

"Oh, there is worse stuff to worry about in the world, no biggie" is the type of mindset that allows these types of laws to remain uncontested and slowly encroach on our constitutional rights.

Hey, hey, hey Bosslimo we have to be fair here. Atleast some are willing to decress regulations towards tax enforcement SPACIFICLY for corperations...

I guess we gotten so use to this @!$%# that it's not worth their time hiding the intentions in a bunch of redundent and unrelated details. When 2013 rolls around the new law is going to be "@!$%# the American public hardcore style." We are stupid enough to keep them in office after all.

@ Backcountry164

So if some republicans want something they ALL must want it also? Pretty good example of the liberal collective-mindset. Don't think for yourself, just follow along behind whatever your leaders want.

I agree with you on the idea behind your question. Everything you wrote after that is ridiculously hypocritical.

Alcohol being one of the highest taxed substances in the entire US is highly taxed in Utah. The idea of many bar owners having happy hour isn't to have as many people pound down as many drinks as they can before driving home. The idea is mostly to get people to stop at THEIR bar on the way home knowing that others will do the same which will create an atmosphere that hopefully will keep them there a while after happy hour is over. Now you have all the bars charging full price you're going to have a lot less people stopping for a "quick one" (that turns into a good long stay) and a lot more just grabbing a couple of cans or a six pack at the quick mart and going home. Now you've got a bar owner paying less taxes and having less to invest or to hire help and you've got people that are spending less money on the alcohol and the state bringing in less tax money all around. They either have to cut something or raise taxes somewhere else...Everyone loses because the irresponsible drinkers are still going to drink and still going to be irresponsible. The responsible ones will be home watching TV and the bartender will be nearly alone.

Forget about Utah... did you people not read the caption!

"and California students to learn about the societal contributions of gays and lesbians."

Yep, thats what are children need to learn about in school. Wonder at what level, elementry, preschool. Wow, this tolerance of everything is flat outright NUTS! California is the scary place... not Utah.

@inspired inquisitiveness

I agree with you on the idea behind your question. Everything you wrote after that is ridiculously hypocritical.

I'm a libertarian so if you assume I'm "following along behind" someone you're mistaken. Just callin' em they way I see em. Liberals tend to be sheep and follow along behind their leaders while conservatives think they're all shepherds and should tell everyone how to think and what to do.

That Utah law is anti-freedom in nature and I hope people violate it. The government should have no power to regulate if citizens can buy and consume alcoholic drinks.

Utah wants full control of it's citizens. Government should have no voice in how much a drink should cost at any hour of the day!!!!!!!

Backcountry164

So if some republicans want something they ALL must want it also? Pretty good example of the liberal collective-mindset. Don't think for yourself, just follow along behind whatever your leaders want.

I'm not sure where you got the idea that it was liberal thinking. I was just looking at the facts at hand. Here's a few.

There are a ton of republican legislations enacted since they've taken control in 2010. Abortion clinic regulations requiring notifications to either parents or judges, stricter legislation requiring more I.D. in voting, police allowed to profile in hopes of catching illegals, and attacks on collective bargaining. And a lot more in regulating rights.

And yet, republicans swear to you they are for less government. I suppose you could ignore the fact that they are only for less government if you are a white male, but you have to admit that republicans are for big government if it helps their electability or causes.

That maybe why we need to take a stand and put someone in the presidency. We may not agree with many of their ideals...but we have to first look at a very crucial fact.. the USA's debt will bring us down like nothing else....I do not agree with most things Ron Paul believes in but I know the 2-3 items that we need to save America.

VOTE RON PAUL....or kick the can down the......oh we do not own the road any more? Remember Ross Perot? He said there would be a big sucking sound from all the jobs we would lose......I voted for Ross.....unfortunately many did not....where are the jobs now?????people? GET THE PICTURE?

That's in case they can't trip the pressure plate at the intersection becaause they're to light. They still have to look both ways.

Most motorcycles under 1100cc are too light to trip the sensor unless they have the engine directly over the corner cut in the pavement where the sensor is. Then they trigger it magnetically. Always had that problem with the light on Flindt and Richland in Storm Lake Iowa.

How about 3 seconds: stop, look and listen. Then see if you can beat that car coming toward you at 60 MPH! Definitely a candidate for Obamacare.

I've seen some intersections where cars don't seem to trip it properly in the wee hours of the morning. OK, so light in opposite direction goes yellow, red, and green, with the light never going green in one's own direction. It'd be nice if in cases like that cars could just go also. But instead we have to resort to shifting the car in reverse and drive, and driving over the censor multiple times before the light finally does what it should have the first time. Annoying, really...

The intersection off US 1, going onto Pensylvania Ave turning left (as one exits from the last exit in PA), in Morrisville is notorious for this. Not so much during the daytime hours, but over the night time hours.... Annoying lil bugger of a light....

Just an FYI, the sensors have never had anything to do with weight. They are, very simply put, wire loops that detect metal. But more to the point, most intersections now use low-res cameras that are not really good at detecting smaller objects like motorcycles.

so now u know why all the new 'Watchout for mortoecycles"

I suppose if you are driving a small fiberglass car your screwed. just sit their and wait fore something big to come by, new tech detectors will fix the problem but no we have to make a law! and still have the problems.

My city also relies on cameras. They're mounted atop most traffic signals. Not os much the pressure plates.
The NC law making it harder for the state to collect taxes from underpaying corporations is the most atrocious of these laws.

yeeeah....weight never had anything to do with the signal changing, it's essentially magnetic loop detection. the vehicle enters the magnetic field formed by the loop wires embedded in the road (the weird lookin cuts in the road that you thought were "pressure plates" (mmfphhahah)), changes in that electrical field are detected by the components in the control cabinet, which tells the controller that there is a car over that particular loop, thus creating a "call". Then, when the cycle times out (to its minumum, thanks to the "call" that was placed by our vehicle over the loops) the signal changes, and we are free to proceed. The fact that motorcycles are light has absolutely NO bearing on whether the signal changes. Also, who gets to decide what a "reasonable" time is? The motorcyclist? Yeah, good luck with that. Cops will just be scraping more bikers off the roadway with this law. P.S. inb4 tl;dr

But instead we have to resort to shifting the car in reverse and drive, and driving over the censor multiple times before the light finally does what it should have the first time. Annoying, really...

How annoying do you think it must be for the censor? muahaha

There are many ways a traffic light is cycled. It can be on a timer, an induction coil embedded in pavement, pressure or weight sensors in pavement, lasers, rubber hoses filled with air.

Never say never, unless you like looking like a fool.

Thanks, MSM sucks...I was wondering why, if the sensors were magnetic, they failed to detect my large metallic car until I reversed and drove over them a couple of times.

First of all, ( I have been in the highway field for years) FHWA mandates the loop (it is magnetic) to start 10' back from the traveled edge of the cross street even when there is a 10' wide crosswalk that was (also following FHWA rules) placed farther back but you are not allowed to stop in the crosswalk blocking pedestrians. When that happens the vehicle is not into the loop far enough to make it trip. FHWA also mandates the size of the loops. In this case then the signal is not tripped until a car is over the SECOND loop back.

Some motorcycles aren't heavy enought to trip to the light to green. I have set through many cycles of a light. You have to get the car behind you to pull up in the lane with you to get the light to turn green. I wish Missouri would pass that law.

Just be sure besides a leash and a chip he has a fire marshall's certificate.

They're just using the law to make sure all the fire-handlers who come out here to Nevada for Burning Man are licensed. They already have a law here for residents for the same thing. (I still have to get mine. lol)

They're just using the law to make sure all the fire-handlers who come out here to Nevada for Burning Man are licensed

In other words they're trying to make a few bucks on licensing fees and fines at the expense of what I'm sure they consider to be a minor freedom. Liberty in this country is slowing but surely dying a death by a thousand cuts.

Backcountry164 - In other words they're trying to make a few bucks on licensing fees and fines at the expense of what I'm sure they consider to be a minor freedom.

I do not believe that the licensing fees and the fines will cover the cost of the people that have to enforce these Laws, TRANSLATION: Taxpayers pay more Taxes.

Example: Who pays for "California students to learn about the societal contributions of gays and lesbians."

Just like the Hispanic Cultural Awareness Classes (usually only attended by Hispanics, unless you want your arse whooped or gang raped). That's right the California Taxpayers (the Illegal Aliens do not pay State or Federal Income Taxes, Cash for Work Only, Example: 2004 California Taxpayers spent $7.7 Billion on Education for Illegal Aliens, $1.4 Billion for Illegal Aliens Health Care, $1.4 Billion for Illegal Aliens Imprisonment for Murder, Rape, Armed Assaults, Gang Initiations (Random Murder, Rape, etc.), etc. and the US collected $17 Million Nationwide in State and Federal Income Taxes from Illegal Aliens, Sales Taxes State of California are chump change (way below the $17 Million in 2004). This is called Felony Criminal Tax Evasion, the same way the Federal Government finally got most of "Italian Organized Crime" when they could not be convicted for murder, extortion, drug dealing, drug smuggling, "Enforcers" of the US Labor Unions, etc., resulting in the confiscation of most of Las Vegas, and Reno Nevada by the Federal Government from "Italian Organized Crime".

From the Legal Standpoint, someone needs to Force California in a Lawsuit to require the mandatory classes of the opposite position of this: "California students to learn about the societal contributions of gays and lesbians."

Whered you get a fire breathing dragon? I want one o.o

Yeah, I'd also like to know. None of my dragons can breathe fire. Sure they can fly...but so what.

I do not believe that the licensing fees and the fines will cover the cost of the people that have to enforce these Laws, TRANSLATION: Taxpayers pay more Taxes.

But that's ok. It will create jobs. [end sarcasm]

Does this mean Godzilla can't visit Vegas?

He got his fire breathing dragon from all the money State Farm insurance saved him. And I believe he got him from some dude named Hagrid, or something along those lines.

Oh and being from Utah, congrats, one step forward, two steps back with the liquor laws. Another useless law on the books. Make it just convoluted enough to keep away the tourists. I guess now they will have to move to "coopuns".

Where did I get my dragon? You gotta have the magic, my friends. If ya ain't got the magic, ya don't get the dragon.

Good One Mike! I like that!

Wouldn't that be called "having a first degree murder conviction" on your criminal record?

I can see the ACLU taking a crap right now. OMG, what about their rights?

Depending on your view point...

Let's say you killed someone who threatened your family. You do your time. Punishment served. You then have to register for 10 years as a murderer for an act in protecting your family which you've already been punished for. What's the chances of getting a job without the ten year registration?

I don't see how that would be defined as first degree murder.

should we have a foundation for the headstones LOL

Why should a murderer be allowed freedom?

Boss...why would you kill him? If he is threatening your family and you now have a gun pointed at him, why not call 911 and have the situation defused? He wont bother you or your family again if he knows you have a gun and are willing to use it.

Say cheese now wait for the bolt to slam home through your skull-Congratulations you are registered.

If you kill someone because you and/or a family member is in imminent danger, then you shouldn't be convicted at all because it was self defense. Additionally, 1st degree murder is premeditated which that wouldn't be if your family was attacked and you killed someone in self defense.

First degree murder is pre-meditated, ie planned ahead of time, murder for hire. (sometimes you can obtain a better point of view from gathering facts before forming an opinion, although it seems more popular lately for people to make half-baked assumptions)

We don't kill people "convicted" of murder in intelligent states because of the prevalence of wrongful convictions. Over 350 documented so far.

Imagine being convicted of a murder you did not commit. Then tell me whether your name should go on a headstone.

Can someone explain the purposes of requiring someone to register on "registries" for certain types of felons? Isn't this all public record to begin with?

Hey Kevin , ever heard dead men tell no tales.

Hypothetically, if you let a man who was going to kill you be arrested go to jail, for a BNE, and possibly rape or murder of your family, which you do not know what is in the mind of such people, but you stopped it before it could happen, then he stands trial, all the while he is looking at you and your family, as you will have to be in the court when the proceedings are taking place, as you will testify on what happened, all the while he is looking at you and your family, and oh he will be sentenced as he will most likely go away for a while, all the while he is looking at your family, and since there is so much over crowding, maybe he stay's in prison 7 or 10 years, all the while stewing about if he had been a little more quiet, which he will learn how to be while in there, all the while you are happy he is locked up not thinking that he will be a bother to you or your family any more, which one day it will hit you like a ton of bricks that he is going to be out someday, and what do you think will be on his beady little mind, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, payback for what you did, and all you had to do was pull the trigger and clean up a mess after the police had done their investigation. NO return visits, no worries of reprisals, no more sh*t bag.

As a LVMP officer once told my mother if anyone ever enters your house and has a weapon, and tries to get away, shoot them, and if they are out side drag there ass back in, as self defense goes, @!$%# happens. Why, if they came in once they will try again, and if there dead, no ones trying anything.

Break in a home, your life is in the hands of the owner, and most likely he isn't going to care one way or another, a dead sh*t bag is just one less desirable on the street.

Wouldn't revenge solve the problem with less paperwork?

that sounds good, but now they'll kill the child so it can't tell.

They do 50% of the time anyway. And most pedophiles think they have the child under control and they won't tell anyone. Fear and manipulation, combined with shame is a powerful tool.

— Penalties increasing for raping a child, creating a minimum sentence of 25 years but allowing judges to increase the time when appropriate, up to 60 years for the worst cases.

I agree with mike,there is no "better" or "worse" rape cases,its rape.To look a rape victim in the eye and go,hes gonna get 25 years,because it wasnt all that bad........WTF

Every rapist deserves death.Preferably painful.But not before spending a good 25 years in pure fear.

As for killing the child comment,dude,theres a part of every rape victim already dead.Nothing is the same,every encounter with anyone,relationships,nothing is ever quite the way it's supposed to be.

i think they should increase the penalties for any and all forms of rape. rape in any case whether to an adult woman/man, or child whether girl or boy should be punished harshly every time. rape in any case no matter who the victim is, is horrible to the victim, in some cases causing the victim to live life in fear and sometimes causing them to extinguish his/her own life just to get away from the emotional pain. rape (forced/coerced with threats, etc.) should be punished with the death penalty in most cases, because a rapist almost never stops raping innocent people.

I agree with this law, but I believe death for child rape/ molesters is the better way to go.

Of course then all it takes is an accusation by a disturbed child or two and you might be dead.

I agree with SpeedDemon, ANY rape should be met with the death penalty, swiftly! Also on the death penalty list should be home invasion or home theft -burglary, car jacking and of course any premeditated murder or murder during another crime or murder by conspiracy. The CJS has let the liberals keep them from initiating capital punishment where and when it should be delivered.

rightnow-1354388

So, you've killed Cain, repo men, and special ops. Unless you want to get selective. Of course, that would mean "death panels".

wait a minute! I think I would be considered "liberal" on a lot of issues, but I definately support the death penalty. In fact, I'd like to see it expanded to include taggers defacing others property, people that make computer viruses and worms, and telemarketers !

There's moral implications however. When one casts his soul in the devil's pit, how many will follow suit in the name of "justice" by killing the damned?

I am no saint or advocate of religion, but many follow moral beliefs. Are you willing to pull the trigger, lever, or needle and cast one into hell quicker, at the loss of your own eternal paradise? And all for the defacing of property you can't take with you, a virus on a computer you can't take with you, or a person that makes their living through telephone sales.

If you can kill another based on their actions, you do far better than I and fear no reprecussions of your own actions. If your actions are so insignificant, what makes the one you kill any more significant? Perhaps you advocate the killing of another through someone else's hands. Does that sit better with your morals?

A morally complicated mess for sure. I, for one, find it hard to kill one just to swim in eternal fire beside them for killing them, regardless of their "sin".

If this was a police state, agents would be diving through your home right now and arresting you for saying bad things about the state.

Yep! Hey, maybe you should try North Korea for a change of pace?!?!

tbh, they very well might pass new laws that are already on the books. In large measure because our legislators don't even bother to read the bills when voting for or against them; and largely because there's already so much on the books that those in Congress aren't even aware of....

For instance, did you know that some states still have laws regarding the use of a horse and buggy on a public street? Take a look for old/obsolete laws that were just left on the books, and some might be surprised what still remains in law.... As to the enforcement of them; well how many people even use horse drawn carriages anymore :d

Then on the other hand you can end up with cases like one of my brothers ran into. He was a police seargant here in NJ; when the mayor decided to cut the force and push last minute demotions as a means to cut the pension that would be payed out, to less then what the people would otherwise get. But my brother was aware of an old law still on the books, that showed that if demoted he'd be the FIRST up for re-promotion, and therefore wouldn't be demoted on the day of the early retirement one year hence. After he informed the politicians who were obviously less aware of the laws they still had on the books, then he was; they changed their minds, and instead skipped demoting him only 1 day before his retirement. But because the pension is based on the AVERAGE salary over the last year, it didn't cut his retirement pay much. But it does mean that on a newer job app, he can't report his position as being what he really worked as.... Silly mayor was less aware of the law then the cops :p

I think Merlin raises a good point.....way too many laws on the books already and many more to come. His police state analogy is spot on only it should be mentioned that this change is like an iceberg moving imperceptably slow until one day we all wake up to a society that would make George Orwell blush. Just sayin!

To Manchu Infantry, just because agents arent busting down his door arresting him for saying that, doesnt mean we're not a police state. all police states police via intimidation. America polices through intimidation. Do a crime, go to jail. Thats intimidation. So yeah, we are a police state. We just are like the USSR or others.

States talk about passing a law to stop texting or talking on a cell phone. Yet 48 states already have a law on the books to stop that. " A driver shall have both hands on the wheel at all times, except when signalling, or shifting." Straight foreward, simple, and enforcable. Yet, how many cops have you seen talking on a phone, eating a burger ( or donut), or taking a drink of coffee, soda, or whatever?

Bondaler -- Things aren't perfect here, but if you think that this is ANYTHING LIKE the old Soviet Union, you are incredibly ignorant and I am surprised that you have a mentality sufficient to have ever learned to type!

We'll be just like the old Soviet Union if We the Sheeple don't wake up soon!!!

We need to choose our elected officials CAREFULLY!!!!

Raise hell when it needs to be raised!

Kick ass when it needs to be kicked!

We need more brotherhood in this country. Not the piggishness of the Occupiers, but REAL brotherhood!

God, guns, and guts built America. Let us keep all three!

While I absolutely agree with your feelings about child rapists or any rapists for that matter.

The purpose of allowing these folks to live, has more to do with trying to assure that the victim is not killed, because they may possibly identify their rapist. If you take all hope away you almost guarantee a permanent solution, to being caught.

TN sux. enough said.....

How do you go about qualifying how bad a child rape is that one is worse than another? Get real. These people should be put to death or spend the rest of their lives (and I mean no chance for parole, ever) in prison.

How about the 18 year old who has consensual sex with his underage girlfriend? You really think he deserves death or life in prison? What do we need judges for if legislators are going to decide who goes to jail for how long without even considering the facts of individual cases?

Mandatory minimum sentences undermine the Constitution, there are three branches of government for a reason. It's time for the judges to stop legislating from the bench and time for legislators to get the hell out of the court room.

FLAbeach ↑ must not like penalties for child rape.

@Backcountry164 depending on his girlfriend's age, it might be either statutory rape or not rape at all. I think if she's atleast 16, she can give consent to any male between 18 and 20.

Backcounry - the issue was rape of a child...it didn't mention onconsenual sex between an 18 year old and a 16 year old...I am taking it on faith that the issue is more about pedofiles who prey on children. No, I would not condone the death penalty for teens who are dating and the age difference falls between the legal and illegal guidelines of the state, and my statement should have been obvious that I was referring to heinous crimes against children. If my statement was not clear to anyone, I mean pedophiles preying on children.

Raping or molesting MULTIPLE children. Use of a weapon, etc

If you want to discuss the worst cases, there are people out there that will do and have done things that normal people can't even imagine. There are groups of men that have gang raped little girls so badly that they can't have children and have used objects on them. Those are the kinds of things that get them 60 years. Remember also, that statutory rape is not a crime anymore. It is called rape of a child no matter what the circumstances, so a teenage boy who has an underage girlfriend is charged with rape, not statutory rape. The changes in state laws are instituted to prevent child predators from getting five year sentences for rape and then getting out on good behavior and doing it all over again to some other child. It's easy to have good behavior when there are no potential victims around, but as soon as these predators are out in society again, they go right back to their crimes again. Those of you who don't want more laws, what are your solutions for these monsters? Are you willing to take the law into your own hands? That makes you just as much a monster.

I am taking it on faith that the issue is more about pedofiles who prey on children

And yet 18 year olds have been convicted of statutory rape and had their lives ruined because they have to register as sex offenders for the rest of their lives. Anyone who takes anything "on faith" is being foolish. Doesn't matter what the intention of the law was, once it's on the books it can and will be used for anything that fits the letter of the law.

Shame on our society for sending the message to young people that pre marital sex is okay. Sex was designed to be a part of a marriage relationship only for many good reasons. Let's protect our children by telling them the truth!

Premarital sex is not the issue here, the protection of minors is. Whether a minor (male OR female) is four years, four months, or four minutes away from legal age, they CANNOT CONSENT, and it is against the law to have sex with them! Adults in any state, having sex with minors below the legal age of consent are SEX OFFENDERS, and should be registered as such, bringing about whatever consequences such a status entails. Sorry if your kid made a dumb choice and didn't think it would matter. Minors are minors, no matter how they dress, what kind of fake ID they carry, or what they say they want. And good on Utah for trying to curtail drinking and driving. The safe level of alcohol for drivers should be 0.00! And I am an Athiest and a Democrat, so no love of the Mormon Church here!

@the fab five...LOL Sex wasn't "designed", and it was around long before marriage. If you want your kids to learn "the truth" as you put it, then order the discovery channel. I'm sure you'd learn a thing or two as well.

As for the Tennessee law, Way to go! I'd sign a petition to have that law nation wide in a second. Child molesters prey on the weakest most vulnerable element of our society for a reason. They themselves are weak, pathetic, animals, and should have no place in this world. Prison for life is to good for them, but it's a start.

The Utah law is a bs law and 100% about money. It won't change a thing when it comes to drunk drivers, except now they'll have less money to call a cab when they finish drinking.

@fab five - Yes, lets tell them instead of branding them sex offenders and ruining their lives over it!!

@Mollama - So you think an 18 yr old with a 17 yr old GF should be branded a sex offender for life. That's the kind of irresponsible bureaucracy that makes our laws impotent. Interpreting the law should be done with intelligence and discretion, not just blind ignorance.

Good way to muddy the waters.Well all know what child rape is,and isnt,so stop being stupid.

If your state is sending 18 year olds to prison for scrwing their 17 year old gf,perhaps you should do something about that.You do vote yes?

So lets get rape defined correctly and stop running around with our heads up our ass's

rape/rāp/

Noun:

1. The crime, committed by a man, of forcing another person to have sexual intercourse with him, esp. by the threat or use of violence.
2. A plant (genus Brassica) of the cabbage family with bright yellow, heavily scented flowers, esp. a variety (oilseed rape) grown for its...
3. The stalks and skins of grapes left after winemaking, used in making vinegar.

Weird,says nothing there about consensual.If your gonna try and make the issue as murky as possible,take up religion.

Children are too protected and sheltered nowadays. No wonder they never grow up anymore.

It's back to bath tub gin! Woo-hoo!

So, if Utah wants to ban happy hour; would they like to legalize polygamy? Except that the Feds might see an issue with that; and fat chance getting the other 49 states to recognize plural marriages....

I have about the same thought of banning happy hour as I do wrt some of the rather bozotic blue laws I have heard holds in Bergen county, NJ... Well it's one place I wouldn't move to.... And I live in Jersey, but certainly NOT in Bergen county

I feel sorry for the people that go to sonic between 2 n 4 for their slushies....

you know your the first in line-they are so good:)

where do you people get dragons? jeez. I want one :(

Same place you get Dungens.

While I'm all for permanent incarceration (or worse) for all child rapists, you bring up an excellent point. What is the criteria that will be used to determine that the victim is a "child"? Is statutory considered a separate crime with separate criteria?

It's always those little details that royally screw things up.

In Tennessee, one of the definitions of "especially aggravated rape" involves a child under twelve. This law will NOT be used for stautory rape; prosecutors are generally loathe to file charges of rape against a 17 year old (above age of consent) for having consensual sex with his 15 year old (below age of consent) girlfriend and if they do so due to parental pressure it will not be under this statute. They have long discussed doing away with any charge for statutory rape when there is three years or less age difference, but don't think that they've actually done that yet here. IMO they should.

They have long discussed doing away with any charge for statutory rape when there is three years or less age difference, but don't think that they've actually done that yet here. IMO they should.

You're just too ignorant...how would you like your 15 yo daughter to get banged by her 18 yo boyfriend?

Statutory rape is different from rape.

Every sex offender, violent criminal, thief, murderer should have to register on a Federal registry...after serving at least a decade without early release or the death penalty for more serious crimes.

...call it a temporary price reduction or sale between the hours of...

That is what they banned- "New laws make any daily drink specials illegal, essentially banning happy hour."

It usually pays to read the article BEFORE commenting.

"Stores", other than those with liquor licenses, don't fall under the authority of the Alcoholic Beveage Commission, or whatever they call it in Utah.

Perhaps they should take a page from the book of someone my tai chi teachers knew. There was this guy, who among other things assaulted a 90 year old guy in a sparing match, as he got serious and pretty much went for blood. But the guy who did this was also notorious for when for instance one person insensed, and wanting him out of the competition took a swift kick to the groin; well the guy claimed the guy was one of his many teachers. But left out the part where the lesson was getting knocked out cold, for being a douche who so offended his next competitor, that the guy wanted him out of the competition and didn't care if he was disqualified or not, in removing him.

So this same crappy individual who got the ire of his competitors went to this person for lessons. The guy would only accept the douche as a student if he'd pay "the special price". He got to pay 3x as much as everyone else, for his lessons.... So, perhaps the bars in Utah need to provide a politician special for their state legislators. The legislators get to pay 3x as much for their drinks, as everyone else pays.... Perhaps they can even cover the price difference with a sign similar to what some small merchants here in Jersey post.

Final price subject to change, due to customer attitude

That might just work :p

The only problem with this 'solution' is that 95% of Utah legislators/politicians do not drink. And 99% of the people on the Liquor Control Board do not drink. And insanity rules when you have non-participants making rules for participants.

I take it english is not your first/primary language Nuadormrac. If it is you need to get your money back from the school system.

jotitdown --

You hit the problem on the head. Here the situation is that liquor and wine are regulated by the state subject to 'local option' (Wet or Dry) but beer is regulated by the localities. There was a guy on the beer board of the nearest big town who was also an officer (elder?) of one of the biggest local churches and he always voted 'no' on every beer permit, whether the person met the requirements or not, so as to sell himself to his church on how righteous that he was (heard later that he in fact was a big customer of one of the local liquor stores, as I would imagine many of those Utah 'nondrinkers' are in real life). This is B.S. and I hope it was one of the factors in his eventually losing his City Council seat. BTW, this guy was also a big officer in the local DEMOCRATIC Party; no one group has all of the hypocrites.

I agree with 1wizard, Nuadormrac you are quite the wordsmith... Our tax dollars at work in our great educational system.

Wagonmaster: If I remember right, I think the last 3 governors in a row of Illinois have all gone to prison. I don't know if that means the people of Illinois are nuts, but I think it would certainly indicate that they should consider giving a bit more thought before pulling the voting lever.

On this one, I'd care to leave comment out. Because the former govenor of New Jersey was Jon Corzine. And though he's not exactly in prison, he should be. We can see him these days in many a headline involving MF Financial....

I think a certain president got his politcal start in IL also. So obviously thought before throwing the lever just aint happening. It's the Chicago way.

Why would anybody do business with a firm called "MF Financial"? Doesn't the very name explain what was eventually going to happen? Maybe I can attract their old customers to my new firm, which I intend to call "FU Financial".

boondocks: I concede the point ;-)~

Even after the complete and utter failure of prohibition, I guess the temperance movement is still alive in this country... what a shame.

Are there any strip clubs in Utah serving liquor? Probably just near beer. I can imagine what the strippers wear. HEHE.

Humerous,

Sounds like that was the restaurant owner's personal policy and has nothing to do with the government. I'm actually kind of wondering if he was sued for a drunk driving accident where a patron had left his establishment after drinking.

Only in Utah. And we're contemplating a Moron, uh, I mean Mormon president.

Why not President? There is already one "leading" the majority party in the Senate.

And just how's that working out for you, weasley?

and that Senate Majority leader comes from the state with legalized prostitution, gambling, and 24 hour drinking (with lots of specials); so I wouldn't worry about him too much.

Just revised in the Websters Dictionary: Brainwashed (see Mormon)

I know some Mormons that used to live in Utah. I've got news for you. Utah sucks even if you ARE a Mormon!

I was wondering the same thing myself. I stop at a Sonic during the daily happy hour several times a week for a big cherry limeade. Sure glad I don't live in Utah!

this is why i feel sorry for those who go to sonic! we dont know o.o

I wonder if someone could try to incorporate themselves, and declare themselves a company of 1 /rofl Well if the idea of corporate personhood works, why not a concept of personal corporate-hood :p Just imagine the legal wrangling one could create if they tried to turn some of this up on it's head.... And what's worse, a private contractor who is self employed could, almost argue this sort of thing, haha

And though it might not go over well in a court; to just see the faces of some politicians if a comedian made something on just this premis :p

Now we can't even drown out our injustices.

WOW, I thought that Arizona was going to be on there because of SB1070.

California does have at least one new law. It was mentioned at the very beginning of the article.

School children will now be taught the contributions gays/lesbians have made to society.

I really don't agree with that one. Why can't we just teach the children about PEOPLE who have made contributions to society, what difference does their sexual orientation make? Why does it have to be pointed out?

This practice promotes segregation.

Instead of simply teaching that a person made a contribution to society, California must stress their sexual orientation? Does that mean they made a more value, bigger contribution? Same sex preference is just that it's a preference, a life style not a civil right any more than beastiality or child explotation.

Because CA figures that 2nd and 3rd graders need to learn what a sexual orientation is; so they can come home from school and ask their parents what the difference is :o Just imagine the questions a 7 year old would have; after reading one of the approved text books for one of these classes. Right about when they need the parents to help them understand the nuances of the distinctions their text book is pointing out, so they can pass the exams on such material....

ProgressiveAmerican

Instead of simply teaching that a person made a contribution to society, California must stress their sexual orientation? Does that mean they made a more value, bigger contribution? Same sex preference is just that it's a preference, a life style not a civil right any more than beastiality or child explotation.

The fact that someone like you thinks that being gay is a choice (a "preference," as you call it, rather than an orientation, like being right- or left-handed, both perfectly normal), and that two people of the same sex who are in love, live as married partners, probably raising children to be good citizens, paying their taxes, etc., is the same as having sex with animals or raping children is the reason why these laws are necessary. It's to prove that gays/lesbians are good, normal people who have made significant contributions to our great nation because of, and in spite of, their orientation, just like straight people have, even though straight people have never been persecuted, tormented, villified, imprisoned or even killed for just being straight. When sexual orientation, whether gay/lesbian or straight, is no longer considered any issue, there will be no need for such laws. But for now, partially based on what you said, they are.

Now, now to be fair...we all have been taught several things about gay/lesbian contributions. We just were not told that those people were gay or lesbian is the difference. This change can be made as hard or easy as people make it. They can simply mention that these people were of alternate sexuality amongst their other accomplishments, or they can section it off into a whole separate chapter itsself. It's common for universities/colleges to offer such courses, why not younger ages? I don't think this is segregation, I believe there is a chance that this may help promote equality. It's not segragation to teach AMERICAN HISTORY, which we all know every school in America has and you have to take several times over as you grow to the next grade level: grade school, middle school, high school AND college. I hope that it creates a better understanding that alternate sexualities have been around FAR longer than people thought. And for the record, I am not gay/lesbian. I just am very GBLT friendly and think it's awful that so many children have to SUFFER because of their feelings. Coexist people.

Maybe a closer look of who suggested the law might reveal somethinnnng moreeeee.

Shlt, I shouldn't have looked for it, http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/12/california-police-illegal-immigrant-alien-towing-immigration/1...

I wish I could say unFing believable but I spent too many years in Ca.

The idea has nothing to do with the merits of drinking. Happy hours are usually around 5 OClock, just when people are getting out of work. What they are trying to prevent is the guy who has had a long day and stops by his local bar and gets wasted before climbing in his car to drive home. It's a real problem and not just in Utah

Agreement with taxation of the big business we call organized religion. They feel entitled to fund political candidates with tax exempt monies. They want representation without taxation, the taxation the rest of secular society pays for their representation. You want your religious opinions to be heard? Participate by paying (or rendering unto Caesar) what is caesars. In our nations case, the government.

I'm not an alkie, I'm a drunk.

Alcoholics go to meetings. ;P

speaking of drinking.....I could use one now!! come on 5 o'clock!!!!!

me too flabeach74 and wish i was on that flabeach with drink in hand.

I'm not an Alkie! I'm a "Beer Enthusiest". Lets try and keep it politically correct around here. lol

When I become sober I'm going to resent that remark!

OK, I'm LDS and from Utah, I don't drink and I don't live there anymore. I'm up in WA and I've got to admit you guys had me laughing my arse off with those comments!

RE: all the beer remarks: There's too much water in beer.

No but one of their laws they signed this year will go into effect next school year. Teaching gay history!

They've run out of money and can't afford the paper to print them up on.

That's pretty funny, Backcountry.

Actually, a new California law goes into effect January 1st banning the sale and production of caffeinated beer.

I find it amazing how silly people are, the law about "gay history", is not what you want people to believe. it is simply that if a person in history was gay, that will be stated. and big events in history will be taught, that were never mentioned before, such as what caused the stonewall riots.

All they are saying is when you tell people about Alexander the Great in History class, or whoever, teach that he was bi-sexual instead of doing what they do now in schools and ignoring the history of the person based on sexual orientation, or color or whatever ,history class should just teach history and not be classes for brainwashing American children by the conservatives, if Queen Elizabeth -the whatever- was a lesbian just teach it in history class and move on, this wouldn't even be an issue if history classes just taught history and were not all political and religious in America.

And for all you Conservatives out there chew on this:

Jesus was from Egypt, the garden of Eden is in Iraq and so on..., and when you put up a picture of him with blond hair, blue eyes and white skin it's a lie, no one who lives their entire life under the desert sun in Egypt has white skin, just tell the history and stop lying about everything and everyone cause your cowards and afraid your kids are going to learn at school how full of @!$%# you are. You spend your whole lives trying to stop your kids from reading the truth in books by burning and banning them like a bunch of Nazi's instead of just telling the truth.

You're an idiot. I am a Conservative and and atheist, but am at least fair enough to accept the fact that is Jesus was the son of God he wasn't actually "from" Egypt and could look like anyone God wished. Save your Nazi comments for later use on yourself because you show the same level of tolerance. No one knows what Alexander's sexuality actually was. None of these "intellectuals" knew or dated him and he didn't write it down. They "interpreted" it due to the way he wrote in some letters, while ignoring the fact that that's how people wrote back then. If brainwashing is bad why is ok for the left to do it?

Why is a person's sexual orientation relevant to their contributions toward anything? Just another example of California taking one step forward and two steps back. Making things like sexual orientation, race, religion, etc relevant to a person's contributions only increases animosity and gives the nutbag groups that hate them more firepower. Stop being stupid, California.

Actually, Jesus was of Ethiopian and Nazarine descent. Bible refers to his bronze skin and hair "like a lamb" He wasn't white, that's for sure. Just sayin'

Avarage Guy,

Ignorance and malice seems to come from people like you just as much as it does from religious conservatives. Your entire comment is nothing but a hate filled rant, filled with animosity, factual inaccuracies and little in the way of intelligent thought.

First off, Jesus was not from Egypt. He was born in Bethlehem, which was never a part of Egypt. I don't know where you got such inane drivel, but you're way wrong.

Secondly, nobody KNOWS where the Garden of Eden was. It is speculated that it was at the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers...but that is just speculation and nothing more.

Also, why is soooo important that history points out that someone was gay? As if their sexual orientation had anything to do with what they accomplished. Does that mean the schools should also indicate which historical figures were straight? After all, if you're going to point out the sexual orientation of one group of people, you should point out all of them right?

Just to be fair, impartial and politically correct right? Right?

The world will be a much better place when people get rid of all the damned labels they put on each other. Gay, straight, white, black, conservative, liberal...blah blah blah.

What a bunch of children.

Chris, a person's sexual orientation is not relevant to their contributions. But there are some haters who are so vehement in their insistence that gay people contribute nothing to society that it is necessary to point it out. I think it's a sad state of affairs, just as it is sad that we have to have Black History month to point out to haters that you don't have to be white to be a significant part of American history.

I would love to live in an America that values all of its citizens, but I doubt it will ever happen.

Average Guy you are an above average nut case with a below average intelligence. First of all it was not the conservatives demanding that California teach homosexuality. It is not teaching history to have to point out the sexual leanings of every person who is referenced and you obviously are a complete whack job Athiest or is it whack off Athiest. Get a life and get your Liberal propaganda out of our schools you can teach that to the willing on your own dime when you build your own schools but not in public schools paid for by taxes. I reserve the right to raise my children by my values and you are welcome to screw up your own but don't think I will stand by when you screw up mine.

Wizard -- How can you take Genesis 2 literally enough to think that the Garden of Eden was a real geographical location and then not take it literally enough to believe that its location was specualtive rather than that it was right where Gen 2:14 says that it was?