TELL US: Should Mass. Blue Laws Be Eliminated?
Blue laws prohibit retailers from opening before midnight on Black Friday.
Black Friday is starting earlier than ever, as some national retailers have announced they will open the night of Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 22. However, here in Massachusetts, state blue laws prohibit stores from opening until midnight, according to a report by the Boston Globe.
Current blue laws prohibit retailers in the state from opening on Thanksgiving, thus preventing them from getting an early start on Black Friday sales, according to the Globe article. Some exceptions are restaurants, health care facilities and gas stations.
The laws, instituted in the 17th century, are intended to make sure holidays are properly observed, according to the Boston Globe.
Are Massachusetts' blue laws outdated? Should they be eliminated? Tell us in the comments section below.
Craig Foster
8:24 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
No, they should not be eliminated. Let the workers enjoy Thanksgiving. If anything they should be changed so they can't open until Friday morning. Do people really need to go and shop that late at night?
Josh Chace
12:20 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
I agree with Craig. This slow but deliberate erosion of the family tradition that is Thanksgiving, in favor of trying to "get the jump" on other retailers is disgusting. There's nothing saying you can't offer "Black Friday" sales any other day of the year. Give the EMPLOYEES the day off to enjoy their family time, and keep some crazed and brainwashed shoppers off the road that day. There's no reason to open your store at 8pm on Thanksgiving Day. Because next year it will be 6pm, then noontime the year after, then magically, Thanksgiving will no longer be a closed-business holiday.
Chad H.
8:30 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
I agree Thanksgiving is the one holiday these days that you can actually count on for most stores to be closed so this particular law I support. Like Josh mentions allowing stores to open at 8 or 9pm will only lead to further earlier openings.
mdonahue
10:31 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
I believe Blue Laws need to be in place in order to protect worker's rights. If stores are open, then they need to be staffed. Its bad enough that emergency workers and hospital staff need to work on the holidays. This is one secular holiday that everyone in the US celebrates. Enjoy a peaceful day - shop on Friday !