Glad you found Breaking the Law.
If you came here looking for a homage to Judas Priest, you may–or may not–be disappointed.
Breaking the Law‘s mission is to chronicle stupid laws, the prying politicians who pass them, the busybody bureaucrats who enforce them, our growing Nanny Nation…and the lawbreaker in all of us.
It’s intended to answer the question, “What were they thinking?” and to demonstrate that in today’s USA, it’s nearly impossible to go a single week without breaking the law:
In Rocklin, CA, city officials are considering a ban on residents smoking cigarettes in their own yards. In Shreveport, LA—which already criminalizes baggy pants—commissioners are trying to ban wearing pajamas outdoors. In LA County, CA, beachgoers can be fined for throwing Frisbees during the summer. And King County, WA? The county that Seattle resides in bans swimming without a life vest.
In New York City, kids can’t play baseball with aluminum bats and schools can’t hold bake sales. Actually it’s impossible not to break a rule in New York City: In addition to having the strictest gun-control laws in the nation, and some of the most aggressive anti-pot enforcement, New Yorkers face increasing restrictions on food and a litany of other things.
In Mississippi, Sunday alcohol sales are still banned. In Alabama, stores can’t sell sex toys.
Then there’s Colorado. That state recently proposed to mandate that all daycare centers offer dolls that represent at least three different races. Who would actually enforce doll diversity laws in the first place?
Almost every day, I read about a law that makes some victimless action a crime or provides intrusive oversight over something that should be a private decision.
While the United States is called the “Land of the Free,” recent data indicates otherwise. In various international freedom indexes, the United States has been slipping for years, with states such as New York, New Jersey and California (the Golden State has 151,000-plus safety laws) leading the way.
We all want to be safer. But does anyone think losing freedom is a good thing?
My name is Justin Rubner, and I think losing freedom is most definitely a bad thing. I’m the proprietor of this blog, and I have big plans for it. My goal is to provide you with an entertaining way to prove a point: That we have way too many laws governing our lives.
Breaking the Law will contain written posts, video blogs and, eventually, documentary-style episodes.
It won’t be partisan, unless you consider freedom partisan. When it comes to restricting freedom, both parties are culpable. Most politicians, whether they have Ds or Rs next to their names, measure progress by the things they regulate. Not the freedoms they give us. Or restore.
Breaking the Law won’t be preachy either. I believe the best way to prove a point is through humor. If I sway from this goal, please let me know.
That’s one law I hope not to break.
- Justin Rubner