A bill before legislators in North Dakota would lift the current ban on shopping before noon on Sundays that some think is outdated and makes no sense.
The state has the most restrictive “blue laws” — rules to reinforce religious standards — in the nation, but some say there are benefits other than religion.
“The purpose of the law is to provide a common period of rest and relaxation for the benefits of families and communities,” Executive Director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference Christopher Dodson told the Bismarck Tribune. “Humans and communities need periods of rest and free time that allow them to tend to family, cultural, social and religious life.”
Rep. Pamela Anderson argued, however, people may choose to attend church on a Wednesday night, making the argument moot, the Tribune reported.
North Dakota business owners would like the opportunity to make their own decisions about how and when to operate their businesses.
Brandon Medenwald of Simply Made Apps in Fargo pointed out to the Tribune that shoppers from North Dakota are traveling across state lines to Minnesota to shop on Sundays, costing North Dakotan business owners revenue and market share.
“North Dakota doesn’t dictate to farmers when to farm, hospitals when to practice medicine, or restaurants when to feed people,” Medenfeld told lawmakers, The Associated Press reported.
The current bill would maintain North Dakota's ban on Sunday auto sales, which 16 other states also enforce, as well as the prohibition on selling alcoholic beverages between 2 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sundays.
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