9 Things Banned in the US

There is a reason why America is heralded as the "land of the free" but while we have been granted numerous freedoms to ensure liberty and happiness, we also face some strange restrictions. For example: bear wrestling is illegal in Mobile, Alabama, while in Little Rock, Arkansas, you cannot honk your horn after 9 p.m. outside a sandwich shop, Reader's Digest noted.

These are just two weird things that are banned in the U.S. but there are dozens of others that are also prohibited, many of which are well-known things and activities. Here we take a look at nine things that are banned in parts of America:

1. Brass knuckles. It makes sense that lawmakers moved to ban brass knuckles, which were designed to be worn on a fist to inflict serious harm to a person's face. It is prohibited to sell, purchase and possess brass knuckles in several states, Stacker reported.
2. Bushmeat. Wild game meat in Africa may be an exotic delicacy but its import is banned in America. This is largely due to concerns about spreading infectious diseases including Ebola. Despite this, bushmeat is often still smuggled into the country, according to Stacker.
3. Kissing (on Sundays). Of all the things that are banned in America, kissing is the last thing you'd expect to find on the list but in Hartford, Connecticut, a man cannot kiss his wife on Sundays, Reader's Digest noted.
4. Cuban cigars. It is illegal to buy and sell Cuban cigars in the U.S., but Stacker noted that these restrictions were eased by former President Barack Obama.
5. Internet cafes. In an effort to crack down on illegal gambling taking place in internet cafes, a bill was signed into law in 2013 banning these in Florida. Although the law still stands, there are dozens of internet cafes operating in the state, according to The Reader's Digest.
6. Kinder Surprise Eggs. Children across the globe share the excitement in opening a Kinder Surprise Egg and discovering the toy in the center of the hollow chocolate egg, but in the U.S. this delight is not something many kids understand. According to Mashed, candies containing any "non-nutritive" ingredients are banned in America. That includes Kinder Surprise Eggs.
7. Pre-1985 children’s books. Older children's books contained trace amounts of lead and in 2009, a reinterpretation of lead statutes meant any products designed for children containing even the smallest traces of lead were made illegal, Stacker reported. After 1985, lead was removed from the manufacturing process of books but many libraries pulled all books printed before that.
8. Texting and walking. This is an obvious health hazard and it is advisable not to do, but if you are in Honolulu, Hawaii, you are required by law not to look at your phone or text while crossing the street, Reader's Digest said.
9. Mailbox vandalism. It is not advisable to grab a baseball bat and smash your noisy neighbor's mailbox. Not only is it disrespectful, but it is also illegal. According to Stacker, it is considered a felony offense to vandalize, destroy or deface a mailbox, along with any mail that may be inside.

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