We Have Legislitis -- Only Problem Is, Laws Don't Stop Bad Behavior
Something happened in this country, where we collectively came down with a serious case of legislitis -- the notion that we will be more secure if we just pass laws banning everything, making everything illegal.
Now, Chris Morran blogs at Consumerist, you need ID to buy drain cleaner in Illinois -- because two women were attacked with it:
(The law) requires buyers to show a government-issued photo ID. The cashier must also record the buyer's name address, the date and time of purchase, type, brand and net weight of the product being bought.If stores don't comply, there are potentially substantial fines involved, ranging from $150 for the first offense to $500 for the second violation and up to $1,500 for any following offenses.
One Chicago-area hardware store owner tells WBBM Radio that customers are not thrilled about the new regulation: "One of the customers actually threatened the (cashier) and threatened to throw the acid on her."
You could attack somebody with a frying pan -- and people have. Are we going to require ID before we let you cook up some eggs?
Don't give them any ideas, Amy...
Cousin Dave at January 7, 2012 8:39 AM
Frying pans don't kill people. People kill people.
Eric at January 7, 2012 8:49 AM
Ammonia-based cleaners were removed from Israeli shelves because terrorists use it in homemade explosives... there is also tracking of ammonia-rich fertilizer purchases.
Ben David at January 7, 2012 8:58 AM
So you need ID to buy household cleaners and cold medicine - but its racist to expect people to show ID to vote?
lujlp at January 7, 2012 8:58 AM
40,000 new laws went into effect this year. I feel safer already.
Al at January 7, 2012 9:06 AM
And if someone else is attacked with drain cleaner, what are the police going to do? Gather all the records of everyone who's bought drain cleaner within a five-mile radius in the past year?
Lori at January 7, 2012 9:13 AM
We've seen so much up here in Idaho that has changed in the last 20 years.
You used to be able to go buy veterenarian supplies at the local farm and feed (rabies shots were something like $5.00, no prescription needed.)
We had an operating bordello about 20 miles outside town, which is now The Oasis Bordello Museum.
I used to go and buy 100's of pounds of amonium nitrate for our fruit tree orchard, and might pick up 5 or 10 gallons of desiel for the tractor at the same time. (The main ingredients of the Oklahoma City bombing.)
Our high schoolers were allowed to put their hunting rifles in their lockers during hunting season, but then they were only allowed to keep them in their vehicles in the school parking lot.
As far as I know, there were no major problems.
Eric at January 7, 2012 9:49 AM
You have people (many of them lawyers) making laws that are bound to be broken. Then people are arrested and need to hire...lawyers! Could there be a connection?
I know, I apologize. It's the worst 99% of them that give the other 1% a bad name.
DrCos at January 7, 2012 11:18 AM
So, let me get this straight. According to the Attorney General requiring photo ID to cast a ballot is racist. However, requiring photo ID to enter a Social Security Office is not racist. Requiring photo ID to get on an airplane is not racist. Requiring photo ID to purchase drain cleaner is not racist.
Bill O Rights at January 7, 2012 11:19 AM
And another height of stupidity is that to buy wood pellets (compressed sawdust) at Lowe's you have to be over 18 because some of the manufacturers use a preservative that can be used to manufacture drugs.
Jim P. at January 7, 2012 1:24 PM
It's like death by a million paper cuts...
Dwatney at January 7, 2012 1:27 PM
So...
Is this an acid, a base, an organic solvent or an enzyme?
Because all three classes are advertised as drain cleaners.
So is a roto-rooter!
Radwaste at January 7, 2012 2:38 PM
Oh, by the way...
...you can bypass all this in some cases by going down to the pool supply place and buying the same thing with a different label.
Radwaste at January 7, 2012 2:41 PM
It is for a lot of acids. Including acetic acid - vinegar! Well, some absurd concentration. And hydrochloric acid - hopefully at a higher concentration than what is in our stomachs.
Yes, the actions of two acid-throwing eedjuts means several million other people must pay for their crimes. And businesses must pay to differentiate those products - if they can. To accomplish - what? A useless registry.
Prosecutor: "We will show the defendant bought drain cleaner before the attack."
Defense: "As did the victim, the prosecutor, and the judge."
John A at January 7, 2012 6:07 PM
Leave a comment