Sunday Sales in Ga, dead again!

The sponsor of legislation letting voters decide whether to allow Sunday store sales of beer, wine and liquor pulled the bill Wednesday when he realized he wouldn’t have the votes to pass it out of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. It marked the third consecutive year that the Senate has provided a stumbling block for the Sunday sales legislation. The bill that was sponsored by Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland) said Wednesday, “There were forces there [in the committee] that wanted to do it in. We didn’t have the numbers. I would rather live to fight another day.”

Alcoholic beverages can be sold on Sundays in restaurants and bars in most counties in Georgia. Georgia is one of three states with a total Sunday ban on beer, wine and liquor sales at stores. The others are Connecticut and Indiana. The bill is backed by the grocery and convenience store lobbies and other business groups. Religious groups such as the Christian Coalition of Georgia, which object to sales on the Christian holy day, and some liquor storeowners who don’t want to have to open on Sundays oppose it.

Independent polls have generally shown support for the idea of letting local voters decide the issue. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll in January 2008 showed about two-thirds of respondents supported the idea. A Web petition drive supporting Sunday sales garnered about 50,000 signatures last year, and backers have started several pages on Facebook.I think it is a ridiculous law and where is the separation of church and state? Just because there are religious groups who are opposed and are threatening to pull their support for political leaders, those leaders are not willing to stand behind the bill for fear they won’t get reelected next time. David Shafer and Lt. Gov Casey Cagle, I am looking at you! This is just another example of how a small minority can control the choices of the majority. This bill is dead for now, but I assure you, it will come back to life again soon. But until then, the rest of the country will look at Georgia as a state that is stuck back in the 30’s and afraid to progress.