Our society is built and structured around laws, rules and regulations to ensure we live happy and protected lives. Often, these laws are designed to benefit the human race in some way, for example making murder, theft and grand larceny all against the law. This makes sense, and it is easy to understand why these are against the law. However, not all laws make sense. In fact, across the globe, hundreds of odd, strange and downright nonsensical laws can be seen.
For example, in Kansas it is illegal to practice knife throwing at men wearing striped suits. And in Missouri, it is illegal to buy yellow margarine - perhaps a tactic from a rival butter company? In San Diego, hypnotism has been banned in schools and taking a lion to the cinema in Baltimore can result in a hefty fine.
Of course, strange laws do not belong solely to the United States. In the UK, it is legal for a pregnant woman to relieve herself anywhere, including into a policeman's hat. Riding a cow, horse or steam engine while drunk is illegal, carrying a minimum prison sentence. Though steam engines are rarely seen in the UK now, park your cows in a safe place for the night before having a few drinks. In York, it is completely legal to shoot a Scotsman with a crossbow upon seeing one, except on Sundays. And for all you cab drivers, in London it is illegal to carry rabid dogs or corpses in a city cab, no matter how well they tip.
Many of these strange laws are greatly outdated, often being created during the 18th and 19th centuries when our legal system was still growing. Changing, or completely removing the laws, however would be too costly for the government to enact. Therefore, they remain in our legal system, often unknown.
Across the globe strange, funny and often nonsensical laws can be seen. Over time as the legal system has changed, it became too expensive to eradicate so many useless laws; therefore they were simply forgotten, removed from public knowledge. This is why eating a mince pie on Christmas day is still illegal but beating your wife one a month in Arizona, is not. Put down the mince pie.
For example, in Kansas it is illegal to practice knife throwing at men wearing striped suits. And in Missouri, it is illegal to buy yellow margarine - perhaps a tactic from a rival butter company? In San Diego, hypnotism has been banned in schools and taking a lion to the cinema in Baltimore can result in a hefty fine.
Of course, strange laws do not belong solely to the United States. In the UK, it is legal for a pregnant woman to relieve herself anywhere, including into a policeman's hat. Riding a cow, horse or steam engine while drunk is illegal, carrying a minimum prison sentence. Though steam engines are rarely seen in the UK now, park your cows in a safe place for the night before having a few drinks. In York, it is completely legal to shoot a Scotsman with a crossbow upon seeing one, except on Sundays. And for all you cab drivers, in London it is illegal to carry rabid dogs or corpses in a city cab, no matter how well they tip.
Many of these strange laws are greatly outdated, often being created during the 18th and 19th centuries when our legal system was still growing. Changing, or completely removing the laws, however would be too costly for the government to enact. Therefore, they remain in our legal system, often unknown.
Across the globe strange, funny and often nonsensical laws can be seen. Over time as the legal system has changed, it became too expensive to eradicate so many useless laws; therefore they were simply forgotten, removed from public knowledge. This is why eating a mince pie on Christmas day is still illegal but beating your wife one a month in Arizona, is not. Put down the mince pie.
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