This week, Clark County's Commission passed a '1500 Ft' bill, preventing liquor stores from opening within 1500 ft of a church or a school. Let's talk about why I think this is one of the stupidest fucking proposals ever to be considered, let alone passed, by our stupendously dim group of elected officials in a very long time:
The 'intention' of this bill .....though completely baseless and ludicrous.....is that it will somehow protect children (although the bill doesn't specifically limit itself to K-12 schools) and the credulous (i.e.- churchgoers) from drunks, drunk drivers and whatever other horrible effects allegedly related to the sale of alcohol.
The first fact that makes this bill senseless is that taverns and other businesses that sell alcohol are exempt. I would think that there'd be a MUCH higher 'likelihood' that someone who'd been sitting in a bar or restaurant consuming alcoholic beverages would be intoxicated behind the wheel than would someone who'd just walked out of a liquor store (where you cannot consume your purchases within a set number of feet from it).
To make this bill TRULY one that would benefit the public, it would have to be changed to restrict churches from opening up within a couple of miles from a SCHOOL. My reasoning behind this? No place containing children whose minds are being encouraged to open up and ask questions should be anywhere near any institution that encourages credulity and wishful thinking. Let's not leave aside the long and sordid history of child-rape associated with the clergy. Keep those motherfuckers as far away from the children as possible, I say! To paraphrase Christopher Hitchens, one of the effects of the church has been that there has been 'no child's behind left'.
It would also probably benefit the churches to open up liquor stores within their property line. It would most certainly encourage a higher AA enrollment. Gives a whole new meaning to 'preaching to the porcelain god' after you've had too many. Imagine a Confessional Toilet right on the church grounds!! As we all know, nothing rounds out a night of boozing quite like getting lectured by some pious fucker about your sinful ways.
