Weird Laws: True or False Edition

Thankfully it’s Friday! We get to play another round of Weird Laws: True or False Edition! Last week we saw some weird laws from Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, and Maryland.  Let’s see what these next 5 states have in store for us!

True or False:

Massachusetts

“Shooting ranges may not set up targets that resemble human beings.”

TRUE.  I actually like this law.  If our society gets comfortable with the idea of pointing a gun and shooting at something resembling a human form, we are one step closer to becoming comfortable shooting at human beings.

Michigan

“No man may seduce an unmarried girl, or else he risks five years in prison.”

TRUE.  This law was enacted in the early 30’s but I doubt it is still in effect.  I wonder what they do at bars in Michigan.  Play patty cake?

Minnesota

“It is illegal to stand around any building without a good reason to be there.”

TRUE.  According to the Vagrancy laws in Minnesota, a person is considered a vagrant and guilty of a misdemeanor if they are found loitering near any structure without the consent of the owner.  My guess is that this law was enacted to stop people from panhandling but seems to be drafted too broadly.

Mississippi

“One may be fined up to $100 for using profane language in public places.”

TRUE.  According to Mississippi law, “If any person profanely swears, curses, or uses vulgar and indecent language in the presence of two or more persons, he will be fined up to $100.”   I think we’ve all probably violated this law at some point.

Missouri

“Single men between the ages of twenty-one and fifty must pay an annual tax of one dollar.”

TRUE.  This law was enacted in 1820.  I wonder if this law was meant to pressure men in Missouri into getting married!  These men had quite the dilemma: one resulted in someone taking their hard earned money and the other was a tax from the government.  Just kidding! You get the point.

You’ll have to wait until next week for more weird laws from the next 5 states!  Are there any weird laws that you thought were false but ended up being true?