Weird Laws in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Elsewhere

We all know that our society if permeated with the bizarre, as is evidenced in the area of weird laws. For instanced, despite, or perhaps in spite of, a highly educated electorate, we still manage to elect officials who make it their sworn duty to see that they do their best to bring us even more weird laws. Generally, it’s the same for judges and other officials. It seems that everyone makes it their mission to make sure that there are more than enough weird laws to go around.

However, as I think about it, despite the efforts our elected officials, judiciary, police and even the criminals, put forth in furthering the cause of the weird laws, it seems to me there should be a natural safeguard against our falling into the trappings of weird laws. While I may be oversimplifying things, it seems that parents are the natural check on keeping things from getting too weird. Let’s look at it from the stupid criminal standpoint. Shouldn’t it be easy enough for parents to keep their children from not only becoming criminals, but especially stupid criminals?

Imagine the weird law relief we would get if parents could only get their children to realize that they don’t want to grow up to be stupid criminals. Shouldn’t parents want their children to be all they can be and, heaven forbid a child grows up to be a criminal, wouldn’t most parents prefer that their child not be a stupid criminal? Seems like a perfectly logical proposition to me, but alas, it simply isn’t to be. This week while I discuss weird laws, I’ll take a look at an area that is truly unfortunate, but at the same time more than a bit entertaining.

Let’s turn our attention to the great State of Wisconsin, specifically, the town of Stoughton. In Stoughton, we find a young impressionable criminal in the making, an eager young lad of 13. He has a dream, a dream of being a bad guy. He has a goal of being a robber and he also had a great relationship with his mother. So, seeking advice as to his dream career, he approaches his mother and talks with her about his dreams. Initially when I learned about this tale, I was, at first, impressed as the mother, initially at least, discouraged him from his dream career. However, the 36 year old mother quickly fell from my favor when I learned that she agreed to drive him around to look for victims. She even waited in the car while her son went out to accost his first mark. Well, the intended victim wasn’t fooled by the 13-year-old’s BB gun as the juvenile delinquent was subdued and held till police arrived. Mom too was arrested and charged with a number of crimes, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The Court has also forbidden her from having any contact with her son. Perhaps there is hope for him yetâÂ?¦

As bizarre as the tale from Wisconsin seems, it appears that things are a bit worse in Gary, Indiana. In Gary, a minor dispute between neighbors turned deadly. Several years back, a then 23-year-old mentally impaired man was responsible for a minor neighborhood dispute. It seems that a 47-year-old woman held a grudge for 4 years following the spat. So, being able to take it no longer, after 4 years, the woman drove her 15-year-old son by the home of the mentally impaired man and slowed down so her son could aim his rifle as he shot the man in the back. The man later died. The mother and her son were arrested and police reported that neighbors had overheard the woman tell her son, “When Momma say shoot, you shoot.” We can only imagine what kind of childhood this woman had.

And yes, the hits just keep on coming.

In Pennsylvania, a man was arrested for drunk driving. I know that isn’t much of a news flash, but today we are talking about weird laws involving parents and their influence over their children. The man was involved in a single car accident – his car went off the road and stuck a tree. His excuse? His son had been driving. The only problem was that his son was only 4 years old. The man admitted to having a few beers and to also letting his young son drive. Of course given that he, the father, was also charged with driving without a license we may have a better understanding as to why he thought it best for his son to drive.

Finally I want to end with a bright spot on the landscape of weird laws. While at first a bit weird, I thought the resolution was worthy of mention. In the state of Washington, a man was to be sentenced for a woman’s murder. When the sentencing judge entered the Courtroom and took the bench, she digressed from the matter at hand and attempted to elicit a cheer from the courtroom, mostly friends and family of either the victim or Defendant. Apparently a Seattle Seahawk’s fan, the judge tried to get a cheer for the Seahawks upcoming game. Following a less than exuberant response, she asked again. Finally satisfied, she went on with the hearing.

However, she soon learned that the game she was attempting to have the gallery cheer for was to be played on the one year anniversary of the victim’s death. Here is where the glimmer of hope comes in. The judge immediately upon learning this apologized. She then reported her conduct to the state judiciary committee on judicial conduct and accepted their formal admonishment of her behavior. So see, while it can be pretty weird out there, there are some people that ultimately realize it and try to do something about it.

That’s it for this week. Take care and be sure to tell a friend to stop by for a weekly dose of Weird Laws.