Law Humor

Getting Rid Of A Stupid Law?

By John Mesirow

The Juice won't take all the credit. But ... it has been reported that the South Carolina legislature is considering repealing an insane law requiring subversives to register with the state (and pay a $5 fee!) "... since bloggers picked up on it ..." Here's The Juice's post on this fine law.

South Carolina legislators are looking to repeal a 1951 McCarthy-era law that requires anyone who plans to overthrow the government to register their activities.

Pickens Sen. Larry Martin said Monday the law meant to deter "Reds" has been one more thing making South Carolina look bad since bloggers picked up on it last month and incorrectly said it passed last year.

The "subversive activities registration act" requires any group that advocates controlling or overthrowing the government to pay $5 to file with the state, or face up to a $25,000 fine and 10 years in prison.

A spokeswoman for the secretary of state said that, until February, no one had registered. Now, about 10 have filed, apparently in jest.

A bill to repeal the law is up for debate in a Senate panel this week.

Full post as published by Legal Juice on March 02, 2010 (boomark / email).