During Civil War, a person can pay $300 to escape the draft. The rationalization for this was that unwilling troops were ineffective so the government might as well extract funds to be used as war funds from the unwilling if it got poor service.
In Fairbanks, Alaska it is illegal for a moose to enter…
In Fairbanks, Alaska it is illegal for a moose to enter a saloon (via the sidewalk). This law was created to try to stop a local tavern keeper from getting his pet moose drunk and prevent the moose’s frequent drunken rampages.
In order to maintain peace and quiet at night…
In order to maintain peace and quiet at night, the Long Beach City Council proposed a ban on “singing of birds” between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. in 1957.
Some Saudi Arabian cities have banned walking…
Some Saudi Arabian cities have banned walking your dog or cat because it enhances contact between men and women.
A bill was introduced in Maine to…
A bill was introduced in Maine to outlaw tomatoes in clam chowder.
The United Kingdom has a “right to roam” which allows public…
The United Kingdom has a “right to roam” which allows public access for walking & leisure to mountains, moors, heaths and downs that are privately owned.
The USA has a law that allows citizens to occupy…
The USA has a law that allows citizens to occupy any unclaimed island in the world, as long as there is seabird or bat poop on it.
In 2008, Nebraska implemented a law to allow parents…
In 2008, Nebraska implemented a law to allow parents to drop off unwanted newborns at safe havens; the law didn’t state an age limit, and nearly all the children abandoned were over ten years old- some were even 17.
A man convicted for violating a century-old Michigan…
A man convicted for violating a century-old Michigan law against swearing near women and children challenged it in court and eventually won with the courts striking down the law.
It’s illegal in France for grocery stores to throw
It’s illegal in France for grocery stores to throw or destroy unsold food. Instead, supermarkets have to donate it to charities and food banks.