Blue Laws Q&A with Rep. Roers-Jones

GNDC sat down with Representative Shannon Roers-Jones, the lead sponsor on HB 1097, which repealed the Blue Laws. This repeal allows commerce activities and shopping in North Dakota on Sunday mornings. North Dakota was the last state in the nation to remove these restrictions.
 
GNDC: Why did you see repealing the Blue Laws as important for North Dakota?
Representative Roers-Jones: The main part is that the decision making is left up to the individual versus state government. Whether individuals are shopping or opening their business, it is their decision. Government does not know better than an individual when it comes to their personal decisions.
 
After multiple failed attempts, during past sessions, why do you think the repeal passed this session?
I was surprised it didn’t pass sooner but it was more difficult than I had expected. When working through the votes, fellow legislators agreed it was time – that their constituents wanted the law repealed and it was an example of government intrusion; however, many were not ready to make the change. If you would have asked me last session, I would have thought it was a slam dunk but the change was much more difficult to address and convince individuals than I had expected.

Some deem this is a potential breakdown in family values of the state, how do you respond to these individuals?
I tell individuals that I go to church at 9:00, brunch at 10:00, and then want to pick up shoes for my kids at 11:00, after we finish eating, but we need to wait an hour or I can just go to Minnesota. Just because people are shopping doesn’t mean they are not spending time with family. North Dakota is missing out on opportunity. People spend quality time with their family in different ways and it’s not the government’s responsibility to tell them how to do that. Same goes for church, if religion is a priority. The repeal is about flexibility for individuals. When I was in college, I needed the opportunity to be able to work on Sunday mornings, out of the way of classes.
 
Are you shopping this Sunday morning?
I am out of town this weekend, but I fully intend most Sundays to be out and getting things done.
 
Even though we are in the interim, we all know work is not done, what is your next focus?
I don’t have any specific legislation I’m currently drafting but I plan to continue to examine criminal justice and criminal justice reform. It is important to help individuals and reduce the financial burden for the state. I also plan to look closely at the petition for recreational marijuana – there are a lot social implications associated with this issue.
 
 
Thank you to Representative Roers-Jones for continuing to champion business in North Dakota; we appreciate your partnership and continued collaboration.