The Georgia Governor’s race and Sunday Sales of alcohol are in the news again, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC). And it isn’t an issue I can remain quiet about, as it has already cost me the life of one close relative.
The AJC reported that Jim Tudor of the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores is one man that is seeking to influence both Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal for potential support of Sunday sales of alcohol. And Jim and others of his ilk are putting their money where their mouth is, making campaign contributions to both men in order to hedge their bets.
Current Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, a staunch opponent of Sunday sales (we hate to see him go!), shot down the topic each time it raised its ugly head in the past. And I’m so thankful he did, because I had a loved one die due to a drinker on the roads in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
My poor mother came home with blood all over her from holding her six-year-old child after she was hit and run over by a drunk driver on a Sunday morning. And that drunk driver, what of him? Well…he came to pay his respects at the funeral, at least.
Sunday sales, Roy Bama and Nathan Deal
I can’t think of a worse time for alcoholics to be allowed to purchase liquor and imbibe as families in Georgia are making their way to God’s house for worship, with the whole family in their vehicles, and kiddies strapped into the backseat.
Alcoholics and those who imbibe have six other days in which to purchase, drink and store up for the seventh day. They definitely don’t need another day in order to buy and to feed their addictions or potentially kill Georgians on the road.
And social drinking, for those who call their imbibing a pursuit they do only on occasion, should be able to be done doing their socializing between Monday and Saturday, or at least the shopping they do for it.
Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal on fence about Sunday sales
The AJC reports that both Nathan Deal and Roy Barnes don’t want to touch the issue with an affirmative “yea for” or a “nay against,” so they are straddling the fence as politicians often do. That disgusts me to no end.
Deal and Barnes have said they support each individual Georgia community’s choice about Sunday sales, according to the AJC.
But that leaves a lot to be desired, as it wasn’t a resident in my area who killed my baby sister while he was drinking and driving. Allowing one community in Georgia to legalize Sunday sales means putting all of Georgia at risk if they get on the road with that bottle.
The state will, in effect, have put a weapon in that person’s hands on Sunday that they didn’t necessarily have access to otherwise, and our two potential Georgia candidates are willing to let them do it. Sure a drunk driver could have bought their liquor during other days of the week, but if they didn’t they wouldn’t be able to go out and buy it on that day, at least.
Neither Roy Barnes nor Nathan Deal is a candidate worthy of Georgians when it comes to the issue of legalizing Sunday sale in Georgia, in my opinion. They need to take a stand one way or the other, like the current Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. Oh, that they would take a stand like him.
Resources: “Donors to Deal, Barnes have interest in Casino, Sunday sales,” AJC.com and personal point of view by author
