Silly Laws

[Letum]

Originally Posted by Chock

Yup, that one with the Welsh and a bow and arrow is something to do with the defence of Chester and the laws about having to practice with a bow and arrow so that there would be people proficient at archery if an army was raised. I think you were only allowed to kill a Welshman with a bow on any day except Sunday or something daft like that.

Chester?!
Welsh?

My home city of York had a law that made it legal to kill a Scotsman if you where standing on the city walls using a bow and it wasn't Sunday.

Totally unreliable source #1

it is technically still legal to shoot a Scotsman in York, but only if you spot him within the town walls after dark on a Sunday, your weapon of choice is a bow-and-arrow, and you shoot from horseback!

Totally unreliable source #2
Bow carrying variation.

In the city of York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow (2%)

Totally unreliable source #3
Carlisle, newyear, axe variation.

It is legal to kill a scotsman in carlisle on new years day with an axe

Totally unreliable source #4
Crossbow variation.

There is a by law in York, England ( Where I live ) Which states that I can legally kill a Scotsman with a cross bow on any Sunday.

I have heard countless other variations.

Unless someone can find a primary source I am convinced that this is just a urban myth.

As it happens I live but a few miles from York.

[Chock]

It may indeed be one of those mythical tales, I've got a vague recollection of hearing it while on a guided tour of the city walls at Chester (which would kind of make sense from at least a geographical standpoint, it being on the Welsh/English border), but of course me 'seeming to recall something' doesn't prove anything.

I do know part of the version I heard has some basis in fact, evidently it was often up to the local clergyman in villages and towns to organise archery practice for anyone over a certain age once a week, so that may be where the 'Sunday' bit comes from.

I'm sure someone will enlighten us with a slightly believable wiki link at some point.

Chock

[Letum]

Originally Posted by Chock

I do know part of the version I heard has some basis in fact, evidently it was often up to the local clergyman in villages and towns to organise archery practice for anyone over a certain age once a week, so that may be where the 'Sunday' bit comes from.

Yup, that is true.

A kind of proto-national service to ensure England could raise quick, cheep armys to fend off the catholic nations.

[Jimbuna]

In Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 PM. :hmm:

What a load of sh*t :rotfl:

[Chock]

I love the UK one about not being allowed to sound your horn in a built up area after a certain time. Alright, I'll just have a major crash then instead, shall I?

Chock

[Hitman]

Here's another one that isn't on the list:

In Spain, the owner of a swarm of bees has the right to pursue them entering the property of anyone, but he has to pay for any damage caused. If he ceases to pursue the swarm for two consecutive days, anybody can try to get it.

Current paragraph 610 of our Civil Code

[Jimbuna]

Different states of the United States have some unique yet foolish and eccentric laws of their own. In Alabama, putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death and keeping an ice cream cone in your back pocket at any time is a crime. A law in Fairbanks, Alaska does not allow moose to have sex on city streets. In Alaska, you may hunt a bear safely but it is illegal to wake a bear and take a picture for photo opportunities.

[XabbaRus]

The last one about the bear makes perfect sense in this sue happy world.

Oh as for killing scots men. how about, it is legal to kill a scotsman anywhere in England at any time of the day with any weapon that comes to hand...actually I'll change that to something more specific. If his name happens to be Alex Salmond.....

Joke...... not funny but a joke.

[joea]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

In Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 PM. :hmm:

What a load of sh*t :rotfl:

...or play music or computer games, well make "noise" basically. A couple of years ago was blasting Il-2 on my system and found a nice note in my mailbox from a neighbour to stop "watching TV" so late. Thank goodness for earphones.