This is a monumentally stupid idea. Aside from the obvious issues with legality and authority, there are the issues of the associate making time and a half to work, perhaps providing the necessary cash they need to make their mortgage and prevent foreclosure that month. No one forces anyone to work for any employer, nor is it the employee's right to demand not to work. The association is voluntary.

So why are restaurants, gas stations, and drug stores exempt from the ban? Are they a lower class of worker than the retail associates for some reason? Or what about all of the sales tax revenue and profits generated by the stores opening Thursday evening? Do those not ultimately end up benefiting the employees? It is like the Union workers attempting to encourage Wal-Mart Employees to strike Black Friday......because it was the union members concern for the interests of the Wal-Mart Employees that brought them to attempt to convince the employees to walk out on the single day Wal-Marty generates the most revenue all year. I am certain that could bring nothing, but positives for the employees......as if the first thing Wal-Mart isn't going to do when their bottom line gets hit is reduce variable costs like headcount...... I certainly wish Roorda would concentrate on more important matters, like reasserting the authority of the State over rogue municipal fiefdoms, and revising the States Immunity doctrine.

I think we should have three holidays protected every year and if someone has to work for the medical community or as a public servant than they should have a "extra" paid day off that week! In Germany, the stores are closed on Sundays also - shorter hours would be a start. Think of it this way, I believe the same amount of presents will be sold, have a little faith, time off is also a gift to humanity!

Ideally it would not be necessary for the government to step in on such matters, but our capitalist society has lost much of its respect for the holidays. I work at a TV provider and we work every single day of the year. I have had to work the last 4 Christmases and New Years (Eves and Days) because they happened to land on my regular work days. If it were up to big business there would be absolutely no holidays because their objective is to make money. That just leaves us with the general public and the government to enforce the holidays. The general public will never boycott a great sale even if it lands on a holiday. Therefore we are left with the government to protect the sanctity of the holidays. By the way, it was the government who officially recognized certain days as holidays anyhow. People need to buy gifts for the holidays regardless of when the sale is, so there is no excuse for the businesses holding their sales on the day of a holiday. This is a situation that can work out for everybody in fairness.

There should be a proposal for Missouri to fully enforce the "Blue Law". The Missouri Auto Dealers have to operate under the Blue Law so why not everyone. I believe that families having more time together would solve alot of issues with our youth today.