Guns and Whiskey in One Convenient Location

SAM's Club & Liquor Store is open for business in Fayetteville. Actually, I don't think they sell guns there yet, but if not there seems to be no reason why they couldn't. The state law preventing liquor stores from selling anything "not related to the consumption of alcohol" does not seem to apply to SAM's, just all of SAM's competitors. Lest you buy all the baloney about how "separate" the facilities are, the article from NWA online describes the setting as one in which "a liquor store at the club opened for business." How did that one get by the editors?

This of course gives SAM's a competitive advantage over the stand-alone liquor stores that everyone else has. The article quoted a liquor store owner as saying the arrangement was not fair, but devoted little to no space explaining why it was unfair. It is unfair because there is one set of rules for the little guys and a more lax set of rules for SAM's club. My view is that for the law to be respected, all must be equal before the law. By caving to Wal-Mart pressure on this issue, the ABC Board committed a grave offense against the rule of law.

Not everyone sees it like that. Principle does not matter, just quick results. Some people have expressed the idea that as long as they can save a few bucks on booze, they don't care that the powerful get exemptions from the rules. Frankly, those who hold such views are unfit for self-rule. If they enjoy the benefits of living under good government it will only be because those more just and wise than they outvote them. Yet I see no signs that such views are minority.

The whole thing is very depressing. I think I will swing by SAM's and see if I can buy a shotgun and a quart of whiskey.