A magistrate judge in the Gwinnett County Superior Court on Monday issued a temporary restraining order against the city, prohibiting officials from issuing additional licenses for the next 30 days.
The next hearing, in which the judge could decide whether to issue a permanent injunction, is set for Jan. 27.
"I'm very pleased that the court heard our position and granted an extraordinary relief in this temporary protective order," said attorney Rick Stepp, acting on behalf of eight residents.
Snellville barred from issuing Sunday liquor licenses
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Really, it's an embarrassment to Snellville that this is even an issue.
I'm really surprised we're allowed to go shopping on Sundays in Snellville. There was a time when there was no shopping on Sundays. None at all. Not even grocery stores would be open on Sundays. Those were called "Blue Laws." I guess Robert Jenkins and his group of residents weren't here back then to stop that from happening?
(I'm sure there are still people who think you are committing sin when you go into a Kroger grocery store on a Sunday to buy some Children's Tylenol when your 2 year old is sick. You should have bought it on Saturday and already had that Tylenol on hand, so you wouldn't have to go into a store on a Sunday, you heathen beast.)
Now look, I don't drink generally, and I consider myself a Christian, but that doesn't mean I feel I should dictate to everyone else what they can do.
(I don't drink, "generally," but in the interest of full disclosure, I must say I drank about a cup of white wine on Christmas Day and took a nap on the sofa)
If a restaurant serves alcohol and you don't like that, then don't eat there. Don't support the restaurant with your business. There are many other restaurants you can go to. You have this right.
If you are a Christian and you expect everybody else to follow Christian law, then don't complain when a different religion someday has the power and wants you to abide by their laws. No religion or religious group should have a hand in our laws.
Religion and law are intertwined in the Islamic world, and that's seen as wrong by many American Christians, but many Christians see no problem with injecting their religious moral values into American law. Am I the only one to see the irony?
I was disappointed to never see separation of church and state mentioned by Mayor Oberholtzer or any of the Snellville City Council members who were in favor of the Sunday liquor sales passing. It was only touted as an economic benefit to the restaurants.
Helping Snellville's economy is a selling point right now. I guess they are afraid they will enrage the congregations in Snellville if they mention that religious laws need to stay out of secular laws.
