Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

May 11, 2011

The term ?felony,? as used for centuries in Anglo-Saxon law, referred to a criminal offense for which death may be considered an appropriate punishment. Until recently it was widely understood that felonies were grave crimes against persons and property that involved death or grievous injury.

Today, many legislatures are guilty of shameless felony inflation ? pumping up trivial or technical offenses until they qualify for prison time. The Texas state legislature leads that parade of foolishness.

HB 1806, recently enacted by the Texas legislature, would criminalize the common vice of telling fish stories.

Misrepresenting the size of a fish caught during a competitive tournament would be categorized as a third-degree felony punishable by as much as ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

As Texas legal commentator Scott Henson observes: ?You know what the punishment should be for cheating or lying about the length of a fish in a tournament if you get caught? Disqualification.? Why can't the private sector take care of this on its own??

One plausible answer is this: Between nanny state leftists and hyper-punitive conservatives, the political class has suffocated the private sector.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.