The lights are on
George Mansfield of Beacon, New York had a dream. That dream was to open up a retro-themed arcade that featured old classics, including the fading art of pinball. Much to his dismay, shortly after his arcade was opened the doors and windows were shuttered due to an old law that makes slamming metal balls against brightly lit bumpers illegal.“Arcades in the '70s may have represented something, ya know, maybe that a community wouldn't want on their main street, or that it would attract a bad, ya know, kids or whatever,” Mansfield told CNN regarding the out of date law.Apparently the Beacon mayor, Steve Gold, recognizes that an arcade closing after a mere 18 months due to a stupid law is, well… stupid. “The legislative process really does take its time and council's really looked very closely at all of the letters of the law, and look ahead to the future,” said Gold.As if pinball wasn’t having a hard enough time surviving without being illegal in some towns. Is Beacon formerly the town from Footloose?[via CNN]
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Where is Kevin Bacon when you need him!?!
So Pinball is illegal...
Our World, ladies and Gentlemen.
Zen Pinball anyone?
Seriously? This is a load of bullcrap.
It'll be years before he can reopen. It's that slow.
The legislative process doesn't look ahead to the future. Its members sit on their rumps with their thumbs up 'em and look to their obscene salaries. Even when this law was invented it was ill-conceived. Now, it's ridiculous.
Stupid. Just stupid.
Oh no pinball get it out of our town it is teaching the children to be violent psychopathic serial killers!!!
I love America. Oh wait..... I don't.
Rats. What do the deaf, dumb, and blind kids have to look forward to now?
Everyone is taking this too seriosly. I know for a fact that Mansfield will open the crotchety old-timers hearts to the joys of old-timey gaming. Plus end up with the girl.
The description isn't much different than going to a typical night club. You have a bunch of balls slamming up against "bumpers". Why aren't night clubs illegal then? Next thing you know it'll be illegal to jump on anthropomorphic mushrooms, run really fast while trying to grab rings, eat strange pellet like pills, or play Magic: The Gathering.
Wow... really? Does no one in that town use their brain?
Things like this make me question the sanity of our government. Again. For the umpteenth time.
File this under friggin' ridiculous!
But rich ladies can still roll in baked beans while singing, right?
American freedom hard at work, ladies and gentlemen.
Only the weird and crazy stuff comes from New York.
But I dare to say that "anyone" can buy an illegal gun and avoids arrest by protesting yet you cannot play a good old pinball machine and have to wait for like 3-5 years till you can reopen the store.