It would be fair to assume that certain laws were once enacted for good reason and in good faith. However, with the passage of time and changes in society, laws that were once sensible can look utterly ridiculous. All jurisdictions have to deal with these issues and Oklahoma is no exception. The state has its fair share of weird and stupid laws.
Several such laws might be considered. Let’s look at a few!
1. Oklahoma has a ban on whale hunting. That might not sound so weird at first, but it does feel senseless once you consider that Oklahoma is a landlocked state with no coastline or access to the oceans. They couldn’t hunt whales even if they wanted to! Some people see this law as a symbolic gesture against whale hunting and the state’s commitment to animal welfare.
2. But let’s get to more pressing matters of our time – pronouncing the name of Arkansas right! It is illegal in Oklahoma to incorrectly pronounce the name of their neighboring state.
I don’t know what’s going on to feel the need for this law, but it is clear that most of us wouldn’t pronounce Arkansas right without some education or guidance.
In fact, the great state of Arkansas tells us how exactly to pronounce its name and it does so by a legal resolution. The resolution passed in 1881 says that the state’s name should be spelled
“Arkansas” but pronounced “Arkansaw”.
3. It is illegal in Oklahoma to open a bottle of soda without supervision. The importance of this law cannot be understated, saving us from the menace of people going around opening soda bottles unsupervised!
4. Did I see you make an ugly face at my canine? It’s time to face the law. Making ugly faces at dogs in Oklahoma can attract fines or even jail time.
5. Women should stay on the right side of the law and refrain from styling or cutting their own hair. Oklahoma law makes it illegal for women to “do” their own hair. The law demands that styling or cutting women’s hair should be left to professionals, a.k.a those who have a license from the state to handle cutting and styling women’s hair.