Pet banned from barber shop

CANAL FULTON - When the clippers begin buzzing and anxious children start fidgeting before a hair cut at Matt’s Barber Shop, that’s Franklin’s cue. The 3-year-old, 65-pound basset hound is at Matt Schwendiman’s Walnut Street barber shop to put children at ease. Ohio law bars pets from barber or beauty shops. An inspector from the Ohio State Barber Board spotted Franklin in the shop on Feb. 7. Schwendiman was given a violation notice and told to remove the dog, which he did. Another violation would bring a fine. A third would mean the longtime barber could lose his barber’s license.

Sheesh. $#$%&@^* nanny-state do-good pansy uh grrrrrrrrr. (I must take my libertarian blood pressure medication soon.)

We were treated to a nice statement on the rule of law from the state inspector:

Warner said the state board’s job isn’t to change laws but to enforce them. With more than 9,000 licensed barbers and 3,200 shops, Warner said the board can’t make exceptions.

“In a perfect world, you let this guy have his dog in his shop, but we’re required to go by the book,” Warner said.

When people go off about the importance of the rule of law, I like to remind them that the rule of law is nice, but it's even better if the law itself is good. Bad laws that are strictly and evenly enforced are still bad laws. Heck half the world would starve to death if they had rule of law and enforced all the stupid laws they have. This isn't to say I think having the rule of law is unimportant, but we should spend at least as much time thinking about the wisdom of the laws themselves too.

BTW, my grandfather Art Lowry was the town barber in Canal Fulton, Oh for over 40 years and sold his shop to Matt Schwendiman upon retirement. I have many fond memories of grandpa's barbershop. So that explains why I'm so peeved for Matt and his dog.