It looked like it was going to happen, but now it’s official, ‘fortune-telling’ is legal in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Last week, after a second reading of the repeal proposal, City Council members voted once more to end Deadwood’s two-decade long ban on psychic oriented businesses.
According to rapidcityjournal.com, the mayor of Deadwood, Chuck Turbiville, said that the old law had never been used and that he didn’t think that this change would have a major effect on the town.
The repeal does mean, however, that the Chamber of Commerce, who originally lobbied for the repeal, can now start marketing events like the zombie run and haunted tours, something they had been barred from doing up until now.
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Last month, I wrote that Deadwood, South Dakota was considering the repeal of a ‘fortune-telling’ ban that’s been on their books for the last twenty years.
Well, they did it. According to RapidCityJournal.com, last week, the City Commissioners voted 3-1 to repeal the ordinance.
They decided that the ban was likely a violation of the US First Amendment and didn’t want to be accused of restricting anyone’s freedom of speech or religious practice.
There will be a second reading of the repeal on February 17th. I’ll be watching out to see what happens and will keep you posted.
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For the past twenty years, psychics, card readers, and other mystics have been prohibited from carrying on business in the small town of Deadwood, South Dakota.
That might soon change, however, as the Deadwood City Commission considers repealing what the town’s mayor describes as an ‘antiquated’ law.
As it stands, the present ordinance states,
“A. No person shall advertise or engage in or carry on any business of telling fortunes, carrying on a business advertising or involving a cult or psychics powers, facilities or forces, clairvoyants, spirits, mediumship, seership, prophesy, astrology, palmistry, necromancy, or other craft, science cards, tellsman, charms, potions, magnetism or magnetized articles or substances, oriental mysteries or magic of any kind or nature or numerology, or engage in any of these businesses within the city limits.
B. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to include, prohibit or interfere with the exercise of any religious or spiritual function of any priest, minister, rector or an accredited representative of any bona fide church or religion.” section 5.52.010
The provisions do however, interfere with the Deadwood Chamber & Visitor Bureau’s ability to market ghost tours, psychic fairs, and other mystical events in their historically fascinating little town.
“I think we have a lot of hauntings in Deadwood that people would be interested in”, chamber events coordinator Sarah Anderson is reported as saying by rapidcityjournal.com.
Two hotels in town have already been featured on paranormal television shows and the Bureau would like to be able to encourage more business of that sort.
Some residents, however, are opposed to the idea, and the local ministerial association will be asked to offer their comments at the next public meeting to be held on February 3rd.
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