Bill seeks to close Mo. stores for Thanksgiving | News

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS)- An incoming Missouri Democratic lawmaker is trying to stop "Black Friday" shopping from ruining the Thanksgiving dinners of workers.

Jeff Roorda, of Barnhart, plans to file legislation that would prohibit retail stores from opening on Thanksgiving.

He has dubbed it the "Thanksgiving Family Protection Act." He says the holiday should be about families and not about profit or greed. He says Thanksgiving should not become "Black Friday eve."

Sherry Yaeger, who owns Renaissance in downtown Cape Girardeau, says she asked consumers when they came in on Black Friday if they went shopping the day before.

"I would say of all the people I talked to 95 percent thought that any shopping on Thanksgiving Day would be too early," Yaeger said.

She says even if every other shop in the world was open, she would probably remain closed.

Down Main Street, Paula Haas of Somewhere In Time agrees.

"Family is the important thing and should always be," Haas said.

Restaurants, gas stations and drug stores would be exempt from forced closure. Roorda says some other states also require businesses to close on that day.

He says retailers' efforts to lure customers have left fewer hours for workers to spend time with their families on Thanksgiving.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this story.