Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:4107 Primary Sponsor:Witherspoon Type of Legislation:HR Subject:Garlic Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19930414 Computer Document Number:DJC/24702DJC.93 Introduced Date:19930414 Last History Body:House Last History Date:19930414 Last History Type:Introduced, adopted Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Witherspoon Riser Sharpe Rhoad Type of Legislation:House Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved ____ ______ ____________ ______________________________ ___ ____________ 4107 House 19930414 Introduced, adoptedView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
EXPRESSING THE SUPPORT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR ONE AMONG US REPORTEDLY UNDERGOING SEVERE TRIALS IN AN ONGOING AND SEEMINGLY UNENDING STRUGGLE WITH CERTAIN RODENTS OF THE FAMILY SCIURIDAE (ORDER RODENTIA) OVER POSSESSION, USE, AND THE ULTIMATE RIGHT TO CONSUME CERTAIN ALLIUM SATIVUM, I.E., FRESH GARLIC GROWN IN HIS GARDEN; AND FURTHER EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS TO WHAT RESULTS OUGHT TO OBTAIN SHOULD CERTAIN PREDICTIONS OR REASONABLY FORESEEABLE EVENTS COME TO PAST.
Whereas, garlic (Allium sativum), a bulbous perennial plant of the lily family (Liliaceae) was used in ancient and medieval times as a medicine and a charm, contains an antibiotic known as allium, and is known to have antiseptic and other healthful properties; and
Whereas, garlic is celebrated by gourmets and culinary artists around the world for its onion-like and pungent taste, and is a classic ingredient in the finest and most delicious cuisines of many nations; and
Whereas, garlic is native to Asia, grows wild in Italy and Southern France, has become popular in the United States, and is even known to be cultivated within the limits of the Town of Camden, County of Kershaw, State of South Carolina, where the flowering stalks stately arising above ground may be seen proudly bearing tiny bulblets and tasty blossoms, and where the membranous skin of the wondrous bulb below ground is known to enclose up to 20 delectable, delicious, edible bulblets called cloves; and
Whereas, like garlic, rodents of the family Sciuridae (order Rodentia), are found almost worldwide, in a variety of habitats, including forests, deserts, plains, and tundra, and even in trees growing within the limits of the Town of Camden, County of Kershaw, State aforesaid, where delicious garlic of the fresh, home-grown variety is said to be cultivated; and
Whereas, rodents of the family Sciuridae (order Rodentia), be they tree dwellers living in nests of twigs and leaves or in the hollow of trees, or be they ground dwellers living in holes or burrows, are most prolific and primarily vegetarian, are noted for their fondness for seeds, nuts, and most anything good to eat, and are so resourceful as to even supplement their diet with garlic, especially the fresh, home-grown variety when they can get it; and
Whereas, because the aroma of fresh, home-grown garlic is so powerful and delicious, and because its onion-like and pungent taste is simply too tempting, certain rodents of the family Sciuridae (order Rodentia), i.e., squirrels, living in the trees in Camden, have taken to eating garlic, stalks and all, by nibbling the flowering stalks down to the ground and by digging up and devouring the delicious bulbs and cloves; and
Whereas, any gardener thus relentlessly robbed of the fruits of his labor, and any gourmet so dedicated to the culinary arts that is consistently deprived of his delicious, savory garlic, by such boorish, selfish, inconsiderate and troublesome neighbors, must be justifiably provoked; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina sympathize with the hard working gardener and hard pressed gourmet in question, and are of one mind that it ought to be unlawful for squirrels to eat garlic in the first place; but, failing that, should the gardener thus robbed resort to force in defense of his garden, or should the gourmet thus deprived take up arms to save his garlic, he, the gardener and gourmet in question, ought not thereafter be charged or held to answer, by game wardens or any other law enforcement authorities whatsoever, for hunting or shooting squirrels over bait!
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Honorable Robert J. Sheheen, Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives, renowned gardener and gourmet, and that it may be posted in or near his garden as full and fair warning to all trespassing squirrels and other four-legged, furry rodents who may have acquired a taste for garlic of the fresh, home-grown variety, in hopes that all offending squirrels concerned will jointly and severally heed this warning, and forever cease and desist from their unwarranted and unwelcome visits to the Speaker's garden, and leave his garlic alone.