SEVERANCE, Colorado (PNN) - December 7, 2018 - Under Severance, Colorado’s Municipal Code, snowball fights were illegal until 9 year old Dane Best decided to challenge the law and make his case to the town’s board members, giving a list of reasons why the city should remove the ordinance on Monday night, December 3.
The third grader stated, “I think it’s an outdated law, I want to be able to throw a snowball without getting in trouble.”
Under the ban that was lifted, Section 10-5-80 of the Code said it was “unlawful for any person to throw or shoot any stone or any other missile upon or at any person, animal, building, tree, or other public or private property; or at or against any vehicle or equipment designed for the transportation of persons or property.” Snowballs were categorized as “missiles” under the Code.
Best continued, “Today’s (children) need reasons to play outside. Research suggests that a lack of exposure to the outside can lead to obesity, ADHD, anxiety and depression. (Children) want to have snowball fights without breaking the law.”
Board members voted unanimously to remove the section that classified snowballs as missiles.
Back in November, when Best first began to challenge the almost-100 year old ban after writing to classmates to join his cause, board members asked whom he’d hit first. Best pointed to his 4 year old brother, Dax.
