In the last two columns as part of a three-part series I have explored some of the wacky laws that have been documented in the book, “Wacky Laws, Weird Decisions and Strange Statutes” authored by K.R. Hobbie, Marcel Theroux and Sheryl Lindsell. Many of these laws are still on the books throughout the country, but in most cases newer state or federal laws supersede the outdated ones.

But I’m sure there are some exceptions, and the old laws are still valid or at least modified versions are. A reader called me to say that the village of Bolsters Mills had a law banning the use of garden hoses. I would guess that came about during a severe dry spell and would only be enforced when water was in short supply. That does make some sense. Most of the laws mentioned here leave us wondering what things ever took place for them to make any sense at all.

A case in point is a law in Lexington, Ky., that prohibits anyone from carrying an ice cream cone in their pocket. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to have an ice cream cone in their pocket, but if that’s something that they really want to do, they should be able to do it. I don’t think there should be a law against it.

In Seattle, Wash., it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon that is over 6 feet in length. Without getting into the whole gun law issue, I will say that regulating concealed weapons is probably a good idea. However, anyone who is big enough to conceal a weapon in excess of 6 feet probably doesn’t really need the protection derived from it.

The lawmakers in Gary, Ind., apparently felt that bad breath was something that people did need protection from. They passed a law that prohibits people from attending a movie house, theater or riding on a public streetcar within four hours of eating garlic. I think that’s a good law. We all need to be protected from such heinous crimes.

In Arizona, if you are being attacked, you can only protect yourself by using the same weapon that your attacker is using. So, if someone breaks into your home in Arizona and goes after you with a chain saw and you have a good selection of weapons close at hand, unless one of them happens to be a chain saw, you would be breaking the law if you protected yourself.

At least bank tellers in Louisiana are offered some protection, because in that state it is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot the teller with a water pistol. I guess it goes without saying that shooting with a real pistol is against the law.

In Kansas City, Mo., bank tellers and everyone else are safe from kids wielding cap guns because it’s against the law there for minors to purchase them. However, they can freely buy shotguns. Does that make sense?

If you are going to North Dakota, be sure to take your shoes off when you go to bed, because it is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with them on. I don’t know if that means that you can in fact lie down with your shoes on as long as you stay awake. I do know that in Minnesota it’s OK to leave your shoes on, but I think you have to leave some other clothes on as well, because in Minnesota it is against the law to sleep naked.

On a more local level, in Maine’s own Portland, shoelaces must be tied while walking down the street. With untied laces currently being very in with teenage boys, I can only assume that this law is not strictly enforced.

In Clark County, Nevada, an ordinance makes bringing a concealed firearm into the county illegal unless it is registered with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. However, in order to register a handgun, it must actually be brought into the police station, an action which is illegal until it is registered. Talk about your Catch 22.

There are many, many more laws in this country that I’m sure you would find amusing, but before I end this series on wacky laws I want to touch on some in other countries.

In LeLavandou, France, it is forbidden for a resident to die there unless they own a cemetery lot. I guess you have to crawl over the town line to die if you don’t have a burial plot. But what can they do if you violate the law; bring you back to life and put you in jail?

In Turkey, all married women must get their husband’s permission if they wish to have a job, live wherever the husband wishes to live, and forfeit all jointly held assets if she gets a divorce. A woman could actually be jailed if she violates her husband’s authority. There is a lot I would like to say about laws such as this, but that will be the subject for another column.

In Germany, a pillow can be considered a “passive” weapon. That can sure take the fun out of a pillow fight.

There are a couple of weird laws in Israel that don’t make a lot of sense to me, such as one forbidding picking your nose on Saturday, but it is apparently OK any other day of the week. You also can’t bring bears to the beach in Israel, no matter what day of the week it is.

If you ever think we are too burdened with laws in this country, just remember it could be worse. The way I see it, if some of these old laws that are still in existence were to be enforced, we’d all be a little wacky.