14 Strange (But True) Laws You’ll Only Hear About in Mississippi

Mississippi: where sweet tea flows freely, front porches come with built-in rocking chairs, and the laws… well, they take a turn into the downright strange. The Magnolia State may be rich in Southern charm and Delta blues, but its legal code is a buffet of bizarre—offering everything from goat-hair restrictions to limits on how many dogs you can bring to church. Yes, really.

1. It’s Illegal to Teach Others What Polygamy Is

Even discussing it in an educational setting could technically be considered a misdemeanor. Mississippi says: “One spouse, one story.”

2. You May Not Use Profanity in Public if Two or More People Are Present

Swear in front of a group? That’s a breach of peace. So mind your mouth, especially at the Waffle House.

3. Horses May Not Be Housed Within 50 Feet of Any Road in Oxford

Got a horse in your front yard? Better measure that distance. Equine zoning laws are real and ready to neigh-say your plans.

4. It’s Illegal to Seduce a Woman by Lying and Claiming You’ll Marry Her

If you’re making romantic promises you don’t intend to keep, Mississippi might just call that fraud. Love comes with legal strings.

5. Unnatural Hair Colors Are Banned in Some School Districts

Want purple hair in class? Not in certain counties. It’s considered a “distraction,” unlike, say, the marching band practicing during algebra.

6. It’s Illegal to Use Elephant Tusks to Pay Off Gambling Debts

A law that suggests this definitely happened. Ivory = not legal tender, no matter how high the stakes.

7. It’s Against the Law to Bring More Than One Dog to Church

Yes, this exists. You can bring one pooch to praise the Lord—but more than that, and you’re testing divine patience.

8. It’s a Misdemeanor to Be Obscene in a Public Place (Even if You’re Just Making “Weird” Noises)

“Obscene” includes making “annoying” or “suggestive” sounds in public. Better keep your beatboxing skills at home.

9. No Pretending to Be a Minister if You’re Not Ordained

In Mississippi, impersonating clergy is taken seriously. That fake wedding you performed for laughs? Technically a crime.

10. Adultery Is Still a Crime in Mississippi

While rarely prosecuted, adultery remains on the books as a misdemeanor. The law’s been known to break more hearts than it protects.

11. In Tylertown, It’s Illegal to Feed Garbage to Swine Without a Permit

Swine fine? Yup. Pigs get protection from sketchy leftovers—and you’ll need city approval to dish it out.

12. You May Not Buy Alcohol on Sundays in Certain Counties

Blue laws still linger in parts of the state. Sunday fun day? Not without some strategic Saturday planning.

13. Goatees Were Once Illegal Without a Special License

In some towns, facial hair was considered suspicious unless you registered it. Mississippi: where even your beard needs paperwork.

14. It’s Illegal to Honk Your Horn in a Sandwich Shop After 9 PM

Late-night sub cravings? Fine. But honking to hurry your hoagie could make you a criminal in parts of the state.

Mississippi’s laws are as Southern-fried and strange as a deep-fried pickle dipped in ranch. From pony placement to public profanity, the state’s legal oddities prove that down here, even everyday behavior might just come with a fine (or a sermon). So walk the line, wear natural hair, and leave your elephant tusks at home.

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