I'M ONLY QOUTING FROM A BOOK!!! First night hunting law was 1803!!! It says: "Laws passed by Mississippi Territory of which Alabama was part, prior to Alabama's becoming a state in 1819."

The law: " A law passed prohibiting "firehunting", or the use of a gun with the aid of pine torches at night within 4 miles of any settlement under penalty of a $20 fine. Any slave caught "firehunting" received 39 lashes and his owner was fined $10."

That 39 lashes would go a long ways as a deterent for both blacks and whites doing crimes today!!

Just in case any wonder where the 39 lashes comes from it was a biblical idea. Yes it would be a good way to carry out punishment for crimes today. Being jailed isn't a biblical punishment.

Deuteronomy 25 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

2 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

You can see they were still carrying this out in Pauls day.

2 Corinthians 11:24 (KJV)

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Very interesting!
Barbaric?
Deterrent?

It was also believed that 40 lashes was the amount that would kill a man, so 39 became the standard. I think it's an interesting notion. A lot less people would be doing illegal things if they got the living stew beat out of em'. Then again, same amount of people would be getting caught, eh? I don't know, its an interesting thought, seems barbaric, but also seems effective.

Another. While I'm NOT an advocate of Sharia Law, it prescribes cutting off the hand of someone who stole something. Tell me THAT would be a deterrent to society!