A law on the books banning snowballs in Severence, Colorado was lifted this week after a nine year old boy made his case to town leaders. The boy, Dane Best, had been practicing his presentation for the last month. In his speech to the town’s leaders, Best laid out his case for why the ban, which has been on the books since 1921, should be lifted.
“Research suggests that a lack of exposure to the outdoors can lead to obesity, ADHD, anxiety and depression,” Best wrote on the slides in his PowerPoint presentation. “Kids want to have snowball fights without breaking the law — kids want to have a voice in our town.” Best also provided the board with letters written by his classmates who supported his motion to repeal the law. On the final slide, Best wrote: “the children of Severance want the opportunity to have snowball fights like the rest of the world.”
The board asked Best who he’d throw the first snowball at should the ban be lifted; he motioned to his younger brother, Max, age 4. After hearing his presentation, the board voted unanimously to lift the ban, making it legal to have snowball fights immediately. It will still be illegal to throw or shoot stones at people, animals, buildings, trees and other private property –including snowballs with stones inside. Once the ban was passed, Dane and Max Best were able to head outside and have the honor of being the first to toss snowballs. The town also presented Dane Best with a small plaque and a gift card to buy a snowball maker.
The nine year old may not be done shaping local legislation. After reviewing other ordinances on the books, he learned his town only considers a cat and a dog a legal pet. As the owner of a guinea pig, Best is considering working with the town to change that ordinance to make his pet legal too.
