Georgia's ban on the sale of alcohol by stores on Sundays has long inconvenienced its citizens, and has been characterized by some as a failure to separate church and state, and a stain on Atlanta's reputation as an international city. Is it time for a change?

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle is among the politicians who are attempting to stall legislation that would call for a vote on this issue, and his office has been quoted as stating that they have not heard much feedback from citizens. An online petition's booming success seems to contradict that.  On late Monday, the AJC reported that the petition had gathered only 3,500 signatures in a week.  Less than three days after receiving that publicity, 20,400 signatures have been accumulated.  Click HERE to see the petition.

It is currently the most active petition being hosted by OnlinePetition.com.  Comments added by the signers of the petition include:

"This law has always been in violation of Church and State. FREEDOM FIRST!"

"I am a Christian, and the Bible does not prohibit alcohol consumption on Sunday, or any other day. Let the stores and business owners and consumers decide if they want to not sell or buy on Sunday, we don't need Government to legislate morality for the whole of the people."

"Georgia is the laughing stock of every out-of-state visitor that comes to see us with this ridiculous, outdated law. We have the right to choose whether we want to purchase liquor on Sunday. Our legislators needs to move into the 21st Century."

"Man drink at home, he stay at home. Man drink at bar, he get in car."

"I am a religious Republican, yet i can find no reason to force my religion on others. Quite simply there is no justification for this law except to maintain a religious order in the state. The Constitution allows for freedom of religion, so why not ban it on EVERY religions holy day or sabbath? This is simply forcing an issue that should have been a moot point years ago."

"Been on the way to friends' new houses countless times on Sundays, unable to buy a bottle of wine on the way for a gift."

"Let's catch up to the rest of the USA."

"Georgia is one of only three states that prohibit Sunday sales of alcohol. I feel that this law not only makes us seem to be religiously "backwards," but that it is not taking advantage of the additional taxes (at least 1/7 more for alcohol) that could go to state programs."

"The Sunday law is a pointless relic of the past."

"Let the people vote on it!"

How much longer can our elected officials listen and pretend not to hear?

Jim Beck of the Georgia Christian Coalition had claimed that only a handful of people supported this measure, and characterized the convenience store owners who are lobbying to repeal the prohibition "death merchants."

So far, almost three times Beck's estimated number of supporters have come forward in the petition.