RI blue laws prevent early shopping

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – As Thanksgiving approaches, many people are also gearing up for Black Friday shopping.

Nationally, some big box stores will be opening earlier on Thanksgiving Day, but not in Rhode Island or Massachusetts.

Old statutes on the books -- so-called “blue laws” -- won’t allow the stores to open before midnight.

Paul Deroche, the head of the Rhode Island Retail Federation, said he thinks that should change.

Shoppers in Warwick had mixed feelings about the issue Sunday.

"Some people don't want to be out at midnight. Some people have to work in the morning and it's just more convenient, I think," said Steve Harpool of Cranston.

Bill Springer of East Greenwich disagreed, and wants to preserve the traditional holiday.

"People want to spend Thanksgiving with their families, and they should be able to do that.  Unfortunately, if one business is opened, the others feel they have to do it," said Springer.

The Retail Federation plans to meet with state lawmakers to talk about repealing the state's blue law.