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Opening Arguments

You are getting sleepy

I remember writing about Indiana's hypnotist licensing requirement as one silly example of overregulation and too much credentialization. Kevin Carey, who worked for the General Assembly when the law was enacted, recalls an embarrassing side effect:

Then, after the law was enacted, a funny thing started happening: The state began receiving license applications from people who didn't live in Indiana. People who lived in states (i.e. most states) that didn't require hypnotist licensing of any kind. Some were from as far away as California. It turns out they were doing it so they could advertise in the yellow pages and on bus-stop billboards as "state-licensed." They would just neglect to mention which state.

If you'd like to be a licensed and state-recognized hypnotist yourself, you can find handy guidelines at the Indiana Hyponist Committee's page at Indiana's government site. Yes, there is such a committee. Be aware, though, that you are not allowed, under Indiana law, to "use, advocate, teach or condone demoniac rituals or acts, including spirit or demon depossession, while engaged in the practice of hypnotis or advertising hypnotism services." Sorry.

Comments

littlejohn
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 12:43pm

Man, I was all ready to sign up. Then I saw I couldn't use my powers for "demonaic" purposes!
Why else would I want to hypnotize people? Silly prudes!
As far as "depossession" goes, both the Catholic and Episcopal churches have official rites of exorcism, which would appear to be the same thing. (I'm an expert; I saw the movie.)
This would appear to be a blatant violation of the First Amendment. Someone should challenge this. First, they could hypnotize the judge....

Doug
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 2:11pm

I think I helped with the drafting of that law, or at least some iteration of it.

I also seem to remember doing quite a bit of work on acupuncturist licensure. And, my favorite - which was never enacted - hair braider licensure!

tim zank
Mon, 12/07/2009 - 1:09pm

And some people say government is wasteful, burdensome and over-reaching? Golly, no way. This is but one example of the thousands of programs where government efficiency and necessity is vividly clear.

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