The rule that penal statutes are to be construed strictly does not permit such a construction as defeats the obvious intention of the legislature.

Read the penal statutes.

If penal statutes are overly vague, it is argued that the state's discretion to prosecute becomes too broad, and potentially subject to abuse through selective enforcement.

Echoing the resolutions of the Birmingham Committee, the Midland District meeting issued a sweeping condemnation of all penal statutes against Dissenters.

Mr. Mashberg said some points were "absolutely frivolous," meritless and distinguished by misapplications of penal statutes to a civil case.

"There was no private right of action to sue for violation of these penal statutes."

Nevertheless, it is accepted that, appearing as they do in a penal statute, they fall to be construed narrowly rather than widely.

"No one may be required at peril of life, liberty or property to speculate as to the meaning of penal statutes."

The practice of it was subjected to severe penal statutes and priests performing its rites were rigorously penalized.

In 1688 he wrote Jus regium Coronae, a learned defence of James's action in dispensing with the penal statutes.