Video: This Pa. tarot shop owner went viral after police visit. Now, they’re fighting back

Beck Lawrence went viral last fall after being warned by Hanover’s police chief that they could face charges over an arcane law from 1861 outlawing fortune telling for profit in Pennsylvania.

Beck Lawrence, owner of the Serpent’s Key Shoppe & Sanctuary in Hanover, was at the center of a viral news story last fall after they were threatened by the local chief of police over an obscure law from 1861 banning fortune telling for profit. 

Hanover Police chief Chad Martin saw Lawrence’s tarot shop — billed online as a “witchery and apothecary” — featured in a local magazine and visited the business to inform Lawrence that offering tarot readings was illegal, despite the fact that Lawrence has a sign that states “for entertainment purposes only” displayed prominently in the shop.

In order to save their business and insulate themselves from further legal trouble, Lawrence has sued both Martin and the borough of Hanover, challenging the constitutionality of the law by arguing it violates their First and Fourth Amendment rights.

@keystonenewsroom

Beck Lawrence, the owner of Hanover Tarot Shop The Serpent’s Key Shoppe and Sanctuary, (TT: @thestitchingwitch) has officially sued the Hanover Police Chief and Borough for First amendment violations. The high-profile lawsuit comes after Chad E. Martin, the Hanover Police Chief, saw Lawrence’s shop featured in a local small business magazine and took it upon himself to enforce an obscure statute dating back to 1861 that prohibits fortune-telling for profit in Pennsylvania. We sat down with Beck to get an update on the story after reporting on it back in 2023, watch to find out more and stay tuned more of the interview later this week. #Wicca #HanoverPA #Hanover #Pennsylvania #witchtok #witchesoftiktok #Tarot #Smallbusiness #localbusinessowners #PennsylvaniaNews #Pennsylvaniacheck #Pennsylvanian #NewsUpdate #FirstAmendment #PAPolitics

♬ original sound – Keystone Newsroom – Keystone Newsroom

Lawrence said they were grateful and overwhelmed by the outpouring of support they have received from the community, noting that people from all walks of life, and from across the political spectrum have expressed support.

@keystonenewsroom

After suing the Hanover police chief, and the borough, for threatening to arrest them over a rarely enforced law from 1861 which bans fortune telling for profit, Hanover tarot shop owner Beck Lawrence has been surprised by the level of support they’ve received from people of all walks of life in the community. #Pennsylvania #Hanover #Tarot #Wicca #Pennsylvanialife #HanoverPA #Pennsylvanian #TarotShop #SmallBusiness #LocalBusiness #LocallyOwned #Pennsylvania_life #NewsUpdate #Witchtok

♬ original sound – Keystone Newsroom

Lawrence feels their legal predicament is a good reminder that people should stand up to their bullies.

@keystonenewsroom

Beck Lawrence, a tarot shop owner in Hanover, said the community support they’ve received after police threatened them with arrest for supposedly violating an obscure law from 1861 has them feeling empowered to fight back against bullies. “I wish I had stood up to my bullies in high school but now that I’m an adult, I’m certainly going to,” Lawrence said. #Hanover #HanoverPA #Pennsylvania #NewsUpdate #Tarot #Tarotshop #Wicca #Witchery #WitchTok #smallbusiness #localbusiness

♬ original sound – Keystone Newsroom