What the Law Actually Says

• There is an anti-obscenity law on the books regarding nudity, voted into Minnesota law during the first half of the 20th century. While it does not mention sleeping in the nude specifically, it does cover willfully exposing the body in a lewd manner, and even offers provisions for doing so in front of an underage child.
  
  

Jumping to Conclusions

• Sleeping without clothes isn't unusual by itself but it may have presented a situation of indecent exposure on a trip to the bathroom, or a night spent on the couch by a quarreling spouse. One can only speculate how the situation came about, but someone may have been arrested for lewd exposure while sleeping in the nude, and the arresting officer could have used this old statute of public indecency. The story may have grown from there, quickly becoming the stuff of legend.
  
  

How the Story Continues

• Many websites quote humorist Garrison Keillor's response to the question of illegal night nudity; with typical dry wit he stated that he knew of the law, and most state residents ignored it because of the mild criminal kick. This, and the fact that even national publications continue to print it as truth, helps the story continue into the 21st century.
  
  

All Things Must End

• If the law had existed as purported in legend and not just a twist of real legislation, its days would be numbered. Minnesota has a statutes revisor whose job it is to eliminate such bits if it takes minor effort and doesn't affect the overall legal status. If revision does change the meaning, then scrubbing the law must be done within the legislative process.
  
  

Peeling Off the Pajamas

• Even if this law was real, Minnesotans would have nothing to fear; today's world has enough issues without requiring law enforcement to check on the status of your pajamas. Residents in the state of 10,000 lakes should feel free to discard their nightclothes if they wish, although the cold winter nights might lend some "common sense" credibility to the legend.