2008 Woodie Awards
Smoking ban tramples citizens, business owners rights
Letter to the editor
Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: Opinions
To the New Hampshire House of Representatives,
A smoking ban will take away our rights and dollars. I want to voice my strong opposition on behalf of thousands of retail store owners, their employees, customers and all New Hampshire residents for the recently passed smoking ban in the Live Free or Die state.
Do not let this state get ruled by the iron fist of its government. The smoking ban, SB-42, will not allow private business owners of restaurants and bars to exercise their freedom of choice to accommodate customers who smoke.
If the government is truly interested in our health and welfare, I appreciate the concern, but I'd rather take care of it myself rather than risk losing my freedoms.
First, we should oppose any government body that tramples the rights of business owners to operate.
A government dictated ban gives people no choice of where to use a perfectly legal product.
We are quickly becoming an overregulated society with ever declining freedom of choice.
I have a problem with government officials who claim to know what's best for us without understanding all the facts.
The loss of revenue the retailers and wholesale trade will suffer from this bill is in the millions of dollars.
One quarter of New Englanders choose to smoke and buy their tobacco products here in New Hampshire.
Do-gooders are trying to scare our citizens into submission with endless counteractive reports on the most exaggerated epidemic, second- hand smoke, which is simply not true.
There is no conclusive evidence second-hand smoke harms anyone.
Last year alone, some states tried to ban things like tuna, chicken, salt, soda, coffee, sugar, trans-fats, booze and junk food snacks. Next is to take candy from babies.
It's time to back off! This government has been driven by an artificial public need to fix what is not broken. The market place will self-regulate itself like it always has done in the past. No additional laws need to pass to make that happen.
As you regulate, you will dictate more and that is big trouble. Leave the small business owner alone to make their own choice of what to sell and how to sell it.
Mark Garafolo
Salem, N.H.
A smoking ban will take away our rights and dollars. I want to voice my strong opposition on behalf of thousands of retail store owners, their employees, customers and all New Hampshire residents for the recently passed smoking ban in the Live Free or Die state.
Do not let this state get ruled by the iron fist of its government. The smoking ban, SB-42, will not allow private business owners of restaurants and bars to exercise their freedom of choice to accommodate customers who smoke.
If the government is truly interested in our health and welfare, I appreciate the concern, but I'd rather take care of it myself rather than risk losing my freedoms.
First, we should oppose any government body that tramples the rights of business owners to operate.
A government dictated ban gives people no choice of where to use a perfectly legal product.
We are quickly becoming an overregulated society with ever declining freedom of choice.
I have a problem with government officials who claim to know what's best for us without understanding all the facts.
The loss of revenue the retailers and wholesale trade will suffer from this bill is in the millions of dollars.
One quarter of New Englanders choose to smoke and buy their tobacco products here in New Hampshire.
Do-gooders are trying to scare our citizens into submission with endless counteractive reports on the most exaggerated epidemic, second- hand smoke, which is simply not true.
There is no conclusive evidence second-hand smoke harms anyone.
Last year alone, some states tried to ban things like tuna, chicken, salt, soda, coffee, sugar, trans-fats, booze and junk food snacks. Next is to take candy from babies.
It's time to back off! This government has been driven by an artificial public need to fix what is not broken. The market place will self-regulate itself like it always has done in the past. No additional laws need to pass to make that happen.
As you regulate, you will dictate more and that is big trouble. Leave the small business owner alone to make their own choice of what to sell and how to sell it.
Mark Garafolo
Salem, N.H.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 7
Jeff L'Amoreaux
posted 4/12/07 @ 3:48 PM EST
Amen, brother. Live Nanny or Die? I'll die.
Jeff L'Amoreaux
Chalfont, PA
Rick Hyer
posted 4/17/07 @ 10:47 AM EST
Removing cigarette smoke from public places has nothing to do with "rights". It is a dangerous air pollution (like asbestos) and business owners have an obligation to provide a safe work environment for their employees. (Continued…)
Tom Pangonis
posted 4/18/07 @ 11:46 PM EST
Look,Ilived in California for 20 years and witnessed a smoking ban in bars and restaurants alike.The furor that the ban raised was intense but when it took affect guess what?Business was not hurt at all!As a respiratory therapist I have seen the tragic consequences of smoking{and 2nd hand smoke}on a daily basis and let me tell you brother,it aint pretty!If you think 2nd hand smoke is just a myth or inconclusive, your head is in the sand{or elsewhere}The right to breath clean air for patrons and employees alike supercedes the "rights"of smokers. (Continued…)
Ron
posted 5/02/07 @ 1:08 PM EST
The owner of the establishment should have the right to allow or ban smoking. If the employee feels in danger because of the smoking, there are plenty other jobs that don't allow smoking. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 5/12/07 @ 4:12 PM EST
According to the American Lung Association the EPA (that's Environmental Protection Agency) has classified second-hand smoke as a group A carcinogen. Sounds conclusive to me. (Continued…)
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