I have smoked on and off for fifteen years. I always quit when I was pregnant, I never smoke in my house, cars, or around my children, and I do not smoke around people I know who don't like it. Anyone who thinks smoking isn't bad for you is in denial. But it is legal. So leave me alone. People who want to outlaw smoking in public places are going to have a serious fight if they come to my town. Given the fact that up until about 1980 most people smoked, if second hand smoke was such a danger we would all have cancer. And if I own a restaurant, and the government tells me that THEY are not going to allow a legal activity on MY property, buddy we are going to have a problem. Personal choice and private property rights have been attacked for years by liberal do-gooders.
These people are organized, she has been added to their email blaster, These people goto everyone of these small municiple BoA meetings and take up all the floor time when it is given over for discussion. This has happened so much so at St.Peters that one of the Alderman is proposing that all open floor speaking by non-residents be moved to after the regular bussiness session is over. And limiting the discussion per topic time to 20min. St. Peters broadcasts its meetings on the local cable channell and they say people are tuning out because of the repetitive nature of the Anti-Smoking Nazi's schtick.
What they are trying to do is bully their way into taking up all of these Board meetings's extra time untill they get these ordinances introduced, usually by an ally on the board but it seems that these small boards are wearing down to the pressure.
As usual they hear both sides and of course as you would imagine the most eloquent of the speakers has been area business owners that are worried about losing business, and standing up for their property rights.