Remarks Made to St. Louis County Council Committe on Smoke Free Ordinance

April 12, 2005 | Jack Glennon

[Americanexpat]

I had read once that it was illegal to have an ash tray in your office and if caught it was a pretty heavy fine. Any New Yorkers out there?

I bring it up becuase it shows you the extent government will go to to get into your private lives.

[Mears]

"At the sole expense of the county taxpayers, the Council cou"ld have “smoke free” and “smoking allowed" signs to be made and then distributed to all of the private property owners in the county."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The statement above seems to be a simple solution to what everyone is turning into a complicated problem.

[appalachian_dweller]

Great post! Thanks for the ping SheLion.

[Mears]

So you DID fight city hall----good for you!

[basil]

Let's see--our government is now in the business of starving private citizens, unborn American babies are being slaughtered in the womb, our gun grabbers are hard at work, we are being overrun at our borders, taxation has gone way beyond any reasonable bounds, our government run schools are not only not teaching our children, they're brainwashing them, ordinary people who own property are having their rights to run their business as they see fit, etc etc.

Is it time for a second revolution in this once proud country yet?

[Hunble]

Fight hell, I ran for City Council!

Just in case that I could not win in court, I was also trying my best to replace one of the idiots responsible for this illegal law.

Once I was placed upon the ballot, it is amazing how fast the city changed their tone. Not to mention, that entitled me to a few extra legal protections.

[537cant be wrong]

thanks,
why can't others understand this concept?
i assume it is their intense desire to have an impact on others lives out side the sphere of their own coven.

dang leaches!

[Mears]

In the Supreme Court case, U.S. v Playboy Entertainment Group (2000) it was decided:


“If a less restrictive alternative would serve the Government’s purpose, the legislature must use that alternative. A particular restriction on liberty is unnecessary if there is some other means of accomplishing the proper purpose that is less restrictive or does not restrict liberty at all. When a plausible, less restrictive alternative is offered to…a restriction, it is the Government’s obligation to prove that the alternative will be ineffective to achieve its goals. What the Constitution says is that these judgments are for the individual to make, not for the Government to decree, even with the mandate or approval of a majority.”

---

POWERFUL STUFF HERE,POWERFUL STUFF!!!!!!!!

[processing please hold]

I'm tired of feeling like a leper because I smoke. This is good news.

The government would be hurting if they outlawed cigarettes. They get billions in taxes from them. I wonder why they can't remember that...

[o_zarkman44]

Excellent post. Take on the anti property rights movement disgusied as anti smoking and put it where it hurts!!!

[Mears]

I wish I had the guts to do what you did.

Another thing,what happens when you light up in a no smoking area? What is the reaction?

I live in Massachusetts and we are a non-smoking state in all "public" facilities,including restaurants and bars. What a hellhole this state has become.

[processing please hold]

Thank you smokers, and I feel sorry for you.

You're welcome, I do what I can.

[Hunble]

what happens when you light up in a no smoking area? What is the reaction?

I simply finish my meal and then light up a cigarette. What are they going to do, evict me before I pay for the meal?

If someone is stupid enough to call the police, I am long gone before they could ever arrive.

For the smoking customers in the restaurant, they usually cheer me for having the balls to stand up.

For the non-smokers who get upset, well, I no longer even pay attention to them. They made their choice to eliminate designated smoking sections where people could segregate themselves and not be smoking around them.

[Just another Joe]

Somebody's been listening to our conversations on Free Republic.
Wouldn't you say?

[processing please hold]

This citizen is standing up, and absolutely refuses to obey these ordinances. I simply smoke anywhere that I wish now days, and ignore the "no smoking" signs posted in public (privately owned) businesses.

I never thought of doing that...

[Mears]

Good for you! We smokers have rolled over and played dead for too long.

[Hunble]

My office is in city owned property. When at work, I will obey the no-smoking laws, since this is not privately owned property.

Remember, I made a distinction about (privately owned) businesses.

[ShowMeMom]

BRAVO!! BRAVO!! from a St. Louis area smoker. Several municipalities in the county have already enacted this obnoxious ordinance. I hope they get the message.

[processing please hold]

(privately owned)

I knew what you meant. I'll ask them if they are privately owned before lighting up. Wish I'd thought of that sooner. Thanks for putting it in my head. :-)

[VermiciousKnid]

You are correct. It is now illegal to have an ashtray anywhere in any "workplace" (yes, even your own home, if, say...you are having a party and hire a caterer to serve food to your guests).

While I have not heard of anyone being fined for having ashtrays in a private home even if it is a "workplace," I do know that people HAVE been fined for having empty, clean ashtrays, tucked away in drawers in offices.

Scary, ain't it?

Regards

PS: GREAT remarks to the St. Louis City Council, BTW.