Posted on 08/07/2005 10:13:06 AM PDT by elkfersupper
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- The day the Legislature approved a smoking ban for most North Dakota businesses, Dennis Laches put a sign on his laundry and television repair shop, announcing he would close when the ban took effect Aug. 1.
"Nobody knew if he was going to go through with it," said Troy Mosbrucker, the mayor of Mott, a town of about 800 in southwestern North Dakota. "He had a point to prove, and he proved it."
As promised, Laches closed his business that day. He said it had nothing to do with his pack-a-day habit. Rather, he said, it was a matter of fairness.
"The state of North Dakota is attempting to make me discriminate against another person or group of people," said Laches, 59. "I don't believe government of any kind should be allowed to dictate what I do at my own business and my own building."
State officials say they know of no other businesses that have closed because of the new smoking ban, though police have rounded up ash trays in some bingo parlors.
The new state law bans smoking in most public areas and workplaces. Bars are exempt, unless they have a restaurant in the smoking area. Violators can be fined up to $500. A building owner who allows illegal smoking also faces fines of up to $500 for multiple infractions within one year.
Law enforcement officers are trying to adjust to the new rules.
"It's almost embarrassing walking in and being called the smoke police," said Ward County Sheriff Vern Erck said. "We have better things to do, but we'll enforce it."
But health officials say feedback had generally been positive.
"We had some (people) call that are dissatisfied, but it's been very few," said Kathleen Mangskau, director of the Health Department's tobacco prevention and control program.
Two days after Laches closed his shop, an economic development group purchased his laundry machines, mostly to keep the 100 or so visiting custom wheat harvesters in town.
"If they leave town to do their laundry, then they leave the town grocery, the gas station and the cafe," Mosbrucker said. "Everything loses."
Laches said his business was never a moneymaker in the 17 years he owned it. Now, he'll either retire or move to another state to find work.
"If I find a job, it's going to have to be in a state that allows smoking," he said.
LOL...you people are so funny when you're being laughed at...you're just like libs...you can't STAND IT!!! LOLOLOL!!
...as you can see, folks...the cabal has swooped in.... ;)
What's the weather like up there on your high horse?
After you, Alphonse. :)
I would like to find a state that prohibited abortion, allowed public hanging, allowing smoking tobacco, and chewing tobacco but not spitting on the street and of course had a conceal and carry law. My parents and grandparents lived in such a state, but in another millenium.
So the smoking taliban are not as dumb as they sound?
Easier to pick on elderly smokers than go after gangbangers, I guess...
apparently you have a mirror on your monitor - I see you are talking to (about) yourself again.
I love a good joke on a Sunday afternoon - thank you for providing it with your nonsensical bloviating :)
Or it could have been his way to pass the day away, have someone to talk to...oh nevermind. It's the purpose of some people on this forum to be assholes every moment of every day.
Beautiful!!! Not a cloud in the sky. And it's Seafair Sunday. We are off to watch the Blue Angels over Lake Washington. They start in about a half-hour and we want a good seat under a shady tree. A perfectly lovely day!!
Hope yours is as well...
Do you wear white socks and Mary Janes?
Because I have this image running through my head.....
SMOOCH!
People aren't afraid of eldery smokers, I guess. I can't imagine some blue-haired lady running from the cops over this, anyway.
Bash him with her purse or twist his ear...maybe. :)
You bet! I would love nothing more than to help ruin threads for certain others.
I'm convinced that lung cancer and other so-called, smoking-related problems are caused more by the increased prevalence of chemical additives and/or emissions than they are by tobacco. Personally, I grew up around cigarette smoke and have never had a problem with it. (Exposure to certain perfumes, air "cleaners," and chemical cleaners have caused reactions like projectile vomiting and migraines. You can now thank me for sharing.) ;)
My maternal grandfather started smoking before he was a teenager. His favorite snack was pickled pork fat. Granted, he did die younger than a couple of his brothers, but he lived to 100.5 yoa.
I guess that's what it's gonna take to wake people up: video on the nightly news of a little ol' biddy running at top speed, puffing on a cigarette, with a bunch of baton-wielding cops cracking open a can of whoop-ass on her.
Done!!!!!!!!
Nice recovery attempt.
Sounds like a lot of people will be attending. Driving cars and all.
I hope you aren't bringing your children and exposing them to extremely concentrated carbon monoxide fumes.
I'm sure you have the family HazMat suits on the checklist though.
Hey stranger, long time no FReep!!!!
There much sense in your theory, I also add to it the fact that people are living longer. As was cited in an earlier post, most lung cancer appears in older people........as a society were are aging and thus diseases that were rare a mere few decades ago are now more prevalent..........and that goes for many diseases, not just lung cancer.
He probably made a living...it just wasn't enough to bank on a comfortable retirement. Those laundromats with people plugging in quarter after quarter make a lot of money...the trick is staying ahead of the repairs and the hassles of plugged drains.
LOL!
Another reminder that smokers have a bigger and healthier humor gene!
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