We appear to be.
Even my very first post questioned the idea on speech.......but not assembly on private property.
I do not know who said it, and I am just paraphrasing here........but he who controls the language controls the arguement.
In the case of smoking bans, a rather small, but VERY well funded (Soros-style) group has been able to convince many that a private place of business that invites a segment of the populace to utilize its services is a PUBLIC place. These people have usurped the language and believe they have the right to enter any private business and demand its services be to their liking.
That is wrong, and I can't believe how many people, calling themselves conservatives, have fallen for it.
This is just speculation, but I think a large part of that attitude also comes from "the customer is always right". FWIW. I don't think that the customer IS always right, however. Just because you are a guest doesn't mean you can behave any old way you want to...hence all those "No Shirts, No Shoes, No Service" and "We reserve the right to refuse service...blah blah blah" signs. People forget that- while they are out of their homes- it doesn't necessarily translate into being in a public space.