SILVER STAR FAMILIES OF AMERICA COMES OUT AGAINST V.A. SMOKING BAN

The Silver Star Families of America ^ | 9-18-19 | Steve Newton

[Steve Newton]

Today the Silver Star Families of America has come out against, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie decision to ban all smoking at V.A. facilities.

[Steve Newton]

Yes they do but not for long. What one must understand is that V.A. hospitals are NOT like their civilian counterparts. V.A. hospitals were made for veterans-—ALL veterans. And right or wrong that includes smokers.

[Bonemaker]

“Today the Silver Star Families of America has come out against, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie decision to ban all smoking at V.A. facilities.”

Wilkie...yet another Big Government puke.

[Steve Newton]

Well said. And thank you. As I stated this was a very hard decision for us to make. We came down on the side of freedom.

[Drew68]

It’s my understanding that the ban on smoking for V.A. employee’s has already taken affect. Or will shortly.

Nope.

"While veterans, visitors, volunteers, contractors and vendors will be prohibited from smoking on VA grounds, employees will keep their smoking privileges because of a memorandum of understanding between the VA and the American Federation of Government Employees, a federal union that represents VA workers.

The memorandum requires the department to maintain smoking areas for employees"

Department of Veterans Affairs’ new ‘smoke-free’ policy doesn’t apply to employees

If you ask me, it's a kinda childish way to treat veterans by letting employees smoke but not them, forcing vets to grovel and beg employees to sneak them out to the smoking areas against regulations (which you know damn will is exactly what will happen).

[marktwain]

Nice to see someone take a stand against this insanity.

No, I do not smoke.

But smokers might as well be required to sew a yellow star on their clothes.

The discrimination against smokers has become insane.

[Steve Newton]

I agree. And it’s time to put a stop to their over reach.

[plain talk]

“What one must understand is that V.A. hospitals are NOT like their civilian counterparts.”

Yeah. we know. :-)

[Drew68]

The decision to come out against a smoking ban was an incredibly hard one to make. But in our opinion the rights of over a million veterans must be protected. And in the interest of full disclosure yes I do smoke myself.

I read your position wrong and thought you were supporting the smoking ban.

My apologies.

[Steve Newton]

I was NOT aware of this. So a contract employee can smoke but a veteran who gave up so much can be fined 50 bucks? Its even worse than I thought.

[Drew68]

I was NOT aware of this. So a contract employee can smoke but a veteran who gave up so much can be fined 50 bucks? Its even worse than I thought.

Yes, it's an offensive double standard.

[Bonemaker]

“The decision to come out against a smoking ban was an incredibly hard one to make. But in our opinion the rights of over a million veterans must be protected.”

I hope you don’t have the same theory about firearms. On top of that, you may not like “second hand smoke” but it ain’t going to hurt you.

[Steve Newton]

It’s ok my FRiend. At my age I have that problem a lot. :)

[Drango]

Soooooooo tolerant of you.

[Steve Newton]

The discrimination against smokers has become insane

I agree

[Seruzawa]

Tough decision? BS. Fascists loooove doing this s***. Are they going to ban cars at VA facilities next? Cars kill a lot more people than cigarettes.

[Drango]

We came down on the side of freedom.

There is no freedom in addiction.

[Steve Newton]

We are against the ban. And believe me we are very much 2nd Amendment proponents. We have a range at our Headquarters I use quite a bit.

[RandallFlagg]

The discrimination against smokers has become insane.

And those of us who have successfully quit smoking with an electronic cigarette are given the same level of bigoted hatred.
Even on this forum.

[Mears]

Are you saying that veterans deserve more consideration than all the rest of us?

[Steve Newton]

Cars kill a lot more people than cigarettes

Well said