Published: March 04, 2008 09:21 am      

Business owner opposes smoking ban, says should be put up for vote instead

I am first and foremost an American. I served my country and encourage every young citizen of the United States of America to do the same.

I am a husband and a father and I do not take these privileges lightly. I have a deep passion for country and family. I also have a passion for what is right and what is wrong.

I must also tell you that I am a bar owner and I feel that the state government is impeding my rights as a business owner, making decisions for myself and my customers on where we should be able to smoke cigarettes and where we shouldn’t.

Our state senate as well as our legislators are trying to push a bill banning smoking in public places.

I am more than willing to post a sign at both entrances stating that my bar is a smoking establishment at the risk of losing the non-smoking public.

I believe that if you are a smoker or a non-smoker you should have the right to decide even before entering an establishment whether you would like to enter or not.

That should be your choice and not a choice the government makes for you or for myself.

It is beyond belief that the governments of other states, including Illinois, have made this choice for their people. A choice that should have been made “for the people and by the people.”

It is very upsetting that our government is even trying to push this upon us. Don’t let it happen.

I have worked as a 911 operator dispatching for Clinton County as well as the City of Clinton, DeWitt and Camanche.

Our policing agencies (respectively) are already stretched to their limits and I wonder who the government expects to police every bar in Iowa to make certain that there is no smoking going on in our businesses.

We have over 40 liquor licensed establishments in the City of Clinton alone.

How many police officers can we afford or expect to enforce this outlandish law?

I know our policing entities have their hands full with real crime and as long as you can purchase tobacco (taxed highly) legally in our state then why would the government even try to decide where we can and cannot smoke or chew tobacco.

Help me make the government put it up for a vote.

If the people decide that this is the best avenue for our public, then and only then will I put up a sign at both entrances of my bar stating this is a non-smoking establishment.

Respectfully,

Jeff Witt,

Owner and proprietor of Main Avenue Pub, Clinton