That being said here is a sign of people telling the morons in a state legislature where they can go.
Victims of Smoking Ban Cut Off Politicians
Lawmakers no longer welcome in bars and restaurants hurt by state smoking policy
Small bar owners angered over losing their butts to the statewide indoor smoking ban plan to give lawmakers the boot.
A newly formed group, Protect Private Property Rights in Michigan (PPPRM), has organized an effort to ban lawmakers from their establishments in protest against Michigan's smoking ban. This lawmaker ban is scheduled to start Sept. 1. PPPRM, which claims to have a membership of about 500 businesses, argues that the smoking ban has been disastrous for Michigan's small bar owners and their employees.
“We're not smoking advocates or advocates for tobacco use,” PPPRM Executive Director Stephen Mace said. “We 're just people who believe in private property rights and are trying to speak out against this law that's hurting us and our employees. It has already put some of us out of business.”
According to Mace, participating bars are being provided with photos of local lawmakers so they can identify them if they enter their establishments. However, the governor, lieutenant governor, House speaker and Senate majority leader will be exempt from the ban.
“We'll let the top officials in to symbolize how the ban hurts the little guys but not big guys,” Mace explained. “That would be consistent with smoking ban. We're trying to keep a sense of humor even though things are looking pretty grim. I think you'll see a lot of creative approaches as this goes forward.”
Capitol Confidential asked Mace if he considers those negatively affected by the smoking to be victims.
“Absolutely,” Mace said. “Actually the term ‘smoking ban victims’ was coined in Ohio about the ban down there. But at least in Ohio the ban was done through a vote of the people. Here in Michigan they just did it to us.”
“And understand this: The very first people to become victims of the ban were the employees,” Mace continued. “They're the ones who were the first to lose jobs. Then some of the businesses themselves were forced to close their doors. Those on the other side of this issue try to say it's just the overall bad economy. That's just not so.”
The idea of small bars denying entry to lawmakers isn't designed to force an end to the smoking ban by withholding beer and liquor from state representatives and senators. It's primarily aimed at calling attention to the plight of the small businesses that have been injured, some destroyed, due to the smoking ban...
As I alluded to earlier I used to be a vicious anti-smoker but I have become more libertarian as time as gone one. And again I do enjoy an occasional cigar. So I have a simple solution. Allow the bar/restaurant owners to decide if they will allow smoking and if a customer doesn't want to go where smoking is allowed, they can.....go somewhere else.
Now as usual the politicians in Michigan say they are just concerned about people's health. when then this is interesting.
...At the time, many Lansing insiders believed the Detroit casino issue would prevent the smoking ban from passing. Native American casinos aren't under Michigan jurisdiction, and the state can't ban smoking in those establishments. With Detroit casinos competing with the Native American casinos, it was believed Detroit lawmakers would help block a smoking ban. But the hopes of smoking ban opponents were dashed when smoking ban proponents finally agreed to exempt the Detroit casinos. When that happened, the votes materialized and the legislation passed.
OK it's about health...when it's not about money. Got it.
My friend Darren and I were discussing problems with state legislatures and one of them is in states with full time legislatures you have issues like this. Idle hands the Devil's workshop. If you give those simpleton's in a state legislature too much time on their hands and power it comes to things like this.
Again, I'm not "for" smoking...I'm for liberty. If a bar owner wants to allow people to smoke that's his business. Period. If a bar customer wants to not go into a bar or restaurant that allows smoking, that's his business. Period.
Mr Legislator why don't you get a real job and leave us alone.
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