I am Appalled!

The Iowa legislature is poised to pass a ban on smoking – which governor Butterburger is itching to sign – that will ban smoking in all sorts of Iowa “public” places including bars, restaurants, casinos and VFW halls. Now, ignore if you will, the private property rights the owners of these places used to have to determine what legal activities they will allow in their establishments and ignore their loss of business to bars, restaurants and casinos just across respective state lines. You cannot ignore the fact that the rights that Veterans of Foreign Wars fought for, were wounded trying to defend, and even saw their buddies die for, are being stripped away from them.

Peaceniks, anti-war activists and Democrats in general love to say they support the troops. And then they come and take away their freedom to determine what sort of atmosphere they will have in their own hallowed VFW halls. What a slap in the face for all they have sacrificed.

Myself, I quit smoking years ago. I prefer bars and restaurants that are not obnoxiously smoky. But that’s a personal decision, just as it should be for those who still smoke and prefer a smoky atmosphere.

My own state senator, Dr. David Hartsuch – a Republican – voted for this odious bill. He explained that as a doctor he knows the health risks of smoking. And, apparently he feels it is his duty to impose his special understanding onto everyone else. Well, I’m sorry, Doc, but that’s not your call. These VFW guys, if not the rest of us, have earned the right to make their own decisions. Leave them alone.

And then quit making all the decisions for the rest of us too.