Thursday, October 23, 2008

Tell Government to "Butt" Out.

Dallas City Council is considering an ordinance expanding their smoking ban by including bars and taverns.

It's a freedoms issue: Business owners should have the freedom to choose to be smoke-free or allow smoking within their establishments. Just as consumers should have the freedom to choose which establishments they'd prefer to go to.

It is not the government's right to infringe on our freedom of choice.

If they succeed in passing this expansion, is Dallas any different than Cuba?

AFP interviewed the owner of Havana Social Club in Dallas, Carlos Rodriguez, to find out how this ban will personal affect him and his business.


An American Dream Up in Smoke from Americans for Prosperity - TX on Vimeo.

A few news stories on this issue:
Dallas mayor pushes for smoking ban in bars - Dallas Morning News
Expansion of Dallas Smoking Ban Seen as Unconstitutional by Local Tobacconist - Reuters
Groups rally against extended smoking ban in Dallas - Dallas Morning News

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I completely agree with you. Each business should be allowed to decide if they want smoking or not. These bans are popping up all over the country. I know clarksville Tn has a smoking ban and so does my hometown of New Braunfels Tx. They have had the ban for at least 5 years.

Unknown said...

At what point does government go to far in controlling our lives? Government should only be there to provide us with services that help to sustain and enrich our lives not make decisions for us. Dallas has been trying for the past five or so years to help its struggling entertainment districts and doing things like this totally goes against bar owners thus hurting Dallas. Great blog... keep up the outstanding work!

Anonymous said...

This one's tough... But I agree.

Smoking is still for morons, though.

Anonymous said...

I live in Florida, we have a ban here. Although I'm for personal civil rights with regards to businesses being able to choose whether to allow smoking in their facilities. You have to understand that businesses typically will not shun 20 - 30% of their clientele just because they smoke. Would you then settle for a compromise where people are allowed to smoke, but the regulations governing smoke filters be stiffer in rooms that must be used by both smokers and non-smokers? Or should we return to the old days of smoke'em if you got them, and if you don't want to smell or inhale cigarette or cigar smoke, don't come to our establishment. I'd have to say I'm pretty split on this issue.

Like I said, personally, I like knowing that when I enter an establishment its not going to make me smell like smoke the rest of the night.