IN THE MAIL: Anti-smoking laws excessively restrict rights

Talk about it

GRAND FORKS — The editorial, “Drawing the line on smoking,” should be renamed “Drawing the line on freedom” (Page A4,Feb. 15).

It is an individual’s choice to smoke. It also is an individual’s choice to go into a bar that allows smoking. When people enter a bar that allows smoking, they choose to breathe air that has smoke in it. An individual easily could go to a different bar that has clean air rather than complain about smoke in a smoking bar.

Also, the government has no right to tell a private business how to operate (besides the obvious of paying taxes, avoiding fraud and so on). Forcing a business to go smoke-free is stepping closer to full government control over small businesses; we might as well become communist if our government wants this much control.

If people don’t like working in a smoking bar, they can and should find a different job. People know the health risks of working in a smoking bar before they apply for the job.

And if people are so worried about their health, they shouldn’t leave their house because sun exposure causes skin cancer. They should scorn fast-food restaurants because overeating is linked to diabetes and obesity. They should avoid bars entirely not only because of the smoke but also because alcohol can cause liver problems and drunken driving.

To sum up, if you don’t like smoking, don’t work in or go to a smoking bar. Go someplace else. Government already has placed too many restrictions on our freedoms.

Tags: in the mail, anti-smoking laws, smoke-free legislation, grand forks city council, smoke-free bars, opinion, health