Michigan Smoking Ban about to Pass: Just Needs Senate OK

At this point, it’s futile.  But, if you think personal liberty outwieghts majority opinion, so long as that liberty doesn’t directly inflict harm upon the majority, please send a message to your senator or representative.  People have the right to avoid going to smoking establishments.  Plain and simple.  They have liberty regrding this issue, but they want to enact a totalitarian law that restricts the liberty of private business owner’s, because they want to avoid inconvenience.

 

I emailed this to each senator today:

I wanted to voice my disappointment in the Michigan legislature.  I realize we are on the tail end of this smoking-ban movement, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  It is entirely un-American to prohibit a legal act within the walls of a privately owned establishment.  Non-smokers are at Liberty to patron non-smoking bars and restaurants, while smokers are free to choose the opposite.  The market should be deciding the fate of smoking, not lawmakers.  And it is, but for some reason, as the number of smoking establishments dwindle, legislators feel the need to pre-empt the eventual fate with legislation that restricts the liberty of the private business owners, which I think is extremely contrary to what our system was built upon. 

 

I worry about these things more than a lot of people I talk to.  This isn’t about the health of the state.  I agree this will improve the physical health of this state.  That is the extent that most supporters – and even opponents – delve into this issue.  It is not about health.  It is about weighing whether the health of the public warrants the application of a totalitarian rule. If you truly respect liberty, you can see that this ban is inappropriate.  Just because the majority support something does not mean it should pass.  Just because the majority of your constituents support it, doesn’t mean it is right.  Our country and state should support personal liberty over majority rule, so long as it doesn’t infringe upon others.  People have an alternative to smoking establishments.  Don’t confuse inconvenience with absence of a choice, and don’t let an inconvenience to the majority cause restrictions of liberty for the minority. 

 

I know you’ll all pass it; I just think it is a shame.  I hope this is overturned by the state supreme court.      

 

Gus Burns

Here is a list of all of the Michigan State Senator Contacts:

President of the Senate Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry Office Location: S-215 Capitol Building Office Phone: (517) 373-6800 Jason Allen Republican of District 37 Office Phone: (517) 373-2413 Office Location: 820 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenJAllen@senate.michigan.gov Glenn S. Anderson Democrat of District 6 Office Phone: (517) 373-1707 Office Location: 610 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenGAnderson@senate.michigan.gov Jim Barcia Democrat of District 31 Office Phone: (517) 373-1777 Office Location: 1010 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenJBarcia@senate.michigan.gov Raymond E. Basham Democrat of District 8 Office Phone: (517) 373-7800 Office Location: 715 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenRBasham@senate.michigan.gov

Patricia L. Birkholz Republican of District 24 Office Phone: (517) 373-3447 Office Location: 805 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenPBirkholz@senate.michigan.govMichael Bishop Republican of District 12 Office Phone: (517) 373-2417 Office Location: S-106 Capitol E-mail Address: SenMBishop@senate.michigan.gov Liz Brater Democrat of District 18 Office Phone: (517) 373-2406 Office Location: 510 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenLBrater@senate.michigan.gov

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