DAVID LEWIS
NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 53
 
Enough is Enough!
 

Smoking Ban Passes

This debate is about personal freedom and the rights that we enjoy as Americans. It is about the right to build and own a business without government interference. It is about the right to make choices of where we work without governemnt interference. It is about the right to choose which businesses we frequent and how we spend money that we have earned, without government interference. And finally it is about the right that we all have to own ourselves, without government interference.

As well intended as this bill may be, it is wrong. It is wrong to take away freedom. I have a job here and so do each of you. It is to make sure that our state governemnt does it's job. We need to ensure that tax dollars are spent well, that our children receive a decent education, that roads and bridges are adequate to safely transport goods and people across the state and we need to make sure that businesses can grow and prosper here. The governemtn should not - should never - take away the freedoms that we hold as inaleable rights. There is a delicate balance between what government does and what it takes away. This bill takes away the freedom of choice for every person who lives and works i

Right on Leo!

Leo Daughtry just did the best the best job of pointing out the Hypocrisy of this smoking ban bill. He said we should just go ahead and ban tobacco and refuse to take any more tax money from it because it is blood money. Of course that is not going to happen because we want to tax the utmost of tobacco. The State wants it both ways. Hypocrisy. Hypocrisy. Hypocrisy

"My first 'blog'-The Bill to ban smoking at all private workplaces is on today's Calendar

While currently sitting "at ease," (a Legislative Term for waiting) while we wait for the results from the Board of Governor's vote report, all minds are on the pending debate on vote on House Bill 2 which bans smoking in all workplaces. I think this Bill goes too far and am going to work to amend it or defeat it.

It bans smoking in ALL public and private workplaces-even single employee workplaces. It bans smoking in any enclosed area, such as a breeze way or covered pool. It bans smoking even at private homes if the home is licensed to care for children or adults.

I think this is a significant intrusion on private property rights. A business owner can already ban smoking in their business if they see fit. Many already have.

No one forces consumers to eat at restaurants that expose them to smoke or shop at businesses that allow smoking.

I believe in the free market. If enough people stop patronizing a business because of its smoking policy, the business will change policy in order to protect maximize its profits.

This bill has several other flaws too. Mainly, if this Bill becomes law, the business owner can be fined if someone smokes in their business even if they ask them not to do so. Imagine, a shoplifter is charged by the police. Under this Bill, the business owner would be charged because of the smoker's lawbreaking activities.

I firmly believe that a business owner should remain free to make this choice. We don't need a law.

Paid for by David Lewis for NC House
Copyright © 2005-2010, Representative David Lewis
Privacy Statement
Designed and Maintained by: Roaring Aardvark Web Design