You can also visit the RTDA website and send a letter to your rep. They have great points to use.
http://rtda.org/legislation.html
:fu Hugh Holliman of Lexington. If he is your rep, call his azz! This is the tobacco state for cryin' out loud!
As North Carolina consumer, I ask you to consider the following:
Despite popular belief, smoking bans do cause economic harm. Many local economic markets have seen dramatic drops in tax revenues from public smoking bans.
Historically, smoking ban advocates argued that patrons were annoyed and made uncomfortable by secondhand smoke. When opponents argued that patrons can choose to patronize non-smoking establishments, the argument quickly turned to protecting the health of employees. The truth is that employees in restaurants and bars are simply being used as political pawns, and are not truly the subjects of advocate sympathies.
According to the Federal Government’s research laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, technology does in fact exist that will and does filter smoke from enclosed areas.
If public smoking is banned due to supposed individual health concerns, then should the government not ban individuals from wearing perfumes or using fragrant-laced body washes and hair products? What of beauty salons using hair treatment chemicals and chemical-based nail polishes? Why do restaurants allow pets on their premises when other customers may be allergic? Should the government not also regulate these businesses and ban the public dissemination of these potentially harmful allergens?
Smoking is already regulated throughout the United States by age-restriction. Banning adult-age restricted venues such as bars, taverns, and restaurant lounges from allowing their customers to smoke is simply government oppression of small business owners.
Premium tobacco is not a cigarette—while most major-marketed cigarettes are treated with various chemicals during processing and manufacturing, premium tobacco (cigars and pipe tobacco) is not. Aside from fertilizers and routine pesticide control, premium tobacco could be considered an “organic product.”
Premium tobacco retail stores have become the modern-era salon, where men and women of all demographics who share their passion for premium tobacco, and enjoy each other’s company, companionship, share common interests, and even discuss difference may come together in a safe, comfortable environment.
There is simply no CONCLUSIVE data that secondhand smoke is related to human illnesses. You need to look no further than the latest United States Surgeon General’s report and conclusion for affirmation.
While I fully support the right of many not to be impacted by secondhand smoke, I also support the reasonable right of smokers to be able to enjoy their legal products without being ostracized or penalized.
Why did the latest Surgeon General’s report exclude the discussion of purification from its latest report? Possibly, the authors of the Report knew it would weaken their already weak Report.
Based on the aforementioned points, private business owners, and not governments, should continue to be allowed to make the final decisions on how they run their businesses. In a Capitalistic society, it is the business owner’s decisions that should dictate success or failure.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Thank you.
