Attempts to ban smoking in Colo. casinos
Re: “Smoking ban: Personal health vs. freedom?” April 19 Open Forum.
Letter-writer John Wilkens’ diatribe lambasting columnist David Harsanyi’s point of view on the current legislative proposals to eliminate smoking ban exemptions for cigar bars and casinos is way off base. Environmental protection via government mandates is designed to protect the society at large when there is an imminent threat to the entire community. Allowing smoking in cigar bars or casinos does not pose a threat to our entire community, and only a minimal threat to those who choose to frequent them.
The current legislation is an affront to the civil liberties of both the patrons and the property owners. It’s a matter of choice. Nobody is forced to patronize (or work in) a smoking establishment.
Last week, House Majority Leader Alice Madden hypocritically stated, “When I weigh my civil liberties versus cash from the feds, mine aren’t for sale.” Well, she and the entire Democratic contingency have sold out on this one. They seem determined to push through this legislation regardless of the damage it does to our civil liberties.
J.D. Brown, Aurora
. . .
I have to disagree with John Wilkens’ letter to the editor. First, let me explain that I am a non-smoker who has never smoked, although I grew up around it, with my parents both being smokers. And I have publicly asked people smoking cigars to put them out around me.
Wilkens equates smoking with mining companies letting arsenic-laced runoff into the public waterways or business owners letting raw sewage into the public streets. His comment about allowing smokers to “discharge their carcinogenic waste into common air” seems just a bit much to me.
I appreciate being able to go to a restaurant or bar and not be subjected to cigarette smoke or worse. But I feel the anti-smoking zealots have gone too far. There is a measure of freedom we all should be entitled to. Restaurants and bars should be able to allow their customers to smoke if they want, and I should be able to choose not to patronize them. Allowing the market to work would be a lot more “free” than using the coercive power of the government to ban otherwise legal activity.
Jim Kutsko, Denver
Legislation to change animal-protection laws
Re: “Bill adds bestiality to animal cruelty law.
I was disappointed by proposals eliminated by the Colorado House regarding legislation aimed at putting more teeth into animal cruelty laws.
I was saddened to read that rabbits were eliminated from protection under the law and horrified by the insensitive comment from House Minority Leader Mike May of Parker who was quoted saying “A special thank you from my dog, Buzz, who loves to chase rabbits.” Let’s hope that Buzz doesn’t decide to start chasing cats.
Donna Toeroek, Arvada
Stem-cell research
The issue of stem-cell research is very important to my 12-year-old who has Type 1 (never to be confused with Type 2) diabetes. I could accept and respect those who agree with President Bush if they would advocate closing fertility clinics wherein these embryos are made, stored and eventually destroyed and disposed of as medical waste. I still would not agree with them, but I would respect their argument because the argument would have been made consistent. What do these people think happen to the unused embryos? A minute percentage of these embryos are adopted, less than the percentage of those children without their parents in foster care.
Since Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Tom Tancredo agree with President Bush, I challenge them to tell me why this method of destruction is perfectly all right while research with these stem cells, especially when it is beginning to show promise, is considered “murder.” I want my tax dollars to go to embryonic stem-cell research and not a certain war in the Middle East, where fully developed humans are being slaughtered.
Cheryl Doyle, Littleton
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