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Letter to C-J on smoking ban:

I suspect that your attacks on Dan Seum only serve to increase his support among his constituents, who appreciate his defending the little guy against powerful folks.  Seum's proposal for a state law that would prevent cities from establishing smoking bans is good, because it demands that cities respect private property rights.  I am a non-smoker and prefer to dine where I don't have to breathe smoke.  However, I don't believe it would be morally right for me to ask my city to force all restaurants to cater to my preferences. Respect for private property is the cornerstone of liberty, preventing the majority from running roughshod over the minority. Each business owner should be free to cater to the clientele it chooses.  Some cater to smokers, and others to non-smokers.  While my preferences may be in the majority this time, they will surely be in the minority another time, so I will demand that private property rights be respected all the time.

Theresa Camoriano

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