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An Open Letter to Louisville’s Metro Council

From Terry Gray

Somewhere along the line, some of you have forgotten what your job in metro council is.  You were elected to represent the people of your district and the community.  Smoking bans are not wanted, and enacting such legislation will make a mockery of your jobs and of our way of government.  Let me remind you that we are a representative government.

Numerous surveys and polls have been conducted, and every one of them has shown that the community is against such legislation.  I recently campaigned for office, and, in my months of walking the precincts and talking with people, only 3 voters were in favor of bans.  My opposition to smoking bans was the second item on my campaign agenda.  You folks might want to consider the surveys that have been conducted, and you may want to do some research of your own.  Go to the businesses in your districts, especially restaurants, and find out how they feel.  Do a random walk of your district and find out what the citizens want.  This exercise might also put you back in contact with those who voted you into office and can easily remove you.

I know that you had Dr. Stan Glantz speak to you on the perils of second hand smoke and his Helena “study”.  That “study” is the laughing stock of the scientific community.  It has been termed a “non-study” by most of the respected members of the scientific community that even acknowledge Mr. Glantz.

As for economic impacts on smoking bans, you are sadly misinformed.  There are hundreds of restaurants and bars that have gone out of business in areas where smoking bans have been legislated.  Many other businesses are suffering in those areas.  Cities have lost conventions, a mainstay of economic opportunity in Louisville.  You have also been misinformed concerning the health risks of second hand smoke.  In listening to speakers that are for bans, they will often cloud the distinction between smoking and second hand smoke.  This interchanging of terms makes second hand smoke seem more dangerous than it is.

I also want to remind you that businesses are still private property.  These business owners have poured their time, money, and futures into their businesses.  The public has been invited to join them in a mutual exchange of enterprise.  Those patrons not wishing to participate need not do so.  Tobacco smoke is an entirely different scenario than unclean conditions. Smoke Free Louisville would have you believe that they fall under the same protective measures.  Food poisoning associated with an establishment’s uncleanliness is a hidden danger.  Patrons cannot “see” what may affect them until it is too late.  Tobacco smoke, on the other hand, is obvious.  Should a patron not wish to associate himself with the danger or assumed danger of tobacco smoke, that patron has the option of not participating. 

Our businesses are the backbone of our community.  Without them, there would be no jobs.  It is a very dangerous proposition that calls for any prohibitions on our local businesses, one that can wreak economic havoc as well as the removal of elected officials.

I encourage you to go to:   http://forces-int.net/index.php  and browse around a bit.  Better still, do some research at that site.  There are links to many publications and studies on smoking and second hand smoke.

Make the right decision on this non-issue which has been made an issue by one group of oppressive people.

Terry Gray 

 President – Forces Kentucky

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