Sioux City Journal

A loss of the right to choose

Posted: Wednesday, April 16, 2008

SIOUX CITY -- I'm concerned about how our rights are taken away every time we turn around. The latest is no smoking in bars.

These are privately owned businesses. It seems that when you have money or, should we say, political pull, the people lose their right of choice, or did they pass a law against buying smokes in Iowa, too?

Let's be glad we live in the U.S.A. so we can change our elected officials in November.

Just be sure to remember the people who are taking your right of choice from you and send them home before they totally control your freedom. -- D.W. Taylor

Story Comments

tracmkchngs wrote on Apr 22, 2008 7:57 PM:

" I agree with you '1 old man'. You are exactly right. We have become a bunch of sissy's that don't stand up for ourselves. Eventually, we won't have any rights and too many laws. Stand up for yourself and your rights before it is too late... "

DW TAYLOR wrote on Apr 18, 2008 4:36 PM:

" I CAN SEE MY LETTER STRUCK SOME NERVES. ITS NOT THAT I CONDONE SMOKING BUT THAT I CAN'T STAND THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOV. BEING BIG BROTHER WHEN I KNOW IF I WANT TO SIT IN A PRIVATLY OWNED BAR OR RESTAURANT IF PERMITTED AND SMOKE OR NOT . I GUESS I WOULD CALL THAT FREEDOM AND WANT WE HAVE NOW IS THE GREAT BEGINING OF A FASCISTS STATE. THANKS TO THE FINE GOVERNORSHIP AND POLITCAL MACHINE OF IOWA. "

Larryj wrote on Apr 18, 2008 6:26 AM:

" Hey Derrick, Don't breathe the air I am smoking in. It is that simple. "

Jerry wrote on Apr 18, 2008 6:24 AM:

" Sorry Breathing easier, but even though you may have the right to own a gun, you do not have the right, without various permits, to carry it in to your local restaurant. You really need to better educate yourself. "

Breathing Easier wrote on Apr 17, 2008 9:33 AM:

" Kinda funny that everyone seems to think the Democrats could get this passed without Republican support... As for the "right" to smoke, how about I sit in a restaurant every night with an uzi. Twice a month I shoot someone. If I did that, you'd certainly stop me, even though I have a right to own a gun. You have the right to smoke, you do NOT have the right to harm other people. Please, just step outside for a few minutes when you smoke. "