where did our freedoms go?

today i had $4 eggs and home fries at annie's place, newark, ohio restaurant i mentioned before. annie's owners are vociferous in their opposition to the city's recently passed smoking ban, so while i was in town i thought i'd drop by and hear what they had to say.

after they closed (hours are 6 AM - 2 PM), i was able to talk with teri paxson, co-owner, and several other patrons who stopped by to voice their support. ideologically, the crowd was mixed; two republicans, one democrat, and two libertarians, all against the ban.

teri is quite the firecracker - throwing her hands wide, she shouted "this is america! where did our freedom go?" she's hired a lawyer and plans to fight the ban with all her might; she's willing to shut her doors over it. teri feels that framing it as a "smoking issue," is fruitless, and is focusing her efforts on choice and enforcement. not only is she free to do with her property what she chooses, but she's made to enforce a law regulating individual behavior. that's the police's job, she says, and she won't do it for them. "i'm not going to bite the hand that feeds me – my customers'. ... if a police officer wants to come in here and make sure no one smokes, they're welcome to - but i won't."

i'm afraid teri has an uphill - or vertical - battle ahead of her. nonetheless, i think i'll be mailing her this flag shortly for her wall. if you'd like to send a letter of support, address it to teri paxson, annie's place, 369 e. main st., newark, ohio 43055.

the image is of the sign on annie's window: "this is a smoking freedom of choice establishment"

update: just changing link to new site.

Labels: political