Fight back by chewing

Fight back by chewing
EDITOR:
While I still have a right to give my opinion, I would like to say a little something about Ohio's no smoking law.
I was sitting in my truck in Vietnam thumbing through the pages of our newspaper, Stars and Stripes, when I saw a picture of a college student burning the American flag. I was outraged. How could this be happening while I was in a war fighting for our freedom? Then, as I thought about it, I realized I was fighting for this person's right to burn my cherished flag. The reason I remember this so well after 37 years, is that it was in my home state of Ohio.
Now my state of birth has decided to give up the right to smoke in public places. I realize I live in a state that elected Bob Taft (the only Ohio governor that was indicted) to two terms, and pushed President Bush into office for a second term, and defeated a gambling issue that may have helped our schools, but are we so stupid as to believe that giving up a freedom is actually going to make Ohio a better place to live?
Wake up, Ohio. The government could care less about your health. Just like seatbelt laws, once they figure out what to charge for smoking in public it will be more money in the politician's coffers to dip their greedy fingers into.
I think if every smoker would quit and take up chewing tobacco, we could all go to our restaurant and bars and bring a spit cup. That shouldn't bother the non-smokers.
WILLIAM HUNTINGTON
Youngstown
Smoking ban past due
EDITOR:
Thank God for the passing of the ban on cigarette smoking in restaurants and bars. Since liberal places such as California, New York and Ireland have similar bans, it is about time that this was instituted everywhere.
Smoking and second-hand smoke cause more deaths every year than crack cocaine, heroin, fires, auto accidents, AIDS, homicides and suicides combined. Any new drug that would be introduced with the dangers of tobacco would be immediately banned.
God gave us a body to take care of and there are so many things we don't have control over. What kind of a person would smoke and poison themselves and those around them on purpose? A person who is addicted to a harmful and dangerous drug, which is exactly what tobacco is.
It is about time for the government to crack down on the production of this vile product and make it illegal everywhere. People talk about their freedom to smoke but pollute the air that their own children breathe. They are not only committing slow suicide but they are poisoning the people around them as well.
The Bible tells us that those who destroy the body that God gave them will be judged by God.
The tobacco industry should not only admit their lies and deceit but they should also put their workers into the food industry that they already own and stop producing this dangerous drug that kills so many people every year. May God bring them to repentance and have mercy on their souls and deliver every person bound by this disgusting habit.
LEO FEHER
Youngstown
Confused? Blame Legislature
EDITOR:
Don't blame the smokers or the nonsmokers for the confusion surrounding the Ohio smoking ban. Blame the do-nothing Ohio Legislature. Surely the Legislature was aware this divisive issue was brewing and the problem needed addressed in a sensible fashion. Surely they were too afraid to choose sides for fear of losing votes. Surely they knew the voters would pass the ban and they could avoid any accountability. Problem solved, right? Not quite.
We have seen that important policy decisions left to the voters can lead to unintended consequences. Ohio's gay marriage amendment and its unintended impact on domestic violence cases is an example.
Ohio's smoking ban is another example of unintended consequences. The intentions of a slim majority of voters casting a ballot Nov. 7 were certainly good: prevent disease and encourage smokers to quit. But did these same voters intend to grant the Trumbull County health department additional, unchecked power? I believe the recent septic enforcement nightmares would indicate they did not. Did these voters intend to create another layer of bureaucracy in state government? Did these voters consider they would pay for this new bureaucracy? Did these voters intend to allow anonymous and possibly unfounded accusations lead to citations and fines which must be appealed in Franklin County? Did these voters intend to drive patrons away from businesses which border states without a smoking ban? Did these voters intend to take away property rights and individual autonomy? My guess is they did not.
Consider why we elect and pay the salaries of our legislators.They are supposed to formulate sound solutions and react proactively to pressing issues in our state.
If you see someone smoking where they shouldn't be, don't call the smoking enforcement hotline, call your state representatives and senators. Ask them why they couldn't formulate a sensible, balanced approach to solving this problem. Ask them why they expect us to do their jobs.
DAVID T. ROUZZO
Cortland
Talk about qualifications
EDITOR:
Well now, we finally know how a state senator should be chosen. All this folderol about Capri Cafaro and her family's money was for nothing. I am completely satisfied that her appointment was just and she was appointed purely and altruistically on the basis of her splendid education and knowledge and all that that will do for the benefit of our state and our beloved Valley. Once I found out that she had knowledge of just who Frederick Douglass was, I was convinced beyond doubt.
Anthony Latell's only qualifications are his honesty, integrity and his experience and knowledge of state government after several successful terms in the very same office that he was elected to. I've known him over 50 years and can swear that those are his only qualifications for that office. It turns out neither Latell nor Sandra Stabile Harwood nor any of the others questioned by a screening committee knew who Frederick Douglass was. It's a pretty safe bet that had the questioning gone on it would have been found out that none of them knew who William A. Wheeler was or of what importance Oct. 18, 1822, is to Ohio. No doubt the erudite Ms. Cafaro would know that the date is Rutherford B. Hayes's birthday and Wheeler was his vice president.
This all reminds me of the election a few years back, which elected the "Democrats for Change." Didn't we trade one batch of crooks for another?
PAUL McCLASKEY
Youngstown
Biros deserves death penalty
EDITOR:
If anyone needs to pay for his crime, Kenneth Biros does. His challenge to the lethal injection method of execution as cruel and inhumane punishment is laughable. His victim, Tami Engstrom, was not given a choice on how she was to die. He made it for her. The State of Ohio made their choice on how he should die for his crime. It will be more humane than what he did to Tami Engstrom.
He robbed her, beat, assaulted and murdered her, then mutilated her body and scattered her body parts in several locations in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Kenneth Biros does not deserve consideration for clemency. He has shown no remorse for what he did and there is no excuse to grant him clemency. His execution must be carried out. He will have time to get prepared for his execution. He will have the opportunity to have a member of the clergy to prepare him to meet his maker. Tami Engstrom did not have a member of the clergy with her before she was brutally murdered by Kenneth Biros.
If you want to discuss cruel and inhumane punishment, ask Tami Engstrom about it. Oh, you can't. She is dead.
JOHN M. KURILLA
Hermitage