FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Libertarian Party Questions Need for Smoking Ban
LPMC Contact: Sean Shepard, 317.513.2406 or by email at sshepard94@gmail.com
LPMC Website: https://www.indylp.org
Indianapolis, IN – (February 12, 2009) — Pending legislation in the Statehouse, as well as anticipated legislation in Marion County’s City County
Council, seeks to limit choices for all Hoosiers. What is not clear is if these non-smokers are hoping to eventually ban tobacco altogether or if they think they have a right to enter a business and tell the owner how to manage his property. The Libertarian Party is a political party dedicated to individual and personal property rights, and opposes smoking bans in any form.
“Legislation like this will do nothing but erode the limited property rights we still have,” says Timothy Maguire, Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Marion County. “Non-smoking venues are already available to all Hoosiers and nobody is being forced to work for or patronize a business that allows smoking.”
Former Libertarian candidate Mike Kole spoke to the State legislature earlier this year supporting business owner property rights. Look for more announcements from the Libertarian Party in the future as Indianapolis Libertarians plan events to raise awareness.
“Grown adults can make decisions for themselves,” said Chris Spangle, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana. “Tobacco is a legal product in Indiana that adults can choose to use, work around, allow, or avoid. The government is not our parent, and we do not need it’s help in making decisions on how we run our businesses or lives. This would have a major impact on the jobs of the 300,000 Hoosiers that are employed in the bar & restaurant industry in Indiana. If an employee is uncomfortable with working in a smoking environment, they can exercise their free choice in accepting the job position or not.”
For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact Sean Shepard at 317.513.2406 or by email at sshepard94@gmail.com.
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About Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, and is the only non-major party with ballot access in the state of Indiana. Libertarians believe in being SERVED by a small non-intrusive government that is financially responsible, administratively competent and socially tolerant.
The Libertarian Party of Marion County is the largest affiliated county within the Libertarian Party of Indiana.
For more information on the Libertarian Party of Indiana visit: www.lpin.org
For more information on the Libertarian Party of Marion County visit: www.indylp.org
Libertarian Party of Marion County
Tim Maguire, Chairman
317-372-6436