Response to “Non-veterans seeking to impose mandate on veterans”
I would like to respond to the 1 April , 2015, letter to the editor entitled “Non-veterans seeking to impose mandate on veterans” from Martin Hastings. As the individual that submitted the amendment to the constitution to eliminate smoking indoors at the St. James City American Legion building, I would like to correct some of the misinformation in this letter.
I am not a “contingent of non-veterans,” I am an Army vet who served overseas in the early ’70s. I am also a member of Post 136 which is the only way that I could submit the amendment that I did. When I was in the service, I smoked a pack a day, but in the ensuing years, I have quit smoking cigarettes as medical evidence has become overwhelming that it substantially increases your risk of getting cancer. After having watched my two youngest brothers and my mother die of debilitating illnesses, I am sensitive to our extreme mortality. Although I agree with dozens of people at the Legion, both veterans and guests, as to hating going home covered in the stench of cigarette smoke, my major issue is that it is a health risk to everyone in the building. Given that the vast majority of the people that attend the Legion, to include veterans, Auxiliary and the Sons of the Legion, do not smoke, it is only considerate to take smoking outside into an open environment.
As mentioned in the letter, I have also heard that other posts that have eliminated indoor smoking and seen sales increase by up to 30 percent, the very thing needed to insure that the Legion remains an inexpensive drinking hole. The North Fort Myers Legion Post is voting this month to also implement this change.
I do not wish for my action to cast dispersion on anyone that does smoke as this is still a free country to make those decisions for ones’ self. In this country, we also allow a majority vote to speak for the organizational entity’s will, so if you are a member of Post 136 who desires to move all smoking to outdoors, this is your time to be counted by showing up on 15 April to vote FOR this amendment. If it does not receive enough support to pass, then we also need to accept the will of the majority. Time to stand up and be counted.
Ev Goodwin
St. James City