California lawmakers are receiving death threats because of new legislation set to be voted on this month. Although I do not condone such threats, nor would I ever use them, I must say that I can understand where the hostility is coming from. The liberal ideologies in the State of California have finally crossed the line and is drawing the ire of its citizens. Although some citizens may agree with the lawmakers, many do not, and I am not sure if even the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals would think these lawmakers are acting appropriately.

USA Today has the story:

Lawmakers in two California cities are casting votes this month on unprecedented legislation that would widen a growing voluntary movement by landlords and resident associations to ban smoking inside apartments and condos.

Wednesday in Calabasas, the City Council plans to vote on expanding its anti-smoking law to bar renters from lighting up inside existing apartments. It would exempt current resident smokers until they moved but would require all new buildings with at least 15 units, including condos, to be smoke-free.

Next Tuesday, the City Council of Belmont is scheduled to cast a final vote on a similar measure that won initial approval last week. The ordinance, which applies to apartments and condos, would allow fines and evictions if neighbors complained and smokers didn’t heed warnings.

Tens of thousands of apartments and condos have gone smoke-free in the past five years, management companies and health activists say. Last month, Guardian Management began phasing in a smoke-free policy at 8,000 of its rental units, mostly in Oregon and Washington.

It was bad enough when California lawmakers told private business owners they could no longer permit smoking in their establishments, now they are attempting to tell citizens what they can and cannot do in their own homes! The liberal ideology is that individuals are to stupid to take care of themselves and require the government to dictate to them how they must live. They feel that since second hand smoke is harmful, it is in the best interests of citizens to intrude in their home life’s. What they fail to see is that private business, i.e. the owners of the property, have already began doing this on their own.

As the article mentions, tens of thousands of buildings have already gone smoke-free, by mandate of either the building owner, or the condo board. Individuals who wish to live in a smoke free environment could choose any number of building which would accommodate them. For those who enjoy relaxing on their couch with a cigarette while watching television, there are other building to accommodate them.

The idea that the Government can intrude in your home and regulate your actions goes against the basic principles America was founded on.

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Politics