Our First Donation & Ban the Ban Update

We just wanted to let all of our supporters know that we received our first donation today.  I’ll be honest, I nearly cried when the email came across my screen.  It tells me that people still believe in fighting for freedom and liberty, and that they believe in what we’re doing.  Thank you!
Please know that [...]

Smoker Hater of the Week: Sagemeister

Here’s an interesting statement from a commenter from this article in the Capital Times online newspaper:
Sagemeister says:
Business may initially dip and then recover. Why cater to the addiction and disgusting stench of 20% of the population? My money goes only to non-smoking establishments. The argument is one about health and not one about business. [...]

There’s No Compromising with Zealots Wielding Junk Science

Bill Hannegan of Door County, whose family owns the Hitching Post bar and restaurant, wrote this well-researched letter to his State Rep, Jim Ott.  He was nice enough to allow us to post it here, as well as Rep. Ott’s response, which follows the letter.
Representative Ott,
Senator Breske just called the dangers of secondhand smoke “hogwash”. I [...]

The Wausau Daily Herald’s "Smoking Ban Rally" Advertisement

Never in my life have I seen the media so intent on selling people on an agenda. 
Smoking-ban fans to rally
Big crowds expected Tuesday in Madison
By Amy Olson
Wausau Daily Herald
Lee Breezee of the town of Saratoga near Wisconsin Rapids has to be careful when he goes out. The 58-year-old retired paper mill worker has [...]

More of the “Educated” Class Talking Trash

Here’s more garbage showing up in the Green Bay Press Gazette. As always, I wonder just how much research these people put into things before opening their big mouths, or if they take things that agree with their personal feelings and decide that is the say-all-end-all on the subject:
Smokers harm others’ health
SHAWANO — Despite an [...]

Forget small business owners. Listen to Lance Armstrong.

The anti’s are now recruiting celebrities (and I use that term loosely) to garner support for a statewide smoking ban in Wisconsin:
Lance Armstrong to campaign for smoking ban in Wisconsin

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 2:40 PM CST
Cycling champion Lance Armstrong will visit Wisconsin next week to campaign for a statewide smoking ban.
That’s [...]

Priorities

Does Wisconsin have more pressing public issues than banning smoking in taverns?
How about violent crime?
In the 10-year period from 1997 to 2006, a total of 1,796 people* (mostly Wisconsin residents, presumably) have been murdered.  As in “dead.”  There are 1,796 death certificates that officially document these deaths as homicides.
In the same 10-year period from 1997 [...]

Ban the Ban is Official!

New Press Release Issued:
Ban the Ban Wisconsin incorporated in Wisconsin
Ban the Ban Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping to preserve the culture and economic viability of Wisconsin by assisting small businesses in combating the proposed state-wide smoking ban, has received notification from the State of Wisconsin that their articles of incorporation identifying them as [...]

A Challenge to the Media and Special Interest Groups: Prove Us Wrong

Let it be noted that Ban the Ban Wisconsin has received very little press from our “friends” in the media.  We also find it odd that we never receive any critical commenters on our site.  You would think that taking such a (supposedly) unpopular stance on such a timely issue would receive much scrutiny and [...]

Freedom Hangs On: Smoking Ban Stalled in the Senate

It appears as though the proposed statewide smoking ban in Wisconsin is nearly dead this legislative session, which gives Ban the Ban Wisconsin a chance to regroup, reorganize, and refocus.
Senator Russ Decker (D) – Senate Majority Leader -  has been one of the few legislators (along with Senator Roger Breske (D)) to bring forth legitimate [...]