SOCORRO, New Mexico (STPNS) --

To the Editor:

I am an old, fuddy-duddy, World War II veteran who is very distressed with some of the recent action taken by our legislature in Santa Fe. Particularly, the new no-smoking law that was sneaked in, disguised as the so-called ?Clean Air Act.? In short, I find this new law to be altogether too stringent and oppressive.

I want to make this perfectly clear that this new no-smoking law does not affect me at all; however, I find it to be a gross injustice to the citizens of New Mexico because it destroys the freedom of choice. I feel that any law of this magnitude should be put to a statewide referendum, letting the people of this state make the final choice.



I find it very hard to believe that any small group of lawmakers, in this country today, can have the power to enact a law that so severely controls the masses. Nevertheless, our legislature has now created a new meaning of ?taxation without representation.?

Even though a few other states have enacted no-smoking laws, it does not justify New Mexico following suit. Also, trying to be politically correct by opposing smoking does not justify New Mexico either. To the best of my knowledge, no polls were taken, nor were questionnaires distributed concerning this proposed no-smoking law.

As a consequence, I now seriously wonder how many of our lawmakers actually have even the least idea as to how their constituents really feel about smoking. Somehow I have a hunch that a few paranoid, naïve people helped instigate this no-smoking proposal, and, of course, the squeaky wheel always gets greased.

I am certain that the new no-smoking laws concerning public buildings are necessary and I, for one, favor the move; however, I feel that the owners of any private business should be allowed to make their own decisions concerning smoking.

In reality, I feel that most people who go into smoking establishments do so of their own free will and are not hurting anyone except themselves.

And for those people who do not like to go into an establishment that allows smoking, the answer is very simple ? just do not go there.

John M. Jewett

Socorro