Boone Liberty Coalition

Boone Liberty Coalition 10900 S Hardwick Ln Columbia, MO 65201

Phone: 573.777.1950 web: http://booneliberty.org email: info@booneliberty.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

John Dupuy
573.777.1950
info@booneliberty.org

BOONE LIBERTY COALITION WILL OPPOSE COLUMBIA’S SMOKING BAN

Columbia, MO – March 4, 2005 – A group of local citizens has formed the Boone Liberty Coalition (BLC) to be an advocate for personal liberty and economic freedom in Boone County Missouri. The BLC will reach out to individuals, organizations and businesses to form coalitions for specific issues. The BLC believes that limited government, personal property rights and free choice are the best vehicles to promote diversity, economic well-being, personal responsibility and peace.

Greg Rennier, Ph.D., chair of the BLC, commented about why this group was formed: “Columbia has a long history of positive activism. The BLC will contribute to this spirited debate by offering productive, liberty-minded solutions to some of our toughest problems. Our goal is to be an advocate for freedom for those in Boone County who often believe their voices are not heard.”

The first issue BLC will address is the proposed Restaurant/Bar Smoking Ban in Columbia. The smoking ban – as it has been portrayed so far – represents unnecessary regulation that ignores the diversity in Columbia’s food service market, private property rights, and free choice. John Dupuy, BLC founding member and owner of the Ninth Street Deli, is spearheading the “Stop-the-Ban” campaign.

“With around 100 Columbia restaurants already non-smoking, and more being added every year, this issue is not really about safety, it’s about freedom,” declared Dupuy. “Customers, restaurant owners and employees should be able to choose what kind of atmosphere they want, including their smoking preference.”

The BLC Stop-the-Ban campaign is actively recruiting individuals, restaurants, and concerned groups to oppose this one-size-fits-all regulation. The BLC has initiated a mail and media campaign to educate everyone about the negative effects of this proposed smoking ban.

The BLC invites everyone to visit their website at http://booneliberty.org. The website contains further information about their organization and the Stop-the-Ban Campaign, including what the public can do to help.

For more information: http://booneliberty.org

Contact: John Dupuy @ 573.777.1950 or info@booneliberty.org