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The Raleigh City Council will consider criminals out of otherwise law abiding citizens by making it a crime to smoke outdoors in a city park.

This plan will cost taxpayers $25,000 in new signs along with an incalcuable about of money to enforce this unneeded law.

Please click here to take action.

This is not an issue of public health or controling litter. It is already against the law to litter in a park

We oppose this measure for three key reasons:

We believe that City resources and tax dollars are better spent keeping the public safe from violent criminals than enforcing this measure.

I would remind you it is already against the rules to litter in a city park.

We know this is not their intent, but we believe this change will put children in grave danger. Since parents can no longer smoke outdoors, 50 yards away from children, addicted parents will likely smoke in an enclosed car. Alternatively, perhaps a parent will make the unwise choice to slip off park property to smoke leaving their children unsupervised. This of course would be their unwise choice but the city  would be encouraging it.

Finally, we oppose the general heavy hand ness that the council would be taking on its citizens. This is very similar of the council’s attempts to take away our garbage disposals. I remind you, we are citizens, not subjects.  I have two small children and visit several of our great Raleigh parks on a regular basis. As a Raleigh native, I have many fond memories playing at our great Raleigh parks.  Never once has someone else smoking bothered me or stepped on my rights. (I do not now, or have ever been a smoker)

We do not believe this is a legitimate attempt to keep the parks clean or promote public safety, but rather an attempt to punish citizens for otherwise legal behavior that the mayor and some city council members do not like.

I encourage you to take action.

Sincerely,

Dallas H. Woodhouse
State Director
Americans for Prosperity – North Carolina

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