When Michigan’s smoking ban takes effect May 1, private clubs like Oxford American Legion Post 108 will be forced by law to become tobacco-free zones along with every bar and restaurant across the state.
But some veterans won’t let the government extinguish the cigarettes, cigars and pipes at their lodge without a fight.
Approximately 120 members of Post 108 and the other groups that meet there ? the AMVETS, Ladies Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion ? signed an informal petition asking state lawmakers to exempt private clubs from the ban.
‘Why the hell do I want to tell a guy whether he can smoke or not?? said Wencil Shagena, an Army veteran who fought in World War II.
Under the new law, smoking is not allowed anywhere food or beverages are sold or where even one person is employed. That includes private clubs like American Legion posts.
A Dec. 18, 2009 memo from the American Legion, Department of Michigan, specifically notified all posts that none of them are exempt from the smoking ban and that ashtrays and other smoking paraphernalia must be removed.
More than 3,500 petition signatures asking the state to exempt private clubs from the ban were presented April 3 to three state representatives who visited the Royal Canadian Legion Post No. 84 in Royal Oak.
‘We would like to take this opportunity to strongly express that this is NOT a pro-smoking initiative,? wrote Steve Mace, first vice commander at the Royal Oak post, who helped launch the petition drive. ‘This initiative is solely regarding our collective right to continue deciding what is in our private club’s best interest.?
Rory Zeeman, who’s employed as the club manager for Post 108, agrees private clubs should be allowed to decide the smoking issue on an individual basis.
‘Most of them signed (the petition) even if they didn’t smoke, only because as a private club we should be able to vote on it ourselves,? he said.
As a smoker, Zeeman personally doesn’t like the idea of being told what to do.
‘I’d like to quit myself, but I want to do it on my own terms,? he said.
Jim Parkhurst, former Post 108 commander, signed the petition. He believes the state should have asked private clubs like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus and the Eagles how they felt about the smoking ban before it was enacted.
‘They should have got some opinions, got a consensus,? he said. ‘They should have done a little more work and had more consideration for these organizations.?
Parkhurst, who doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke, except for the occasional cigar while fishing, believes each private club should have the right to decide just as people have the individual freedom to smoke or not smoke.
‘That’s why I fought as a veteran to have those rights,? he said. ‘I can see not smoking in federal buildings and other places like hospitals. Most of them have been that way for quite some time.?
Although he’s not a smoker, Army veteran Art Kitching views the ban as part of the erosion of peoples? liberties and likened it to laws mandating the wearing of motorcycle helmets.
‘I just think Americans? freedoms are somewhat in jeopardy with all these regulations,? he said.
Kitching said he understands why a nonsmoking bartender doesn’t want to work in an environment where people smoke, but he also understands the argument that says ‘if you don’t want to breathe smoke, you shouldn’t be working as a bartender.?
‘It’s kind of a Catch 22,? he said.
Not everyone down at Post 108 is opposed to the upcoming smoking ban.
‘Being a former smoker, I’m glad to get it out,? said Post 108 Commander Bill Service. ‘Some of our smokers are very upset and I understand that. But it will help the post, I think, because a lot of people don’t like to come in because of that smoke. It’s awful.?
‘I think if you want to smoke, go outside,? said Glenn Rohter, a Vietnam-era Army veteran and ex-smoker since 1985. ‘I leave here, I go home, I smell like a cigarette. I walk in the house, it stinks.?
‘I think it would be a lot more pleasant in here without cigarette smoking,? Rohter continued. ‘You sit next to some guy that’s puffing and it’s nasty. I can’t believe that I used to smoke like that.?
Jerry Lampe, a Korean-era Army veteran, agreed.
‘If I come in here and smoke, and you sit alongside me, I’m hurting you, not just myself. That secondhand smoke is worse or at least as bad,? he said. ‘I don’t think anybody should be able to do anything that infringes on my safety.?
Every night, Lampe has to receive oxygen while he sleeps because he suffers from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). He was a smoker for many years and worked as a dye-maker for Chrysler.
Despite his health issues, Lampe said he’s never let other people’s smoking stop him from spending time at Post 108.
‘I sit here all the time alongside people that smoke,? he said. ‘It ain’t doing me no good, but I like the place and my friends are here.?
Having never smoked himself, Vietnam veteran Les Waggett welcomes the ban.
‘My dad was a smoker and he died very young from emphysema,? he said. ‘That was enough for me to watch my dad die slowly. None of us kids ever smoked.?