- Jun 19, 2003
- 23,454
- 41
- 91
ROCKFORD, Illinois (Rock River Times)
Elected officials in Rockford, IL took a surprisingly strong, not to mention controversial, stance against smoking with the introduction of a city ordinance that would seriously curtail smoking in the city. It was announced Thursday that they are planning on making it illegal for those born after 1990 to buy or smoke cigarettes within the city limits. According to this ordinance, adults who were born before 1990, including those not yet eighteen, would be allowed to purchase and smoke cigarettes; however, this would prohibit those teens currently between fifteen and sixteen years old from ever purchasing or legally smoking cigarettes in the city. This would be the first time a muncipality has attempted to place restrictions on adults of legal age, or soon-to-be legal age, from purchasing and or smoking cigarettes.
According to City Council President Mark Mahoney, "This is an age when we all know the consequences of smoking. There is simply no reason for anyone to smoke unless you have already become addicted to it. What we are trying to do here is to "phase out" smoking. We understand that there are some minors who already smoke, and we are making allowences for it; however, we don't want our kids going through the horrific consequences of smoking, therefore, we are never going to let them start smoking."
This move has already raised eyebrows around the country for its audacity. Civil rights groups such as the ACLU are looking into personal rights violations. ACLU attorney Jeff Liebovich stated that, "What this ordinance is going to do is take away the right of people to do what they choose with their life. While I am not a smoker, I firmly believe that people have to make the decision on their own. What are we going to do next, outlaw what foods we can eat based on their nutritional value? Maybe we could get rid of alcohol so that no one will ever drive drunk? Obviously, this is ludicrious. The ACLU will firmly support the rights of smokers in Rockford, IL."
The mayor of Rockford, Larry Morrisey, has not made a public statement on the issue yet; however, according to unnamed sources within the mayors office, he is inclined to signing the ordinance into law. The mayor has been known to be extremly progressive on other issues, including stiffening penalties for drug related crimes within the city limits. Most notably, Rockford now has an ordinance on the books that makes it a mandatory two year sentence for having any type of marijuana related items on a person or in a car. This would mean that someone pulled over by the Rockford police who has a marijuana seed in the car would be facing a two year sentence in the Illinois Penal System.
It is not yet known whether or not the ordinance will pass or not but five of the fifteen city council members have expressed support for the bill, citing the need for the city to protect the health of the youth of the city. If passed, the ordinance will most assuredly face stiff competition in the courts.
I somehow doubt that it is long before we read articles like this that are actually *true.*
Elected officials in Rockford, IL took a surprisingly strong, not to mention controversial, stance against smoking with the introduction of a city ordinance that would seriously curtail smoking in the city. It was announced Thursday that they are planning on making it illegal for those born after 1990 to buy or smoke cigarettes within the city limits. According to this ordinance, adults who were born before 1990, including those not yet eighteen, would be allowed to purchase and smoke cigarettes; however, this would prohibit those teens currently between fifteen and sixteen years old from ever purchasing or legally smoking cigarettes in the city. This would be the first time a muncipality has attempted to place restrictions on adults of legal age, or soon-to-be legal age, from purchasing and or smoking cigarettes.
According to City Council President Mark Mahoney, "This is an age when we all know the consequences of smoking. There is simply no reason for anyone to smoke unless you have already become addicted to it. What we are trying to do here is to "phase out" smoking. We understand that there are some minors who already smoke, and we are making allowences for it; however, we don't want our kids going through the horrific consequences of smoking, therefore, we are never going to let them start smoking."
This move has already raised eyebrows around the country for its audacity. Civil rights groups such as the ACLU are looking into personal rights violations. ACLU attorney Jeff Liebovich stated that, "What this ordinance is going to do is take away the right of people to do what they choose with their life. While I am not a smoker, I firmly believe that people have to make the decision on their own. What are we going to do next, outlaw what foods we can eat based on their nutritional value? Maybe we could get rid of alcohol so that no one will ever drive drunk? Obviously, this is ludicrious. The ACLU will firmly support the rights of smokers in Rockford, IL."
The mayor of Rockford, Larry Morrisey, has not made a public statement on the issue yet; however, according to unnamed sources within the mayors office, he is inclined to signing the ordinance into law. The mayor has been known to be extremly progressive on other issues, including stiffening penalties for drug related crimes within the city limits. Most notably, Rockford now has an ordinance on the books that makes it a mandatory two year sentence for having any type of marijuana related items on a person or in a car. This would mean that someone pulled over by the Rockford police who has a marijuana seed in the car would be facing a two year sentence in the Illinois Penal System.
It is not yet known whether or not the ordinance will pass or not but five of the fifteen city council members have expressed support for the bill, citing the need for the city to protect the health of the youth of the city. If passed, the ordinance will most assuredly face stiff competition in the courts.
I somehow doubt that it is long before we read articles like this that are actually *true.*
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