Fewer than 20 percent of Americans smoke today, and the vast majority of veterans are nonsmokers. However, the Breathe Free Pennsylvania Coalition warns that secondhand smoke from those who still smoke increases the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke for everyone. That’s why the Department of Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars believes it’s time to stop all indoor smoking.
We are asking the commonwealth to eliminate the smoking exemption private clubs have from the state’s Clean Indoor Air Act.
Some VFW Posts have become nonsmoking canteens. Others have an interest in doing so but fear losing income, which could lead to closure. Rather than putting our vital community service organizations at risk from any negative business impact from halting smoking, state lawmakers should create an even playing field by removing the CIAA exemption.
Striking out the exemption for every member-based fraternal group with a state liquor license will improve the health of more Pennsylvanians, without creating a competitive disadvantage that financially hurts these organizations.
While the Pennsylvania VFW respects the rights of veterans to smoke, we also respect the rights of the many more veterans who do not smoke. We want to attract and support not only veterans of all ages but also their family members. And many veterans stay out of their VFW posts because of health conditions.
A clear majority of delegates at our state convention this summer in Pittsburgh approved a resolution calling for state lawmakers to snuff out the exemption for all Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board-licensed clubs.
Let’s eliminate the smoking exemption to protect our veterans, their families and our employees from preventable health risks, while protecting the financial stability of service organizations.
DWIGHT R. FUHRMAN
State Commander
VFW State Headquarters
Harrisburg
First Published: October 6, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
