The subject of tobacco is an emotional one. Many folks have firm opinions about tobacco and feel they do not need any further discussion. Their minds have been made up on the subject for a while. I have spoken with many of the residents of District 4 and I will to speak to more next week. I can tell you that I am staying away from making decisions on emotion or passion. I am listening and looking at the facts as presented. To take a snapshot of where I stand on the issue, at this moment I am leaning in favor of raising the age but keeping an open mind. I will not finalize my opinion until after the Public Hearing. I urge residents to reach out to me with their thoughts. I’m listening.
Gary Barnes
At the time of this posting, Mr. Barnes had not responded to our request for comment. If a response is received, it will be added.
As a former legislator (recently retired) I fully support the adoption of Smoking 21. This started out last year in Human Services which I chaired at the time. We did table it then in order to better inform all concern rather than hastily vote.
I feel strongly about this issue as I watched cigarettes kill my Father. I daily watch it adversely affect the health of many around me. I know that due to the proximity of Oil Springs, many will be able to circumvent the law if so inclined. However, there may be a substantial number of youth that may never start smoking if it is a little more difficult. It is for every one of these kids that don't start that makes me hope for a positive vote.
To my former colleagues and current Legislators, please vote yes for the Smoking 21 Law!
No, I’m not in favor of the Tobacco 21 Law. Nor am I in
favor of anyone using any kind of tobacco product or a derivative of it. Medical research and history has shown that
tobacco use has a negative impact on the user.
Its use has caused my family to suffer the early loss of several beloved
family members. Siblings, Uncles, Aunts and Cousins included.
I also realize that government has a fiduciary
responsibility to take appropriate action to protect its inhabitants, to
promote public health and safety. The discussions we will have as we debate the
merits and de-merits of this law are appropriate. I look forward to it as it is part and parcel
of our open democratic society.
I also realize that government does not have – nor should we
allow it to have – the right to run our lives. For me, it’s about
constitutional rights. It’s about limited government. It’s about individual
dignity and personal responsibility.
It’s a matter of record that we are over regulated and over taxed.
Businesses and people are leaving rural New York at an alarming rate. The 1980
census recorded a population here of 51,472. The 2015 census put us at
47,462. Over 4,000 people lost – it’s as
if the population of a whole town got up and left us. What age bracket was the most transient in my
research? 18 – 27 Year olds. They left to find work and opportunity.
Also of concern to me is this ongoing discussion about
“seasoning” the brain, the ability to “re-wire it” and other musings in support
of “raising the age” of culpability.
Apparently several segments of our government are now concerned about
the health and fair treatment of the 16-18 and 18-21 year old population in our
state. One Mental Health professional who appeared before us some time ago
reported that research indicates that the human brain does not fully “season”
itself until around age 25 and therefore the mental health industry does not
feel that this population should be held fully responsible for their actions
nor, apparently, their behavior.
I couldn’t help but think about what the World War II
generation I grew up with would say about this or the fact that a good many
18-21 year olds in their population stormed the beaches at Normandy and were
present as the bombs fell on Pearl Harbor. I also remember the reasoning that
18 year olds were given the right to vote in 1971 – they could fight and die
for their country so they deserve the right to vote for its leaders. I had just
turned 18 that year and, along with a few other 18 year old members of our
community, registered to vote on the day the law took effect.
I also don’t think my parents would have been won over by an
appeal for leniency, during one of my youthful “course corrections”, based on
my alleged “unseasoned” brain. Neither
would my teachers or the Town Cop. I learned early on that it is better to
behave than to be sorry.
Although there has been at least one discussion with the
Seneca Nation about restricting the sale of cigarettes – there has been no
agreement to do so. My belief is that there never will be. Presently, it’s
alleged that most underage smokers get their cigarettes from friends or
acquaintances 18 and over who can legally purchase them. A forced change may
create instant problems or inconveniences but I doubt that it would make a huge
impact. The Indians won’t be bothered
and neither will the 18-21 year olds that will continue to travel there and
purchase their products. The bottom line is that we can never enact enough laws
to control evil. Evil does not obey the
law.
This is not an easy choice for me. I have grandchildren,
that are young right now, that I would not want to see using tobacco when they
get older. On the whole, I think practicing what I’ve spoken about – personal
dignity and responsibility and being good stewards of our community and
teaching it to the ones we love - is very important.
Another component I think is important is community
feedback. By personal contact, by phone, by email and by social media I’ve
heard far more comments from people in District IV against adding this
prohibition than from those in favor of it. Interestingly, none that I know of
were or are current tobacco users.
The move this coming Monday is only to hold a formal public
hearing. The public still has plenty of time to communicate their opinion
regarding this proposal to all 15 of us and to appear and be heard at the
public hearing.
Thank you for your interest and the opportunity to address
this matter further.