Looks like the MDH has been busy again.

Hello Everyone -

Time for another update! Looks like the MDH has been busy again. Don't these people have anything better to do besides intimidation and harassment? I wonder if that is in their job description! Seriously, let a court of law decide on the legality of theater nights...what are they afraid of that they can't wait until Tuesday's court date? (I think I know!) Also, we're making progress on the Defense Fund...please keep the donations coming!

On With the Show !
Sheila, Mark, Robert

- Reminder

Smoker's Right Rally at Bullseye Saloon this Saturday, May 3rd. Come join the party and support Robert Ripley and the Defense Fund! Several theater night hosts (from across the state) will be there to show support!



- Shawn's New website. You can donate here for the defense fund using a credit card. Also listen to Robert Ripley's interview with Jason Lewis on KTLK 100.3 (Thank-you Shawn!)

http://freedomfight08.com/



- Thank -you

A huge thanks goes out to all that have donated including our friends in Washington, Texas, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.


- Upcoming Court Dates (open to the Public...that's US!)

May 6th at 9:00 A.M. : Injunction Hearing of State of Minnesota v. Robert Ripley (Bullseye Saloon) at the Scott County Courthouse, 200 4th Ave. West, Shakopee, MN

MAY 23, 2008 AT 1:00 P.M.: Smoking Ban court trial of State of Minnesota v. Tom Marinaro at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Virginia, Minnesota.

- Article for Nite Times Magazine (by Sheila Kromer)

"Freedom? where? "
Where are our personal freedoms and choices going? First, a ban on smoking started in airplanes and now it has extended to private businesses, parks, multi-unit dwellings, cars with children, sidewalks and now whole cities (Burbank, CA). Where will end? Good question! It is a global infestation of epidemic proportions on our freedoms and choices. California is a leader in this epidemic, no surprise there I guess. Did you know that our esteemed representative Severson is from California? Did you know that he was also a sponsor of the FTBA bill? I couldn't tell you how many times I heard him say during the debate last year, “Your rights stop at the end of my nose”! Did I miss something, is that written in the constitution somewhere? How about this Mr. Severson…Go back to California and take your nose with you! I’m sure you would love living in Burbank!

Now everyone has heard of the slippery slope…right. Then you all know that both obesity and alcohol are on the agenda next. Regarding alcohol, have you read the latest about “interlocking devices”? First it started off with repeat DUI offenders having interlocking devices and now it is progressed to 1st time offenders (New Mexico). Do you think it will stop there? Absolutely not, MADD is lobbying for interlocking devices on ALL vehicles for everybody and hopes to accomplish this in 10 years. Want to read more…see the article, “Mothers Against Drunk Driving President: More To Be Done To Prevent Deaths” at http://www.tylerpaper.com:80/article/20080420/NEWS01/804200316. Additionally, I recently watched a TV show where Japan is working on these type cars and they actually showed a “prototype” of the car and how the device works. You know MADD is very ambitious, they not only want these devices installed on all vehicles at the factory but they are also lobbying for sobriety check points in every state. It just never ends does it!

In addition to the smoking and alcohol campaigns, there is the recent campaign that has just started against the “over weight” (I dislike the term obese). Remember the legislator in Mississippi that introduced the bill this session to “ban fat people from restaurants”. Or how about what the UK is currently doing to parents, taking their children away because the “powers to be” feel they are over weight and thus charge the parents with child abuse. Or how about what some of our legislators are currently proposing, monitoring our children’s BMI through schools and keeping a database. I hate to think about what they will do with that data!

People it is time to act before it is too late. It is time to band together for all of our sakes.

Remember this:

They came for the smokers and I didn’t say anything because I didn’t smoke.

They came for the obese and I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t overweight.

They came for the drinkers and I didn’t say anything because I didn’t drink.

Then they came for me and I screamed for help but there wasn’t anybody left to help!



Think about it. Think about it real hard at election time this November. We can change the direction that this state is taking and then we can start working on the cities and counties! We can start with the smoking ban and move forward from there. What it boils down to is our freedoms and choices…it’s as simple as that!



If you would like to help:



1) Contact your legislators and let them know what you think.

2) Donate to the defense fund raising effort for Bullseye Saloon (see www.freedomtoact.com or http://freedomfight08.com/)