KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffSmokers Light up to Protest Illinois Smoking Ban

Smokers Light up to Protest Illinois Smoking Ban

Smokers Light up to Protest Illinois Smoking Ban
By: Carly O'Keefe

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. - By lighting up Saturday, some folks blew smoke in the faces of Illinois legislators who outlawed smoking inside public places.

"I don't think I should be booted out.  I don't think it's right.  Definitely not the America I grew up in," said protestor Mike Saddler of Thompsonville.

Saturday, business owner Jon Hemminghaus held what he calls a "smoke-in".  He invited anyone to stand inside or within 15 feet of the front door of his business and smoke to protest the Smoke-Free Illinois Act.

"This is what you have to do.  Signing petitions is great, but as soon as they get to the desk, they get thrown away.  Same with writing letters, the secretary reads them and throws them away.  You have to put your neck out there and cause a little trouble to get anything noticed," said Hemminghaus.

A month ago Jon Hemminghaus posted a sign in front of his business you'd expect him to be a smoker, but he's not.  But he says it's about freedoms and what might be taken away next.

"It's about the rights they took away from me," he said. 

"It's not just about smoking bans, next it's going to be people that are obese, or alcohol, because of the smoking ban, property owners are losing our rights," said Dava Ramsey who drove three hours just to take part in the protest.

Hemminghaus says he's not looking to be the leader of a movement, he's just a guy standing up for his rights, but he hopes someone else picks up the torch and carries on the fight.

"I hope someone else will have one of these every weekend because I'd sure like to waste a lot of gas trying to get to them," said Hemminghaus.

Earlier this week, Williamson County State's Attorney Charles Garnati said he would not ticket the protestors or the business owners and planned to ignore the "smoke in" to not give it the attention he believes the protestors were after.