MOUNT VERNON — AMVETS Post 95 in Mount Vernon is facing a fine of $1,000 for violating Ohio’s anti-smoking law four times. Mike Deem Sr., AMVETS Post Commander, is not happy about the fine, but said “we’ll do what we gotta do.”
Deem doesn’t understand why AMVETS continues to be fined for smoking violations when the ballot clearly stated there would be an exemption for private clubs. He believes the wording on the ballot was ambiguous and confused some voters.
He said AMVETS Post 95 meets all of the requirements for the definition of a private club, as listed in the Ohio Revised Code, except the stipulation that the club has no employees. According to Deem, Post 95 has paid employees, but they are also members of AMVETS and joined the club knowing it was an establishment that permitted smoking.
Deem said he totally understands the smoking ban in public places where there are children. He also pointed out that during Prohibition people were smoking.
AMVETS Post 95 has contacted Congressman Zack Space, as well as Gov. Ted Strickland and Ohio Attorney General Mark Dann. According to Deem, Strickland and Dann said they were going to do something about the problems veterans groups are facing with the anti-smoking law.
According to Deem, 58 percent of the voters approved the ban on smoking in public places, but a lot of people voted for it because of the exemption for private clubs. Deem said that in his opinion, the proposed law was “very vague” and “badly written.”
AMVETS Post 95 was reported as violating the smoking ban on Aug. 29, but Deem said that claim was investigated and dismissed.
“Why is it that when [the smoking ban was first approved] people called in ... stating the fact that we were smoking ... but yet they told us that there was no [further] investigation because our employees were members?” asked Deem. “Then, all of a sudden ... they say there’s no exemption anymore.
“I think it’s wrong that they’re doing this to us,” said Deem, referring to the notices of fines to come. “We’ve got young men and women losing their lives every day, and the ones that can come home, that still have all their limbs, they come back, they can’t even come to one of their own clubs and ... light up a cigarette.”
Deem said he is also frustrated that the Knox County Health Department is “worried about who’s lighting up a cigarette” when there are other public health concerns present, such as food poisoning.
AMVETS is a nonprofit organization which donates the money it makes to numerous local programs and organizations, one of which is the health department. Deem said AMVETS has lost $2,000 to $3,000 in monthly income because of the smoking ban.
“When I lose all my membership ... are these people [who voted for the smoking ban], going to reach into their pockets and donate money to these places? No, they’re not.”
He said AMVETS has three sub-organizations — AmVet Sadsacks, AmVet Sons and AmVets Auxiliary — all of which donate and volunteer to numerous causes.
“When that money stops, all of this stops,” said Deem.
“We’re not just a bar and a place to smoke cigarettes,” noted Deem, “we are a fundraising organization.”
He said veterans have fulfilled their obligations to this country, and if they want to smoke in their clubs they should be allowed.
“The AMVETS is not a place to try to break the law,” said Deem, “but when they start stepping on our toes, we’ve got to fight back, and we will. We earned this right, we fought for this right, that’s our feeling.”
Deem said he will continue to fight the smoking ban.
“I think they’re barking up the wrong tree when they’re coming after the veterans,” he said.
