Pigs must be flying today in the little town of Westminster, Massachusetts because some American zombies woke up and showed up. I don’t know what it is about those Yanks in that state, but they are not going to let you tax their tea or take away their freedom. Can I get a witness?

The citizens of Westminster spoke out loud and clear when just a handful of board members under their Board of Health chairwoman, Andrea Crete, tried to handedly ban all tobacco products from their town. But the citizens of this little town were not having it. In an inspiring Marlboro kind of way, they rallied their anger in a most American fashion. They organized and registered to speak out at the public hearing.

It would seem that Ms. Crete didn’t agree with their methods, however. She felt the citizens of Westminster were showing out rather than speaking out when she effectively shut the entire hearing down less than 30 minutes after it began. Crete was quoted in an Associated Press article as saying, “The crowd’s getting out of control and the room’s filled to capacity. We don’t want any riots.”  This just 25 minutes after the hearing commenced and without allowing any of the 60-plus residents who had registered to speak be heard.

According to AP, the audience of at least 500 residents who packed the local elementary school for the public hearing were shouting “America!” and “Freedom Now.”  Dangerous indeed, Ms. Crete. But just as distasteful as Ms. Crete’s denying the raucous crowd its right to speak, is that the decision now rests with the board, who indicated they would “accept” written testimony until December 1 and would vote later.

Without exception, every single time the government wants to take away one of your rights, it is under the banner of “protecting” children or promoting a “healthier” lifestyle because, well, you’re just too stupid to make your own decisions.  At least that’s what these self-serving elitist in the town of Westminster, Massachusetts think and they are, “fed up with bubblegum-flavored cigars, electronic cigarettes and other new products that appeal to young people.”

Let’s be honest here Ms. Crete, you just don’t like tobacco products and therefore, you don’t want anyone else to have them. Never mind that they are legal. I like what Brian Vincent, a local resident and owner of a country store on Main Street said: “Having other adults decide what legal item we’re not allowed to consume just makes you wonder: If this passes, what could be next? Sugar? Bacon?”

Let’s face it. This demonstration isn’t about cigarettes or tobacco products, but rather a group of Americans who are sick and tired of their own government stealing their personal liberty and freedoms. To wit, the Boston Globe reported that a petition opposed to the ban had more than 1,000 signatures and many of the residents quoted in both the AP article and in the Globe were nonsmokers.

Let’s just hope Ms. Crete and her fellow board members don’t like saturated fats, red meat, white sugar, or a little vodka on the side. Watch out Ms. Crete or your vice could be next. Those who participate in curtailing the freedoms of Americans do so under the mistaken idea that they are somehow above the legislation they are passing and believe they know what is best for you and your children. They would do well to heed Thomas Jefferson: “I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”