Letter: Businesses can refuse service to anyone

We frequently see the following notice posted in our local business establishments: “We refuse the right to refuse service to anyone.”

Without explanation, this must be Principle No. 1 for any commercial enterprise. Flower shops included. We have heard many scholarly opinions regarding same-sex couples, artistic freedom, religious convictions, constitutional rights, and all the rest, But, as we see this issue, any provider of goods or services to the general public has the obvious right to conduct business exactly as they see fit. Or else — why would they ever want to open their doors to the public in the first place?

For the officials who are trying to overrun this right, we are reminded of the advice once received from a close friend: “Illegitimus non carborundum!” which loosely translated says: “Don’t let the rascals wear you down!” In the meantime, we are hoping that the American Civil Liberties Union and our (elected) attorney general will find some uses for their legal appetites other than prosecuting our grandmothers.

This story was originally published August 2, 2017 at 1:25 PM with the headline "Letter: Businesses can refuse service to anyone."