As a registered nurse I am glad to see so much support for breast-feeding mothers. (Saturday article, “Nursing mothers continue to work to gain acceptance in public places.”)

We are still discovering all the health benefits of breast-feeding over bottle-feeding. Having breast fed three children myself, I can attest to its convenience and how inexpensive it is compared to bottle feeding. That being said, I am troubled that our representatives passed this bill and Gov. Gregoire signed it into law. This is not an issue of whether we support breast-feeding; rather it is a fundamental issue of having the freedom over one’s life and one’s business. If I own a restaurant, I should have the right to serve or not serve anyone I choose.

I myself discreetly breast fed many times in public places and never had any problems or was ever asked to leave. This law now takes away the right an owner would have had to refuse service to a disruptive woman purposely exhibiting herself. Watching our freedoms being stripped away has made me very aware of how oppressive our government is becoming.

My hope is that people will wake up in 2010 and support candidates who can help us reclaim our freedoms. I know I’ve been woken up.

Kristi Whitlow

Marysville