Peanut-free zone: How far should public accommodations go?
We’re writing about the Cardinals and the River City Rascals starting a new section in their stands: The peanut-free zone.
Buy me some … Crackerjack?
According to the news release from the Rascals: “In support of Gateway FEAST (Food allergy, Eczema, and Asthma Support Team), the River City Rascals have designated section 109 during every Wednesday home game as a ‘Peanut-Free Section.’ Here fans with such food allergies can come to a baseball game and avoid the hazards that peanuts can cause on their health.”
The Rascals start the peanut-free section tonight; the Redbirds start a section on July 21.
I am fortunate, as is my family, not to have food allergies to deal with. Believe me, I get how lucky I am. Let’s face it: They can be deadly.
Is this a good idea? How far should public places go to accommodate such issues? Where would it end? What makes this any different from, say, no smoking sections?
Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
I will pray that everyone will feel real love for their children and loved ones. A love that involves keeping them protected when aimed guns are pointed at their heads, a threat to their whole life. That smoking gun is the peanut to us. Children deserve an option to go to ONE (in a small section) baseball game and for those of you who don’t know, peanut allergies can range from non life threatening to death. Even the reaction can be different each time. How do we find out where our kids are on that scale and how they will react? You got it, we don’t want to know, we don’t test it out for fun, we protect them at all costs. Even if it means you slander us and poke fun. If that is what you need to do to feel better, have at it. We are the educated ones, the caring ones and want only what our right as American, FREEDOM! Freedom to see another day, freedom of speech, freedom to pray. I pray there is a cure someday so we can see our girls grow up and enjoy these freedoms.