Is ban on smoking good?

[daemon king]

Do you people think a ban on smoking in public place is good?I feel it must be compulsorily imposed.In our country,it is in practice.But "What the hell!" nobody cares.I think the rule must be imposed with some punishment so that they ll not do the mistake once again.

PS:I am not protesting smoking.I protest smoking in public.

[Allen Farlow]

I believe people should be allowed to do whatever they want, long as it is not bothering anyone else, is not harmful to themselves nor to other people or animals and if it involves another person it must be mutually consensual and not involve minors.

I do not smoke. I really hate it when smokers throw their cigarette butts on the ground. I've seen them empty their vehicles ashtray into the street at stop lights. If you are going to smoke, you need to be responsible for your habit and take care of your trash the same as anyone else.

I've seen smokers stand outside because they were not allowed to smoke indoors at their work place or a shopping mall, yet they stand so close to the doors I am forced to smell their smoke when I must use those doors. I do not like being forced to smell something I do not wish to smell.

I would have no problem if everyone stopped smoking. It seems they can't do it without affecting me in some way, but again, as long as it doesn't bother anyone, we should be allowed to do what ever we choose, with the previously mentioned restrictions, of course.

[Bob Barr]

Originally Posted by daemon king

Do you people think a ban on smoking in public place is good?I feel it must be compulsorily imposed.In our country,it is in practice.But "What the hell!" nobody cares.I think the rule must be imposed with some punishment so that they ll not do the mistake once again.

PS:I am not protesting smoking.I protest smoking in public.

Here's an idea for you -- Let each business owner decide if he wants to allow smoking in his establishment. Clearly, he'll lose the business of people who object to smoking. At the same time, some other business owner who prohibits smoking will gain that business. The customers using those businesses can make their own choices and the government doesn't need to get involved at all.

[Allen Farlow]

Very true, Bob. I do not frequent establishments that allow smoking inside or on their patio.

Man, been awhile since I was last in Morgan Hill! Good flea market they have there.

[Bob Barr]

Originally Posted by Allen Farlow

Very true, Bob. I do not frequent establishments that allow smoking inside or on their patio.

As far as I know, there are no establishments in California anyway (other than tobacco shops) that are permitted by state law to allow smoking inside. I'm not sure what the law is regarding outdoor patios. Banning smoking in private businesses started with the restaurants. It expanded to include bars and now, last that I heard, includes parks and beaches.

My primary point was that the business owner and his/her customers should be the ones making the smoking/no-smoking and patronize/don't-patronize decisions rather than the government.

Man, been awhile since I was last in Morgan Hill! Good flea market they have there.

Morgan Hill is great. I haven't been to the flea market in many years so I really don't know how it is now. I do know that it was a great one a few years ago.

[Allen Farlow]

Government intrusion into the daily lives of its citizens goes on more and more. Before we know it, if we do not pay attention, even our breathing will be legislated.

I don't believe the government has any business telling us where we can smoke, or even if we can smoke. That's akin to the government telling us where we can and cannot walk, or telling us what we can or cannot say. I anticipate they'll eventually hit smokers with a health tax, claiming that their actions increase health care costs, which wouldn't be much different from taxing people because they are obese.

It's matter of choice. If I want to smoke or eat myself into obesity, that's my choice.

But sooner or later some Congressman will introduce a new bill to tax us because of those choices.

Where will it end? The government is deaf to our pleas. Big government is not good for us. Perhaps we should all just move out of the United States and then the only ones being taxed to death would be those who make the laws.

[Natural Elements]

if you protest smoking in public, I protest breathing jet fuel burned from aircrafts that drop thousands tons on our heads, I protest breathing gaz emmissions from cars, I protest against school bus waiting for kids at school burning diesel fuel for their air conditioning system, I protest against all factories rejecting monoxide carbon.

Need more?

C'mon smoking ban is just a joke.

[Bob Barr]

It's certainly not a joke here in California.

[Allen Farlow]

Yes, but it's for our own good...just like seat belt laws that force us to buckle up or be fined, or requiring that we buy car insurance before we can license our vehicles.

"I'm from the government and I'm here to help youuuuuuuuu."

Don't believe it for a second.

[Atom]

Originally Posted by daemon king

Do you people think a ban on smoking in public place is good?I feel it must be compulsorily imposed.In our country,it is in practice.But "What the hell!" nobody cares.I think the rule must be imposed with some punishment so that they ll not do the mistake once again.

PS:I am not protesting smoking.I protest smoking in public.

No.

I think that the business owner should decide this.

[John Scott]

I think there should be a differentiation between smoking in public and smoking in privately owned establishments open to the public.

[Atom]

Originally Posted by John Scott

I think there should be a differentiation between smoking in public and smoking in privately owned establishments open to the public.

Yes, that would make a "reasonable" solution more possible.

Do you think that smoking should be banned in general but with exceptions? i.e. smoking in the privately owned establishments open to the public that would allow it.

[ami1]

I am all for banning smoking in public. It works in New York

[thegamerslink]

Originally Posted by ami1

I am all for banning smoking in public. It works in New York

Hello Ami,

Not an attempt to mean or snobby, but works for who? What makes your rights any more important than mine?

I have already said that I do not hang out in front of the doors, nor do I light up right next to people that don't smoke or don't like it, but the current methods being deployed against those that choose to smoke are reaching the level of ridiculous. Not to mention, when you support taking one right away in what you to believe to be a good self fulfilling cause, you forget for every action there is further reaction, what abilities and rights are next? Will you be so in favor of the next attack?

[dubscrub]

Originally Posted by thegamerslink

Hello Ami,

Not an attempt to mean or snobby, but works for who? What makes your rights any more important than mine?

I agree that we are all entitled to have our rights protected, but I think the legal precedent shows that when a particular "right" directly impacts the safety, health and general ability to use a space for its designed purpose, by those who were intended to use it, it is no longer a "right" but instead a nuisance.

You have the "right" to inflict any damage you desire to your lungs, but i disagree that you have the "right" to force me to avoid public domain in order to not breathe smoke. So when we start talking about people having the "right" to smoke whenever or wherever they want, I think they miss the point that the greater good is by far more important than someones "right" to light up.

This is not an attack on anyone's rights. This is simply a plea by those of us who don't want to be forced to take in second hand smoke to not be forced to do something that everyone knows is unhealthy.

[Natural Elements]

Sure smoking in public tranportation like metro, federal building, school, etc should be banned, but it doesn't bother me if someone smoke a cigarette in their own car without kids, anyway you see my point I am trying to make. Smoker need to use common sense.

Now like Allen Farlow said: "Where will it end?".

Is it a worldwide fashion?

What would be next? perfumes ban? or obese ban? An electronic chip on our body to track us?

[daemon king]

To all people:
I accept what you people say.Do you think only in business concerns,people smoke.Hey public includes everything.What I mean is that I want people to know others feelings too.They need to use the common sense.They may do whatever they want.I dont want to interfere,neither the government in ones private life.Unless their actions harm others in one way or the other.Why do Government punish murderers?It is because they harm others.In my question,I have mentioned clealy that I only protest smoking in public.It certainly has an impact on the non smokers.
In our country,the primary mode of transportation is the bus service.Ofcourse people are not allowed to smoke inside a bus.But they smoke in the bus stops.Why the hell the non smokers have to take the smoke when the smokers smoke.Many bans have been imposed.No use.Unless the government really mean it,it is futile.
Once again I dont want Government to interfere in private life.I just want to have a ban on smoking in public place.When I mean public,I mean everything other people use.
Why do we have pubs and other places specially for smoking?Go and use it all the way until you decide it's enough.Why arent they using their common sense???

Anyway thanks for your response and hope I see more opinions on this.

[thegamerslink]

Daemon King, I am not quite clear on what it is that you are saying. Are you saying that one should be allowed to smoke in their private homes or vehicles but not outside where someone else may come along and have to smell it?

I am passed by people all the time that fail to where enough deodorant, I definitely do not want to have to be subjected to that, should it be illegal for someone to perspire so much in public they smell?

Recently in Missouri my wife and I were shocked because we were asked at several places like Olive Garden...Smoking or Non-Smoking. A question we have not heard for quite some time. The owners had the choice and took the responsibility to give to their clients the atmosphere appropriate, in Olive Garden smoking was on one side of the building and non was on the complete opposite, no chance of air transference. A splendidly refreshing environment. We ate on both sides, once we went just us and were on smoking, the second with my mother who doesn't smoke so sat on the other, no smell of smoke what so ever.

[quentin123]

to ban smoking in public place is ok i guess because it's disrespect to force people smelling you smoke but people should be allowed to smoke in open places

you're not going to die because you inhaled the smoke of one cigarettes in your life ...

[thegamerslink]

Originally Posted by quentin123

to ban smoking in public place is ok i guess because it's disrespect to force people smelling you smoke

Could you define public place? I have taken up smoking again after having quit for over 2 years, I am a conscientious smoker, I do not stand close to others that do not smoke when I do, I do not stand right against the entrance or exit doors to public places. I refuse, however, to quietly stand by and see my right to do what I want because a few, or even many decide they personally don't like it.

If I am a business owner, I should not have dictated to me what type of atmosphere or services that I provide my clients. That is for the clients to dictate to me by either coming or not coming to my business. I at no time should be told that I can not stand outside at an exceptable distance from any other people and not be allowed to smoke. Regardless if it is public or not.

And to tell me that I can not smoke any where on a large property because it is a smoke free zone, yet every car is in the parking lot, semi's are driving by, etc... is the most assanine thing I have ever heard in my life and evades all forms of logic