How can one, in good conscience, say that a smoking ban in bars, casinos, etc. is OK?

Uncle Remus

I have argued in circles with my brother on this.
I feel that if you own an establishment, you should be able to allow smoking. (I am a non-smoker btw).
He thinks that restaurants etc, since they will have children present, should ban smoking.
We finally agreed that it could be like bars, where minors are not allowed in. If an establishment decides that they will not allow minors. they should be allowed to permit smoking.

Kerry R

The casinos that I have been in have such great ventilation systems that there is no health concern from cigarette smoke. Smoking in a car where a child is present is just plain wrong, the child can't just decide to leave if he/she wants to.

TexasRose

They are just selfish people. Wait till they start jailing people for being fat.....or say blond hair is against the law....this whole thing is getting so rediculous! I don't care what a person doesn't like...there should not be laws to prevent it! If they don't stand up for our rights to smoke...how about we not stand up for their rights to eat where they want? Or pass laws against certain types of clothing. It's just getting out of hand.

Oh I know...how about if we pass laws against children in public? And people need to quit calling smokers names. Smoking should be a right.

Fluffy

yeah, here in vegas they just banned it in restaraunts and bars that serve food, so in one case in particular, a specific bar used to be able to serve free hotdogs every friday, they are no longer allowed to do that unless they ban smoking in that bar, is that ridiculous?!

the people who pushed for it gave the voters 2 choices 1 was to ban smoking in grocery store slot machine areas and restaraunts.. 2 was to ban it in grocery store slot machine areas, restaraunts and bars that serve food.. the non-smokers voted for the strict one, of course, they said it was to protect the children, well guess what.. i don't have children and i don't want to be punished because some idiot might decide he wants to take his 2 year old into a bar to eat, they are tryiong to force quitting smoking on us, which only makes me want to stand outside the restaraunt and create a cloud of smoke at the entrance... this seriously has me proterbed, you can't go to a bar, grab a bite to eat, have a drink, and smoke a cigarette because some @$$ might decide he wants to go there, screw the regulars right?

@$$#0!35!!

if you go into a bar, shouldn't you expect to smell cigarette smoke? and isn't a large percentage of bar clientele smokers?

so non-smokers just voted for this stupid ban because they could, they want to control our lives just because they MIGHT decide to go into a bar one day.. I can't wait to get off work, i will stand my @$$ in front of applebees and start a cigarette bon fire.. just watch me!

i know i keep going on and on (and i could do so for DAYS) but in the casinos here you can still smoke, but once inside a restaraunt, iwhich you just had to walk through a smoking casino to get to, you can't smoke.. wtf is that!?

Ginger Freak

heres an idea! if you work at a bar and dont smoke, and the smell of smoke bothers you. DONT work at a bar. its that simple. some places can disallow smoking, but leave that to the owners of the places. i dont smoke, everyone does something REALLY unhealthy for them. its just easy to seclude people who smoke

?Jaileen?

Yes I agree :) yes, the government might be "going too far" but parents have failed at this, they need to get their head out their asses and think for a second on the harm they are causing their OWN children. So the government has to interfere and do the job for them, this may sound harsh but I just hate when people don't care about others specially the ones the say they love.

sway_26

Yep and why are people in the bars poisoning their livers so concerned with smoke?

Ronin

Because what's next? Banning smoking at home? Seriously.

If they can ban it in your car to protect the baby, why not at home? What's the difference?

SexyMommy2B

First off, I don't believe the government can tell you what to do in your own home...PERIOD! Unfortuantly, our government is using 9/11 as an excuse to violate out rights as americans. We have no privacy, whatsoever, the Patriot Act took care of that. So basically, we can ***** and we can moan but there is nothing we can do about it. Deal with it or move out the country. I am a smoker ,so yea it pisses me off that I can't have a smoke while having a drink at the local bar/club but what can you do about it? Nothing! (Yes, I know smoking is a horrible habit and I will die...blah blah blah...well being overweight will kill you too and guess what obesity will kill you quicker!)

As far as the banning of cigs completely, it will NEVER happen. The government makes too much money off of cigs.

As far as kids go, no you shouldn't smoke around your kid but thats the parents responsiblity, it's there kid. If they want to ruin their childrens lungs, well then let em. They are grown enough to understand what they are doing.

FaerieWhings

How can one in good conscience say that I, a nonsmoker, should be forced to breathe in second hand smoke if I want to hang out at bars, which I do hang out at bars? What about my rights as a nonsmoker? We are born nonsmokers, and if someone wants to smoke thats fine with me, but I should be allowed to hang out and have a drink without being forced to breath in smoke.

***************

And I see that a smoker already feels that their decision to smoke is more important then my rights to have clear healthy lungs. Fabulous.

special_edd_yay

I have lived in 2 cities where there is a ban on smoking in ALL public places. I smoked for 19 years and couldn't stand this law, now that I am a ex - smoker I love em and the ability to not smel like an ashtray because I went into a bar. It is a double sided sword and you will never get an non biased opinion. All I can say is the business that thought they would be negativley affected, haven't been, there all still here and making money. Most have outside "smoking patios" now.

topsecretwrappers

It is not a matter of conscience, it is a matter of how far will we ALLOW our government to go? Are we a Socialist or Communist Society, no, we are America. I am a mother of 4 children, I smoked for 15 years. I quit 2 years ago. Up until then, I would have been one of the loudest voices for Pro Smoking in public. However, Now...I still feel the same way, I just choose not to take myself or my children to places that allow it. We are all grown ups that have voting rights, but our children don't, so it is up to us to make the responsible decisions regarding their lives, not the Governments. Now, I will get off my soap box.

WheelchairBA

I tend to agree with the ban as not only Smokers patronize these places but so do non-smokers. and I think the smokers should have the common decency and basic human respect of non-smokers not to "puff" around them. Come on, we all know that second hand smoke is just as dangerous as personally dragging the cig. I also agree that a parent should not smoke in a confined area where their children also occupy the same space.

rabidliberal

A smoking ban? Hm. Let me consider this. OK. My conscience is still clear. Any smoking ban is still OK.

foco

I am getting tired on how the government patronizes and takes a harassing approach against smokers because of the "health issues".
The amount of money spent on this is outrageous!!!
If they were really concerned about health they should focus on far more threatening issues such as dietary habits for general public. The ratio of smokers/non-smokers is far smaller than overweight/fit ratio. (oh, but they don't tell you that. Furthermore, they present you alarming smoking related death statistics that make some, who actually think of them, wonder how is it possible for the population to be increasing rather than decreasing).
I am a smoker (do not smoke around my children, though) but also a mountain biker, squash player, jogger, skater, eater and drinker. I am in way better shape than most non smokers.
I am not saying smoking is not bad, it is, but it also is eating greasy foods, munching chips and being a couch potato.
Is far more hazardous to the heart and body being overweight than a smoker.
With an active lifestyle and moderation in either eating, drinking, smoking, the health issues are reduced dramatically.
How many times I've heard the "smoking is stupid, it'll kill you" etc... stuff from a 5' 7" 190+lb person? Countless!

Aunt Henny Penny

Personally I think there should be a ban on smoking period. I would nothing more than to see the cigarette companies go out of business completely. I would feel very badly for the employees that would be displaced by this, but I am certain they would be able to find gainful employment elsewhere.

stargazengrle

While I personally feel that smoking should not be allowed in certain places, I do like that the casinos and other place are putting space aside for smokers. (Though I am not one and will NEVER be.) Allowing smokers designated areas allows for everyone to be happy. If you want to go into that area and you don't smoke, then that is YOUR choice. Non-smoking areas are important for those with health problems such as asthma, as well as for children, and even the general non-smoking public. Because the truth and reality is that secondhand smoke CAN hurt others, and I feel that it IS the states' job to enforce any laws needed to keep people safe from this kind of harm. I'm not saying smokers intentionally try to hurt other people..this is far from the truth..but I do feel that people need to be protected from the harmful chemicals in the smoke. No one is telling them that they have to stop smoking..they just have to do it in a designated place. And as for not smoking in a car with a child present, or a house-as a parent you should try to protect your child's health, as well as your own, and either quit or smoke outside or where the children aren't present! Don't they want to be there for their children at a later time? If you really want something, you go for it, and while I can't speak about an addiction, I have to say this: you do what you have to for your kids, and you can at least make an effort to not smoke around them.

On another note, it would be very difficult for the government (whether if be local or national) to enforce such laws that try to protect children from the smoke..at this point in time the recent no-smoking laws will have to do. I think it would be great for laws banning smoking near children to be passed. Who knows, maybe that's next on the agenda.

loryntoo

Let's not beat around the bush. Smoking in the company of ANY non-smokers, regardless of age, should be illegal as it endangers the health of the non-smoker. In addition to that, we have a growing percentage of the population on oxygen and that could be explosive.

Richard G

maybe next they will ban you from using a public restroom if your on your period. It IS a bio-hazard, you know!!!!

Now anybody that smokes is a child abuser....oh brother
And it's "perfectly ok" with you for the government to make laws for YOUR private property? Why even call it "private"?

mykitty61

As the owner of a business, I should have the right to allow smoking in my establishment if I want to. Why is it ok for the government to tell my how I can run my own business? If there is a sign posted identifying it as a smoking allowed establishment why should there be a problem? Non smokers can chose not to work or frequent my establishment. Non smokers get up on their high horse about this, but wait till the government trys to dictate to them what they can or cannot do in there OWN business or home or auto! I agree that smoking should be banned in restaurants as there are children present. But as adults, we should be smart enough that if there is smoking allowed in an adult establishment and you don't like it .....DON'T go there!~

Silver Surfer

I wouldn't like it if you came into the casino where I was working and lit up a smoke and "forced" me to breathe in all of the nasty's! Not one bit! What did I ever do to you? Smoking is proven to kill! Why not just pick some dude off of the street and slowly torture him or her 'til their death? It's OK to save your kids now and have someone smoke around them when they are older and cause them to die of lung or throat cancer? Reality check!

disturbed

YES, I don't want to smell any one elses smoke.