Thinking About … Smoking Bans

Connor

As a young Paramedic I used to smoke in the back of the Rescue with the patients on the way to the hospital….yep, things have changed.

CC

First they make it inconvenient to smoke……then they make it illegal. It wont be long before the cigarette police are at our doors…….telling us to “step out of the house, and hold your cigarettes above your head……NOW”——an ex smoker

Bill

As an ex-smoker, I suggest that folks will do silly things and that these same folks can stop doing them. nnBut, what has me scrambling for creative ideas on just what to do with a lit cigarette is the notion that government bureaucrats should tell me whether I can smoke, or drink, or, for that matter, buy health insurance, use an old-fashioned light bulb or install a non-water saving toilet (yes, the feds have already trodden there, too).nnFrankly, not only do I doubt whether government drones SHOULD tell me how to live my life; I doubt whether we should even trust people who choose to work for the government to run their own lives. nnCount me into the LEAVE ME ALONE Coalition.

JW

Here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, they have been trying to make it illegal to smoke in your own car, if you have anyone under the age of 12. They probably are trying to help the kids, but its my car and my kids. I don’t smoke, never had, but as long as cigarettes are legal, you should have every right to smoke them when you want. What would our government do without the revenue from smokers if everyone quit ?

Shemark1957

I remember when smoking was OK everywhere – movie theatres, HOSPITALS, supermarkets. It seems like people were less annoyed by cigarette smoke then. Perhaps they were used to the smell, and since it is so rare now, when it is smelled, it is more irritating.nnWhat people fail to realize is that these cigarette bans are starting a dangerous precedent. If the government can ban things that are not good for us, what’s next? Certain foods? This has already started in NYC in restaurants. Trans fats have been banned, Mayor Bloomberg tried to require restaurants to lower the amount of salt in foods (didn’t work – yet), and calorie counts are required in certain restaurants. Before you scoff at this, remember that before smoking bans were enacted, “informational warning labels” were required on all packs. This is how it starts. So I predict that before long, certain foods will be banned.nnPeople are willingly giving up their rights to decide what to do with their own bodies in the name of not being irritated by other people. And they won’t realize the danger they are in until it is too late. Progress? I am no right-wing anti-government person, but I am against the progression of the Nanny State. And you should be, too.

aw

As a smoker I am tired of the goverment telling us what is good for us and what isn’t. Maybe the government should try living the way we do and if that doesn’t work maybe we should live the way they do.nn

Shemark1957

They already passed that in California. Except it’s 18, not 12. The busy-bodies, of course, cheered. They don’t realize that they’re giving the police the right to pull you over if they even THINK you might be smoking with a child in the car. Sure, let’s give the police MORE reasons to be able to stop us and invade our privacy in our own vehicles. Great idea.

Hansmoerdijk

I think that in certain fastfood restaurants it’s better for your health to smoke inthere than eat the food!

Eduardo

I gave up smoking 35 years ago but last year I began smoking again. But I now I smoke Cuban cigars not cigarretes (In my country you can get Cuban cigars at reasonable prices!). I regret 35 years of lost pleasure. Second hand smoking is one of the biggest scientific hoaxes in history.

Ladyfariest

Its about divide and conquer. People focus on stuff like this instead of radiation from nuclear plants, or gmo’s or the gulf of mexico. You know Real Important Stuff, so yeah divide yourself so the elite will conquer you. DO you really think the elite stop all the vices they want you to??

Eddy

As a non-smoker, I hate smoking. People can do what they want to themselves but I shouldn’t have to suffer – the smell is absolutely disgusting and it’s unavoidable if you’re walking down the street. I wouldn’t care if everyone just wore patches or something.

Anonymous

The government won’t ban smoking until they find a way to replace the money they make off of the ridiculous taxes. If all of us smokers suddenly quit, there would be a panic (not just for the tobacco farmers), as our overspending government will be forced to find another group to tax (such as fast food).

JW

But it is not up to you to say what I can smell like ! I don’t smoke either, but there are a whole lot of people in this world that stink. And its not from smoking. Some people wear way too much perfume, or body spray or whatever, but you know what…. its their right to do it. This is AMERICA, smoke em if you got em !!!!!!!!