[POLL] - Smoking Ban

[Tobolo]

In GA we have a State ban on smoking by establishment. It is SOOOO nice to go into a resturant and not have to deal with all the smoke.

That said, It IS legal to smoke in an establishment that doesnt allow anyone under the age of 18 (IE Bar).

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
I wouldn't vote yes for a complete ban, that's a bit ignorant IMO. However, I would encourage businesses to choose to not allow smoking, it's their choice and their property, why should the government control their property in regards to smoking?

I honestly haven't had much of an issue with lots of people smoking and don't view it as big of an issue as people here in the US play smoking out to be. Sure, it has consequences and potential issues, but I don't really think it's as bad as it's viewed by a lot of people.

Enforcing this also means that the cops will be busy writing stupid little tickets for smoking instead of doing other things.

Like writing stupid little tickets for speeding?

 

[3NF]

Originally posted by: Pacemaker

Hang out with Pagan smokers, they field strip their cigarettes and put the buts in a metal case when trash cans are not available (not kidding).

What is a Pagan smoker?

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: tagej

Originally posted by: Amused
Businesses are NOT public places. They are private property in which the public is invited at the will of the owner.

Wrong. According to the law, businesses are not simply 'private property', they are 'private property with public access' and are treated differently than private property. Basically, you can use your private property any way you like, but if you decide the allow the public in for commercial purposes, then you have to abide by the rules the public sets for places with public access.

You don't have to agree with it, but that's how the laws are written currently. If you don't like that, you'll have to get the laws changed.

The majority have no right to vote away the rights of the minority (individual).

Not true. The rights of the individual are trumped by the rights of the society as a whole in certain instances. The right to yell "fire" in a theatre being the classic example. The freedom of speech in that instance is trumped by society. I agree that such instances have to be carefully weighed and normally individual rights should be upheld, but where there are clear cases of public interest exceptions can be made.

I believe smoking is one of those. There is a clear public interest in restricting it in public places and places with public access. What you do in your home is nobody else's business, but what you do in places where other people are is their business. If the public decides they want to restrict smoking in public, then I don't see a problem with it. If they try to enact a ban including private property, then I have an issue with it.

The fact that the government has already stripped business owners of their property rights does not trump my argument. (and people call the slippery slope a fallacy) A busniess is private property. The government does not own it. Picky customers do not own it. It is owned by the property owner.

Compairing smoking on private property with yelling fire in a crowded theater is absurd. Allowing smoking on private business property is a clear, and informed risk. Hell, the busniess owner can post a sign for people so stupid they cannot tell smoke is present.

You do not have a "right" to force a business to make their atmosphere enjoyable to YOU. If you don't like smoking, don't go to a business that allows it.

 

[Pacemaker]

Originally posted by: 3NF

Originally posted by: Pacemaker

Hang out with Pagan smokers, they field strip their cigarettes and put the buts in a metal case when trash cans are not available (not kidding).

What is a Pagan smoker?

People who are Pagan who happen to smoke

 

[BUTCH1]

I don't mind not smoking on planes and in restaurants, It's not fair to make someone
take in my second-hand smoke. What bothers me is non-smokers who go to extreme
measures like a woman here in town who claimed she had an asthma attack by breathing
in one breath of smoke from a group of people who were OUTSIDE the building..WTF is
she going to do when the next inevitable fire comes around, go to a hyperbolic chamber??

 

[Crucial]

Originally posted by: BigJ
I hope all you people voting yes are willing to give up all that sweet tax revenue cigarettes generate and in turn pay higher state and federal taxes as a result.

He's introducing an additional $1.25 per pack tax with the ban. What a great man we have for governor. :roll:

 

[nakedfrog]

I wouldn't vote for either. Leave it up to the businesses.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Not that I have a problem with the way the poll is set up, it may have been better to arrange it as one poll such that it looks something like this so you could compare who supports one or the other (or none of the above):

-Yes to Ban in all places
-Yes to Ban based on establishment type
-No to all

I set it up that way because on a ballot to make something like this a law, you don't get a choice. You get one or the other. I just wanted to see which ballot type question would have the greater chance of passing if it were given to the AT community.

The results show that more people are willing to at least have some sort of ban than are willing to have a total ban. But the eople who vote No get beat out in both polls.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Crucial

Originally posted by: BigJ
I hope all you people voting yes are willing to give up all that sweet tax revenue cigarettes generate and in turn pay higher state and federal taxes as a result.

He's introducing an additional $1.25 per pack tax with the ban. What a great man we have for governor. :roll:

The is the first thing I've agreed with he's done since he got voted in. Too bad he's such a dumbarse with most other issues.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: Malak
Absolutely vote yes. There is no reason why smoking should be legal and many why it should be. It's just as bad as illicit drugs only worse because it's legal. It has a negative impact on the health of others around, especially on those like me. Smoking is much worse for me due to my condition.

Yeah good point there. While we're at it we should reinstate the prohibition to cut down on alcoholism and DUI related deaths. :roll:

 

[lupi]

Standing behind a guy in line at a resteraunt in california as he asked for the smoking section was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

 

[50cent1228]

on type of establishment

 

[TheRyuu]

1.) Yes
2.) Most definitely yes.

Doesn't NY state have some sort of ban on smoking already in bars and restaurants?
So, we already have #2. I still want #1

 

[azazyel]

Originally posted by: wizboy11
1.) Yes
2.) Most definitely yes.

Doesn't NY state have some sort of ban on smoking already in bars and restaurants?
So, we already have #2. I still want #1

You don't know and you live there? Maybe you should take a step out of your mom's basement.


Edit:

as really pissed about the ban in Seattle. I liked to occasionally go to a cigar bar and have nice stogie and some scotch. But thanks to the nanny staters I can't anymore.

 

[Molondo]

Beef up the tax on them :evil:
You know these addicts will pay any price

 

[Babbles]

I have never, ever smoked a thing in my life and I think complete smoking bans are dumb beyond belief.

If a bar wants to allow smoking, then they should have that opportunity to run their establishment they way they want when it comes to legal products (i.e. cigarettes). If you as a consumer don't like it, then don't go inside.

 

[Phoenix86]

I'll support this when fatty foods are banned too.

Also, please ban cars; their exhaust is causing global warming, smog, and it smells. Until that's done, please raise the sales tax to over 100% the price of the car.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i would consider a restaurant be to a PRIVATE place, not public. a park is public. government buildings are public. peoples homes and business are PRIVATE and should be treated as such. its BS to tell a man what to do in his own house and its BS to tell a business owner what he can do in his establishment

i prefer smoke free establishments but not for one second believe the govt should be involved in this

 

[clamum]

We should just make everything that can harm you illegal!

What a bunch of bitches.

 

[illusion88]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
It's amazing how much this country has drifted from the values instilled by our founding fathers. They would most likely be physically ill if they saw what the government was allowed to do to ones own freedoms these days.

You probably wont see this becaue the thread is long, but TIMES CHANGE

We had a civil war over that whole "all men are created equal" bit. Followed by a few civil rights movements. Remember that constitutation that the founding fathers wrote? how many times has it changed (hint: 27). They knew that thigns would come up, which is why they allowed the constitution to be changed as time goes by.

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: illusion88

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
It's amazing how much this country has drifted from the values instilled by our founding fathers. They would most likely be physically ill if they saw what the government was allowed to do to ones own freedoms these days.

You probably wont see this becaue the thread is long, but TIMES CHANGE

We had a civil war over that whole "all men are created equal" bit. Followed by a few civil rights movements. Remember that constitutation that the founding fathers wrote? how many times has it changed (hint: 27). They knew that thigns would come up, which is why they allowed the constitution to be changed as time goes by.

This is true to a certain extent; however, what we are talking about here are the rights of private property owners. The founders firmly believed that private citizens should have the right to do what they want with their property. While change may occur, it would never be a one-eighty from their original intent.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: illusion88

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
It's amazing how much this country has drifted from the values instilled by our founding fathers. They would most likely be physically ill if they saw what the government was allowed to do to ones own freedoms these days.

You probably wont see this becaue the thread is long, but TIMES CHANGE

We had a civil war over that whole "all men are created equal" bit. Followed by a few civil rights movements. Remember that constitutation that the founding fathers wrote? how many times has it changed (hint: 27). They knew that thigns would come up, which is why they allowed the constitution to be changed as time goes by.

Less freedom is NEVER a good thing.

And saying times change or the Constitution is amended is not an argument. Would you say that if Fascists came to power and started gassing Jews and burning books? Of course not.

It's all in who's bull is being gored. Right now, the majority are non-smokers and non-business property owners. So they do not care. They are voting their own selfish whims and imposing their will upon others. Just wait until your bull is being gored and we'll see how much you like the "times change" argument.

And again, disclaimer: I do not smoke, I hate the small and I have never allowed smoking in my business.

 

[Conky]

The only people complaining about a ban of smoking are smokers.

I would have no problem with a public smoking ban... people can burn whatever they want to in private.

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: Beachboy
The only people complaining about a ban of smoking are smokers.

I would have no problem with a public smoking ban... people can burn whatever they want to in private.

Read the thread. This is not true. There are those people who realize that their comfort is a lower priority for basic rights and liberties that should be allowed on ones own private property, such as a family owned bar or restaurant.