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July 2008
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Have you've ever taken a look at the language in our state's law banning smoking in public places? Clearly the spirit of the law is to protect patrons and employees of public establishments from being subject to the ills of second-hand smoke. What is not clear, are the places where smoking is legal. Enter mature-beyond-their-years entreprenuers Erin Cobb and Paul Green. They're trying to open a private, members-only hookah lounge in Bellingham. People would go there for the express purpose of smoking a hookah. Workers at the lounge would be volunteers. The question is this: Should people who want to smoke and socialize of their own free will and volunteers who work of their own free will be prevented from doing so? Further, would this be violating the spirit of the law? Give it some thought. 12 Comments |
Preventing this type of activity is "Feel Good Liberalism" at its worst. All you libbies who feel so quilty about how good you have can force some good on others and go home, patting yourself on the back about what greatness you have done. While in reality you have done nothing beneficial, except make yourself feel good. Stop taking away individual rights that are not harmful to others!
Why not setup a members only club where people can go slam heroin free from the hassles of the police and public? Silly smokers.
Silly Peter, there's places designated for that in other countries.
In the USA heroin is illegal - smoking isn't.
i thought our government was to protect the minority, not the majority, arent smokers the minority and our rights are being infringed?
The purpose of government is to protect all the people, minority or majority they be. The problem with the smoking ban is that there are many dangerous things going on, but the government wants to target the smokers for some reason, just like they did with drinkers once before. It's like a new prohibition, but smokers aren't at the stage of revolution yet. I say give it time...
I am against smoking 110%. I have worked with Teens Against Tobacco Use groups and in other anti-smoking campaigns. However, I am also 110% free choice. Unfortunately, you tell someone that they are begging cancer to come and attack them and some do not care. If they do not care, I cannot force them to care. I can only educate. I cannot force.
Please contact your local health department for more information on smoking. At least make an educated decision.
Let's be real, this is a law designed by non-smokers who feel they should have and deserve more rights as citizens than smokers.
If certain businesses want to have bans against smoking that should be their "choice"; if they don't, they should not have to abide by these restrictions. It should be the business' decision, afterall, it would be the business that will gain or lose their customers.
For those non-smokers that cry about second hand smoke in businesses that would choose to allow smoking - YOU HAVE THE CHOICE NOT TO ENTER THOSE BUSINESSES so quit whining and forcing your opinions onto others. You are denying smokers the right to basically any social activities.
A LITTLE FACT: 85% of drinkers are smokers and bars are losing business and going out of business all over the state because of these bans. Even the ones that created outdoor smoke-pits are now coming under fire because 1 or 2 non-smokers that go to those bars still have a problem with it because the smoke can drift inside when the door gets opened.
This is absolutely ridiculous.
Kris Moa sound like typical republican future assassination fodder.
Oh goody big fun !
Patti -- thanks for the little fact. Very little fact, I think. 95% of my friends are drinkers and about 5% are smokers. OK, my data is as worthwhile as yours, but I go to a lot of bars -- surprise, they're still full and none have gone out of business.
Chill out.
Patti -- thanks for the little fact. Very little fact, I think. 95% of my friends are drinkers and about 5% are smokers. OK, my data is as worthwhile as yours, but I go to a lot of bars -- surprise, they're still full and none have gone out of business.
Chill out.
It is legal to smoke in America. Let them have a smokers only lounge! Non-smokers should stay away. But, maybe all you enter or work should sign a waiver that the will cover all expenses related to lung disease should they get it! Medicare, medicaid, or other public resources should not pay for this. Lung disease, such as COPD, is one of the most preventable killers of people today. It is sad that we use our freedom to kill ourselves. There are plenty of things that kill us we have no control over, accidents, genetic things, the angry murderer, etc. But, hey we are free to do just that.
I'm a mix when it comes to my feelings on the smoking ban. I think it's great to get the smoke out of the restaurants that allow children as patrons (ie: dennys, applebees, bowling alleys etc), but I think it is against our civil rights as patrons and business owners to prevent it from other areas. Sure, it is simply polite to smoke far away from any open doors, like at the laundry mat, however, most bars are owned privately, and therefor it should be up to each particular business. If a minor child could enter, don't allow smoking, but if you cannot enter unless you are 21, then leave it up to the owner. Next, they'll be saying you cannot smoke in your car or own home. Or at a campsite. To the nonsmokers, that may be great, but I can say, if you can't smoke while camping, I can guarantee you the parks would lose at least 45 people (my entire family smokes and camps).