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Today's Poll: Do you think there should be designated smoking areas at public events?

By Howard B. Owens
Peter O'Brien

I voted no because they should not be limited to where they can use a legal product. I think the pole question itself is flawed.

Oct 27, 2009, 10:10am Permalink
Kelly Hansen

Peter:

It is legal to have dogs, but they are not allowed to enter a restaurant unless they are a service dog. It is legal to own a rifle, but they are not allowed to be taken to school. It is legal for those over 21 to drink alcohol, but they may not walk the street with an open container. It is legal for two adults to have a physically intimate relationship, but not in public. It is legal to have chains on your auto tires during certain winter months, but not in the summer.

There are probably hundreds of other things people do which are legal but the time and place is limited by law. Most cases are due to safety of others, and sometimes, safety of physical property or to protect a resource.

My family and I have a legal right to <b>not</b> be exposed to the cancer-causing elements contained in cigarette smoke just as others have a right to consume those heart disease and cancer-causing agents. The way this is accomplished is by providing separate areas. When I go with the family to a sporting event, I do not wish to have children (or myself for that matter) exposed to drunken individuals who spew explitives. That is why many arenas now have a family section.

Individual rights of <b>both</b> parties must be taken into consideration.

Oct 27, 2009, 10:41am Permalink
Peter O'Brien

I find all your examples to be just as wrong as the smoking laws.

Dogs can be bared by the restaurant owners, we don't need a law.

Guns should be allowed at school to prevent things like Virginia Tech and Columbine.

What's the difference if they are walking the street or at the patio at Larry's with it? A small fence?

Public ridicule would be enough to stop most people from boinking in public. The others aren't going to be stopped by a law.

If the chains aren't hurting things in the winter why would they hurt anything in the summer?

There is no proof that second hand smoke in and outdoor environment causes cancer. Indoor is another story but how many public events are held indoors on any grand scale?

Do you think being a section over from swearing and drinking is going to save your kids from something they will do and learn about anyways? And probably already partake in on the bus?

Choose freedom over restriction or you will have no freedom left.

Oct 27, 2009, 10:53am Permalink
Marie Smith

I think that people have the right to choose if they want to partake in something that is going to harm them. That is their choice. I don't think they have the right to partake in something that could harm other people. If I am at a public event, I do not want to be subjected to sitting next to someone smoking a cigarette and blowing the smoke at me. I choose not to smoke and would appreciate if people that choose to smoke would be considerate of my choices. Does that always happen....no. So what is the big deal if there is a designated area.
And saying that there is no proof that second hand smoke in an outdoor environment doesn't cause cancer is just ignorance. Are you telling me that you think if you are outside...you wont be subjected to any second hand smoke? There are thousands of people every year who die from lung cancer and have never smoked a day in thier life.....where do you think they were subjected to second hand smoke?

Oct 27, 2009, 12:08pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

Marie,
Show me a study that says second hand smoke in an outdoor environment causes cancer.

The reason it doesn't is because the smoke is never even close to the thickness that it can get inside a structure.

I notice that you said you were sitting there first in your example. Well what if you sat down next to someone and then they started smoking, why should they move when you chose to sit next the them?

Designated areas are like internment camps for a choice.

Oh you want to smoke, go over there.
Oh your Japanese, go over there.

Same thing on a different scale.

Oct 27, 2009, 12:54pm Permalink
Marie Smith

I am not saying we should discriminate smokers...but why should I have to breathe in cigarette smoke if I choose not to smoke.
And what if I was sitting there and someone sat next to me and started smoking. You could argue about this all day long. I don't smoke and don't want to breathe in someone else's smoke either....so for that I will get upand move, and do so quite often When someone lights a cigarette next to me. So why don't we make a designated area for non - smoking....I would be fine with that!

I wouldn't complain if I had an area in a public park to go to that was designated for only non smokers.

Oct 27, 2009, 1:21pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

Ok you can have the small corner away from everything...because that what smokers get to enjoy life.

I'm this adamant about it and I don't smoke.

Oct 27, 2009, 2:00pm Permalink
Mardell Lamb

Don't smoke & never will...

Remember the times sitting around a campfire? No matter where you would sit, the wind would blow smoke in your face? {Change seats...still happened.} Wasn't there a saying how to 'divert' it? Something about a bunny. Can't recall at the moment. Gettin' old. Sssshhhh.

I do enjoy the smell of leaves burning & wood (& a sweet smelling pipe with delicious tobacco.) Guess it brings back memories of my stepfather & of my youth.

Something about cigg's is totally different. To me ~ not fond of it.

Oct 27, 2009, 8:06pm Permalink

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