smoking in public RIGHTS?

Question

I "had" never been on the side to ban smoking in public places. I DON'T SMOKE never have. My husband dose not smoke never has. My mother dose and is very PRO smoking when where she pleases. My Husband and I were at the zoo.These two women were smoking outside but, right next to a bear exbit. I am pregnant I had my 10 and 8 year old with me. Lots of babies and toddlers were all around. I was so ANNOYED at these women to just stand there smoking like it was totally FINE. When my mother smokes in public she makes it a point to be away from people. I am now more then ever in favor of banning people from smoking at public places "where children are". The one lady smoking was heavy pregnant 8 months holding a pepsi bottle and smoking lol "so white trash". Do smokers have the RIGHT to impose there choice on others?

Answer 1

I used to have a doctor who had a sign posted in his office. It said, "Your right to smoke ends where my nose begins."

Answer 2

I have to disagree about the smoking ban. I don't feel smoking should be banned for everyone just because there are stupid smokers with no respect. I'm a smoker and so is my fiance. If I'm smoking in a public place, I go away from everyone. The big reason there is because of my kids. I don't want to smoke around them. So, when we go somewhere, either me or my fiance will take the kids in the store, pool, etc while the other stands outside to smoke. Even though I smoke, I can't stand having someone blowing smoke right in my face. That's the reason I go elsewhere to do my habit. I don't think it's right to "force" our habits on other people.

Answer 3

(1) Absolutely, you have the right to smoke and do what u please with your body but u must remember that not everyone enjoys cigarettes. Its your personal interest and choice not the public's to inhale smoke. (2) This banning of smoking near certain businesses was voted on years ago. Second hand smoke is bad to health and we all know it. If u chose to smoke that's ur decision but the rest of the world doesn't have to inhale that risk and suffer the consequences to their health. If u want total liberty to smoke anywhere u can always go live in Nevada. (3) The public is humongous open space and there are endless places to smoke outside. Plus u can always smoke in the privacy of ur home without worrying about being "restricted."The places with restrictions are always due to businesses. Think about it, smoke is a very repulsive smell and it sticks to everything, clothing, hair, etc. It can be bad for business. Once smoke is in ur face and up ur nose that dinner or drink u ordered isn't as enjoyable when ur a nonsmoker. (4) Now, if u are irked at the fact that u can't control urself from that necessity to smoke when away from home, u should come to the reality that u are addicted. Nicotine is just one of the hundreds of addicting/cancer inducing chemicals in cigarettes, the longer u smoke the less of a chance of permanently quitting u have.

Answer 4

I'm a smoker with consideration and respect for non-smokers. If I'm outside I still walk well away from people or even go to my car. I have no problem with not being able to smoke in restaurants. What I do have a problem with is people who act like cigarette smoke is the ONLY thing that causes health problems or pollutes the air. I know it's an unhealthy habit but it's not the ONLY unhealthy habit and it's not the ONLY cause of death. I'll tell you now if a non-smoker came up to me and started lecturing me about smoking especially if I were outside, away from people, then they would get a earful from me and quite possibly slapped!!! Deal with that!

Answer 5

First off I don't smoke either. I think that a lot of it depends on where they grew up and how they were raised. Some people think that it's a big deal to not have people smoking around them, others constantly have smokers everywhere so it doesn't bother them. Like in other countries they don't usually have smoking and non-smoking areas in restaurants and such, because that's just how they live and you get used to it. So it depends on the person. I think that it's okay for them to smoke where ever as long as it's outside, if they're inside that's different. Hey, if it bothers you just move casually move away.

Answer 6

It's still being argued in the law about smoking in public. But either way where are the parents tolders mothers who should be moving them away from the smoker but really. Some people don't care at all about other peoples clean air or the hazards of smoking (there are all kinds of ***holes in the world some of the are smoker types) your mom was not and she was nice then again there are other people who will go and start yelling at someone who is smoking outside a smoking area or will start to dicate them on second hand smoking. If a childs too small to be able to leave when someones smoking their parents should step in as for pregnant I think smoking while pregnant should be illegal (I mean if an abortions illegal then basically this is like poisining a baby.)

Answer 7

I'm sure that will become a legal issue, but I think the immediate response right now is that you have the "right" to move away. I'm with you 100%; I don't smoke, and I stay away from smoke. One thing I will start doing that the surgeon general suggested this week: I will start THANKING the public places I frequent that have gone "non smoking." Some have probably taken some "lip" from it, but overall, they made an excellent choice. I'm a volunteer at the St. Louis Zoo - I'll be there this weekend. I know we don't sell cigarettes, but I do notice a FEW smokers. But I think they are on the decline. Protect your babies. Move away from smoke.

Answer 8

The problem is that though people do have the right to smoke, they do not have the right to cause a public nuisance. But smokers think that they should have the right to smoke wherever they want. But not only do their actions affect me in an asthetic sense (what they do smells and I don't want that around me) but it is also proven that second-hand smoke has unheathful side effects. So, why should a smoker have a right to affect my health? They shouldn't. Smoking in all public places should be banned with the exception of specificed smoking areas.

Answer 9

smoking out in the public is legal they say this is still a free country. what about the choice of drinkers who chose to drink and drive? does that impose my right to a safe trip i think so. i think that if they do not want anyone to smoke then there should be "free" medical help and help us smokers to stop and yes i smoked while i was pregnant with my son and he turned out to be the healthiest baby i had out of 4 and as far as "white trash" goes - to each his own. it's her choice not yours

Answer 10

Do non smokers have the right to impose those same choices...Yes I do agree, It was NOT very TACTFUL, or polite to have those ladies do that. That's why when I smoke I have my ethical values; and like you mom walk to a place where I'm not bothering anyone.
I don't think it's a matter of freedom we need to address, just some reprogramming of the common cortices, and ethics we think are true in America today.

Answer 11

No. Your rights end when they impinge on the rights of another. I have the right to walk down the sidewalk swinging a shovel around but when I accidently hit someone else I have broken their right to walk down that same sidewalk and not be hurt by an idiot with a shovel.

I fully support the ban on smoking. It not only harms the smoker, it harms their unborn child and also those individuals around them who they force to breathe that garbage.

There is a helmet law in a number of states and the claim is that it protects the public from having to financially support those who get injured. What about the financial support for those who smoke and those who are forced to be around them? I bet there is a much greater financial drain on the economy to take care of just the smokers (not including the secondhanders) than there is the individuals who have been hurt by not wearing a helmet.