Why do smokers think they have "rights". What about people who don't smoke-don't they have rights?

Answer 1

Smokers and Non-smoker don't have that right it’s not in the bill of rights.

But, smoking is legal, and they have the right to do to their body what they choose. Non-smokers have the same right to do with their body what they want IE not to smoke.

The problem comes in when the two groups get together. Then Non-smokers feel their 'rights' supersede the smokers 'rights'. So they want to restrict where smokers can smoke.

In some cases I agree with them, if it a place you have to go to, Court, Jail, DMV, or is owned by the public, Library, etc. then they should be non-smoking. But I believe that they take too far when they require private business to be non-smoking. Here they take private property rights (Fifth Amendment) away and force him or her to run their business a certain way. I say the 5th because they are taking away something of value; their right to run their business a certain way and letting the public decide how it should be done in doing so they are taking their property for public use and not giving them just compensation.

Imagine if the owner had decided to make his business non-smoking, yet the government forced him to have a smoking section. Would they pay for the damage the smoker's cause? Cover losses when his non-smokers refused to go to his business? And if enough non-smokers stay way and he goes bankrupt would they pay his debts? I don't think so.

Now if a business decided to have smoking and is willing to pay for the damage to their business, carpets, cleaning etc, why shouldn't they? Then if people don't come and they go bankrupt, then it’s because of their own decision. Same thing if the business was non-smoking.

Now the non-smoking crowd is saying that you should have a smoke free work place. What if I don't want one? I looked around and guess what no-body here had a gun to their head and was being forced to work here, if you work in a business and they allow smoking and you don't like if find a different job. Don't say it the only job out there, just look at the unemployment rate.

Ok I'm starting to go off on a rant here, and I think I made my point, for the record I don't smoke and don't like it. I think it's a silly waste of money, but you want too, go ahead light up.

Answer 2

why dont we have rights? In my state they have already banned smoking from public parks, resturaunts,bars and every where else I can think of. The only places I can smoke is my car, home,front yard,friends houses and designated smoke areas at work. We all have rights but smokers really get kicked around for something that is legal and besides I dont know of on incedent where a smoker is driving down the road and gets into a wreck because they where smoking unlike people drinking alchohol who really dont get kicked around like smokers do

Answer 3

I chose to quit smoking 5 years ago and quitting was hard as H@*$! I chose to quit smoking for my health, for my husband and my future children.

If I went through all of this, and made this decision for me....it's really not fair to me then to be forced to inhale other people's smoke, just because I am going out to eat or going shopping even!

Smokers stand outside of the entrances to stores and smoke away. If I want to go in the store, I have to walk through a big puff of smoke to get in. Not fair.

Go out to eat or drink? Well, I'll come home smelling of a nasty cigarette - did I smoke? NO!

Smoking is not just your free choice, it's a very dangerous thing that brings harm to others around you. You have the freedom to do whatever you want to your own body, but you don't have the right to pollute mine and endanger me. Sorry.

Answer 4

Agreed. Things are changing though.

Public opinion has really changed over the years. Only a couple of people I know smoke and they know they must leave the room to smoke.

Still, it's very irritating to hear people say they have the "right". I say light up. But first, step inside that bubble there, zip up, and then light up. When you're done, use your smoke vanishing device to collect the smoke, unzip, dispose of the stuff, and rejoin the conversation.

Answer 5

Both smokers and non smokers have rights. But that doesn't mean they should smoke when those around them are opposed to it

Answer 6

Hey, Christina--if I could figure out the tech end I'd post a pic of my car that got hit by a dumb bleep that couldn't smoke and drive at the same time! Boy, did he get a spendy citation.

Answer 7

I have the right to breathe the clean air God gave us, and as such, smokers do not have the right to make me breathe their stench.

In public places it should be banned- period.

Answer 8

non smokers have the right to walk away.

Answer 9

I think they should both have rights. I think theres a place to smoke and theres a place NOT to smoke.

Answer 10

We ALL have rights. One of those rights is to be stupid if we want to be. We all have responsibilities too. One of those should be to be considerate of others.