Why do so many on Yahoo answers think smoking bans are such a good thing?

Question

For those that think smoking is a risk- Yes it is a risk. Just like many risks we have the FREEDOM to take.

What about the fathers or mothers that take unneccesary risks while having a family???

Assume this possible case.
Let's say a father sky-dives and the mother is a diabetic that continues to eat too much sugar.

Suppose the father or mother would experience medical problems? this would hurt them and the family. the kids would be hurt emotionally. Both choices the father and mother made were not illegal. They could have refrained from making the choices.
Before we say that second hand smoke and smoking cause death to everyone, we might want to think a little bit.

It's called FREEDOM. A bar owner should have the right to allow smoking.

If the customer thinks it is a risk. The customer has the right not to go there.
The government shouldn't intervene with this.
If the father thinks sky-diving is a bad choice, he has the right not do it or do it.

Answer 1

thanks for asking this question. first the ones who yell the loudest are usually porkers, and even the bible tells us not to be gluttons I think about 1100 times but no where does it condemn smoking?? the U,,S, heart and lung association, tell us over weight is worse than smoking and they think they can fart anytime and any where and it is o.k. I had rather smell a cigarette than some ones damned farting, and i don't smoke, maybe it is time for the smokers to lobby our great leaders to punish these porkers since they are so hell bent on punishing smokers, but, really I don't believe gov, should dictate what people do in their own businesses etc they should be looking at preserving our country instead of trying to play some sort of mini gods. what about people who drink? or the diabetic whoinsist on being over weight or eating sweets etc , where does this **** stop?

Answer 2

I don't know about you, but smoking altogether is terrible, most people I know smoke without a choice- it's too hard for them to quit. Although I'd have to say smokers are some of the most annoying people usually. I live in an apartment surrounded by tons of smokers who stand outside with a cigarette in their hand and a beer in the other 24/7.. and the smoke is even worse to inhale. As you say "The customer has the right not to go there." I can't just Up and leave like you say, and i'm not looking forward to living in a box on a corner of a street. Freedom or not, that's unacceptable. Smoking is just about as bad as cocaine and all that other crap, and they don't let you stick needles into yourself publicly after buying it from that drug store a couple feet away.. and I wouldn't want my children to see anyone doing it. It's mainly an unhealthy and more unwanted lifestyle. If you were a non-smoker and passionately hated those kind of drugs and happened to walk into a casino filled with smoke from cigarettes.. what would you do? I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be the "Let's get together and party cuz of dis herz freedum!".. Also: Skydiving is a kind of sport, which i'm sure everyone enjoys, it's not hazardous to anyone's health unless that parachute doesn't pop out at all.. but the mother with diabetic problems can be labelled as pure stupidity.

Your point? The mother's diabetic issues haven't KILLED anyone, and the father skydiving most likely didn't land on a wandering salesman, if they did die it didn't kill thousands each year. Find better examples. Mass death from activity is worse than -A- death from stupidity.

Answer 3

You are right. Even though I do not smoke, I have never told some one else they shouldn't. It is not my business. I think bar owners should have the right to run their own business. I also feel the non smokers can leave, if they do not like the smoke. The government should not intervene with this. Smoking is not any more dangerous to ones health than, drinking and driving, over eatting, fast foods, abortions, hair dye, household cleansers, pesticides, drugs, aids and the list could go on forever. So, why not ban every thing else that is dangerous to the health, if they did, that would keep them busy for the next hundred years.

Answer 4

I think banning smoking in public places is a good thing. And I myself smoke from time to time (not a lot though). Some people's lungs are very sensitive to second hand smoke. Why put other people's health in jeopardy just so you can take a puff? You can wait until you get home. And it's legal to smoke within the privacy of your own home. But I do think smoking should be allowed in designated rooms @ like restaurants/bars. Not out in the open

Answer 5

Not an answer...but a comment and an idea for you.

The leading "minority" in this country is comprised of only 14% of the population. This "minority" in voters makes up less than 7% of the total "of age" population.

This group without fail, strikes fear in the very hearts of EVERY politician in an election year.

Smokers (53.4 million (of which 4.1 million are under the age of 18)) make up almost 30% of the voting block in America
If we all voted. Yet we have no pull at election time??? what the (^* is up with that.

Start a group...a voting block group....and we can target the presidential elections as a group :) 30% to a third party...wooohoooo wouldn't Washington pay attention then.

30% is enough to effect even local elections....if you run your own candidate as an independant.

Answer 6

The skydiver and the diabetic put only their own lives in danger, while affecting no one else.

The smoker risks the health of every single person at the bar.

You should indeed have the freedom to smoke if you want to. Everyone else should have the same freedom not to inhale it if they don't want to.

It's true that the customer doesn't have to go to the bar if he doesn't like the owner's policy. But neither do you.

Answer 7

Notice the first answer. So many people want the government to legislate every thing. These people think they know what is best for you and you should let them do whatever they want to to "protect" you.

Did you know when the UN did the study on second hand smoke they didn't get the results they wanted so they did 3 more studies until they got one worded to show second hand smoke was bad for you? The first 3 came back with there is no risk in second smoke.

They reworded the 4th one to get those results

Answer 8

I don't smoke and I wish smoking where legal everywhere! I would enjoy smoke in restaurants because it means we are again a free nation. I can not go somewhere if I don't like the smoke. I am vehemently against the new law in CO that outlaws smoking in bars and am so proud of the bars here that are defying the law. That is the most ridiculous ruling to outlaw smoking in bars. I have become a big fan of Philip Morris and the tobacco business simply because smoking is contrary to Big Brother govt.

Answer 9

The problem is, when someone smokes, they are inflicting their right to keep up a nasty, disgusting, cancer causing habit on those of us who choose to not want lung cancer. Not to mention those of us to are extremely allergic to it. Saying you should be able to smoke anywhere you want to just BECAUSE you have that right is asinine. Your rights end where mine begin and because clean air is NOT a carcinogenic, I do believe that trumps your right to kill yourself slowly. If you want to do that in your own house, be my guest. You pay that $4 a pack when your kids don't have shoes. I think I should have the right to go anywhere and not be assaulted by cigarette smoke. I am really allergic to it and I have actually gotten bronchitis because of being in a room that someone had previously smoked in even though I take allergy medication. If you were allergic to peanuts, I wouldn't force you to eat a peanut and butter jelly sandwich just because I liked them and then said it was my right. That is stupid. The point is that smoking doesn't JUST affect the smoker. If someone wants to eat themselves into a heart attack, their body is the only one affected. Someone can't die from second hand ham sandwich. You are right that other people are affected emotionally by someone's right to making bad decisions regardless but I can tell you that if a restaurant decides to go smoke free I sincerely doubt that they will lose any business over it. In fact, the opposite would be true.

Answer 10

I hate the smell. It is as annoying as BO. And it makes all my clothing smell like I rolled in ash.

I may as well sit next to burning toast and breath deep.

I don't care that you smoke, but if the smoke coming out of your mouth ends up breathed in by me and on my clothing, it is my concern. Since smoking is a choice, but breathing in smoke is not, it should be banned in situations your voluntary activity harms me.

Smoke in private, separate smoking room, highly ventilated areas, rooftops -- go for it. I passed by a cigar smoke today, 8 gentlemen sitting in leather chairs smoking cigars and it smelled cigar outside. I have no problem because I'm just walking by on the way to somewhere else.