Should smoking be banned in public places?

Question

On campus today there were tons of people signing a petition to ban smoking on campus. I got to thinking, hey; I don't smoke, so maybe I should sign it. You know, I do hate the smell and smoking kills so... WAIT!!! When did it become OK to try to take away other people's rights just because YOU don't personally like or partake in those rights? I would not sign a petition like that, would you?

How is the following logic?
1) I'm not gay, being gay is gross to me, so gay people should not be allowed to get married.
2) I don't own a gun, I think guns are evil; so no one should be allowed to own a gun
3) I don't drink, I think drinking is bad; so we should not sell alcohol in my county.

In all reality:
I may not smoke, but I do drink so I sure as hell wouldn't like someone to sign a petition to ban alcohol simply because they don't like it. I'm not gay but I sure wouldn't want someone to take my gun away because they don't agree with it.

I wont point the finger at smokers because I wouldn't appreciate people pointing the finger at me for the "vices" I do participate in. How is it right to judge others simply because you don't do the same things they do?

Answer 1

I take this question two ways.

First, my rights as a smoker are being violated on a daily basis by people that over-tax me for goods and services and deprive my right to do something that has no more health risks than being outside near traffic or factories (which is everyone that doesn't live on farms). I take great offense to the un-scientific nature of the anti-smokers and their control over the legislatures of this nation.

However, I will certainly respect others in places where I'm in the public, such as in restaraunts and places where there are a lot of children, and I won't smoke. I am, after all, a courteous man.

However, bars? Hotels? Outdoor festivals? I can take the output of my vehicle on the road and see how much CO comes out of it, and compare it to the smoke I produce on a daily basis from my cigarettes. There is no contest. Now, for every anti-smoker that drives a car, I take offense to you polluting my air with your fossil-fuel burning beast. I take offense to factories that pour smoke into the sky in such quantity on a daily basis as to make the eruption of Mt. St. Helens look like a hibachi.

The real problem here is one of perspective, and most non-smokers are just a big bunch of pampered whiny crybabies. But there are more of them, so they get more legislation passed, regardless of the facts of science.

Welcome to Kafka-land. Welcome to the tyranny of the majority. Welcome to true democracy, the greatest evil you can imagine.

Answer 2

Ok, yes I understand why some people would want to ban smoking (when I was a teenager I thought it was gross and smelled bad) but now that I am a smoker (not just cigaretts, I prefer a good cigar once a week) I do feel that baning smoking is an infringement upon my rights as an American to pursue my happiness. I am not a mean person, I do ask people I sit around at public places if it is alright if I light up. If people have a problem, I move away. People need to learn to be more courteous towards others in their pursuit of happiness, and if smoking makes them happy, they have the right to do it.

And if you read the reports on secondhand smoke, the claims they make are not backed by the reports. The reports state that there is no evidence that secondhand smoke causes cancer or any other condition.

Answer 3

I, am a smoker. I do think it is a good idea to ban smoking in buildings and restaurants. I also think that smoking doesn't have to be banned from your campus just to please the non- smokers. The college should designate several places for smokers, and make sure that there are enough ash trays available so, that the ( the smokers) can put the butts into. I believe that everyone can come to a compromise on this issue. You are right smokers to have rights too. I don't like the smell of smoke while I am eating or in a confined space. Who does? I always smoke outside. I don't smoke in my car when my kids are with me. They deserve clean air and not have to smell my smoke. Their is a new law that has passed in Louisiana recently. No one is allowed to smoke in their vehicle with a child 16 and under. I think that is a good thing.

Answer 4

I could understand banning smoking because of second-hand smoke, but thats the only reason. I feel that smoking should NOT be banned in outdoor public places (indoors, like at Perkins or something; I would rather not have to smell smoke the entire time). People have the right to smoke. The best solution I can see is setting aside different areas for smokers. Let the smokers smoke behind the building where most people will not be. Therefore the smokers can smoke and not irritate anyone. If they're gonna ban smoking in public, they may as well ban cigarettes in general. Either kill smoking or let it live properly in the community.

Answer 5

I am a smoker and I dont have a problem with most no smoking areas. I do have a problem with how far they are trying to go. Some states have tried to pass laws that you cant smoke in your car or home with children in them. How do they think they could enforce them? Also I think the banning smoking in bars and bowling alleys and private clubs is going to far. Smoking and drinking go hand in hand to alot of people. The smoking coalition here said the non-smokers would make up for smokers not going to the bars. It didnt happen and some of the owners are on the edge of losing their business. Hopefully it will change as the newly elected city council now has a different balance and are going to look at exempting the bars. Smoking or non-smoking should be left up to the owners.

Answer 6

I used to smoke, what really bothered me were the non smokers pretending to cough up a lung to make a point. I was OUTSIDE smoking (we were waiting in a line) and this woman kept coughing (not the real cough, but the obvious fake one). So, I turned and told her that if she had a problem to keep it to herself. She didn't, I ignored her. When we got finished in line, she went to her car and started it up. Black smoke poured out of the car from the exhaust, so being the nice person that I am, I coughed........ LOUDLY. She shot me a look and left. Which was worse? My smoke or her smoke?

I think in a building smoking should be banned, but outside should be a "free" zone. And others should respect that.

One other thing......... No smoking in a bar is stupid! It's a bar, if you don't like the atmosphere.............don't go.

I don't smoke (9 yrs now), but I still go to bars and I have friends that smoke. If I go to their houses, I tolerate the smoke and they don't smoke at my house.

If we bend to the pressure, we will have NO rights left. From gun control to T.V. control ~ we are slowly losing what little rights we have left.

I wouldn't sign ~ my beliefs may not be the same as yours, but they both should be defended.

Answer 7

You're exactly right. If we all banned everything that offends us the country will turn into a bunch of health police. I've already experienced bans in public parks. If I'm not there blowing smoke up your nose why get so bent out of shape? I think some clothing should be banned. I think swearing should be banned. All of us need to realize it is our freedom which sets us apart from all other nations. I hope you continue to spread this message on your campus. They may initially dismiss what you're saying, but you'll cause them to think about it.

Answer 8

Of course not.

The only place people have a right to ban smoking is when someone is constantly surrounded in smoke. That's the only way to get lung cancer from second hand smoke. It's usually waitresses in bars or restaurants.

Smoking outside isn't going to kill anyone. I'm sure most of those people go to frat parties with bon fires and burn all kinds of plastics, tires, wood finishes, and whatever else they threw in there. That's much worse than a person burning a cig outside.

People who think second hand smoke kills are retards. Pure and simple. Yes it kills. But if you're not surrounded by it all day long everyday, it's not going to hurt you.

There could be 500 smokers outside everyday when you walk out. But guess what? It's outside. It's not going to hurt someone if they walk through it everyday for their entire lives. The Second Hand Smoking people simply are morons.

Answer 9

No - let those who want to smoke continue to do so.
Car exhaust fumes are invisible, far more insidious and invasive than the odd wisp of ciggarette smoke. Same goes with those huge industrial plants belching out burned poison waste 24/7. If you believe that a health revolution is going to suddenly happen because all smoking is banned, then I feel sorry for you. You have obviously been well programmed by the media, and deserve the title "programmed dumb media victim with no faculty of logical analysis".
Nuff said.

Answer 10

This was how I should have phrased my smoking ban issue!

You're going into my contacts page, this question can be applied to so many areas...

Basically though, I smoke in social situtations. I've met more friend by smoking, gotton to know an entire milatary unit by smoking and handing out smokes. Also, everyone I know who smokes are generally very polite about the "disgusting" habit. They choose places others do not go, they group politly to talk and smoke when outside, they have good manners for those that do not smoke, so for a few bad stats (people die of too much caffiene, drugs, alcohol, bad genetics, age, job chioce etc., smoking has warning labels, people still do it, get over yourselves trying to save people who like thier habits..) and media propoganda we are going to tell them they are not free? buildings are cut off, most resturants, most main outdoor areas are limited...now we're these horrible people causing greenahouse gas when we're lighting out legal cig in the parking lot??? but soda and corn syrup, and obese people munching chocolate bars are aloowed on campus? What if I'm a diabetic who hate seeing people eat suger? they shouldn't eat it in public places! ban it. Ooops.. sorry people die from gunshot wounds, you cannot own one, train for a permit, carry one for protection, ban it! wait...no one likes seeing woman breast feed, it's gross, kid can eat in hiding! ban it.

The subject just makes me irritated how easy ones chioce to make good deicisions is taken from you and you're told all your deicisions are no longer yours...we the magority say no@!@!!

Smoking is a chioce of mine, not others, good or bad as it may be. when I smoke or not is my own chioce....should not be someone elses.