Why do you think that smoking should NOT be banned?

Question

If you think that smoking should not be banned, please explain why.

Answer 1

Smoking should not be banned from a person's PERSONAL residence BUT it SHOULD be banned from ANYWHERE public.
Their right to SMOKE infringes upon my RIGHT to breathe clean air and not to stink. Smokers stink.

Answer 2

Simple - we need less government intrusion in our lives, certainly not more.
I have no problem with banning smoking in public places - I believe it is for the good of the non-smoking people who want to frequent these places and the ones who work in these places. To smoke in public places relegates smoking from a victimless crime to one that's arguably causing harm to other people.
However, to allow a total ban? What next.....alcohol, trans fats, fast food restaurants, etc....etc.......
People make some lousy decisions at times - that's the down side of freedom - the government can't possibly dictate what we should or shouldn't do if we are to maintain a semblance of freedom.
In the state where I live, cigarettes are being taxed at $2.00 a pack - not including sales tax and federal tax - and that's pretty much initiating a ban through the back door by taxing them to the point where they'll soon be simply unaffordable.

Answer 3

I think that if want to smoke they shopuld be able to, there are many things in life that are bad for your health, alcohol, driving in automobiles, and sitting here in front of this keyboard.

At the same time non smokers should be able to go to public places that are smoke free......I think a better solution would be to ban it in restaurants, and require bars to declare themselves smoking or non-smoking, place a sign at the entrance stating what they are....people would vote with their feet, and bar owners would adapt one way or the other until everyone is happy.

My state banned it and now the bars have signs out front that say "Hey Non-smokers....where are you?", they are losing their busnesses that they have invested their life savings in

Answer 4

Because it's a slippery slope...

Look, I hate smoking (so I avoid places where smokers do their thing). But I’m also not too fond of the nanny state or of legislatures who pick the low-hanging fruit. The last great Democrat, John F Kennedy said, “we do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard.” Doing the easy thing like banning smoking in restaurants (where it was already frequently prohibited) does more harm than good because it lets politicians pat themselves on the back and move on, leaving the gravest of dangers still on the table. Do that which is hard, ban cigarettes altogether, then you will demonstrate that you have the best interests of the community in mind and you will have my support and respect.

Now, as far as banning smoking because "it's bad for you" or because "it increases health care costs for all of us," I find myself in the uncomfortable position of defending smoker's rights as such: "First they came for the motorcyclers riding helmetless, but I said nothing because I didn't ride. Then they came for the smokers who smoked in public, but I didn't say anything because I didn't smoke. Then they came for my Ruffles."

Answer 5

I think it more appropriate to put the anti-smoking lobby in the hot seat and require them to state why they want to ban something that has been a right since the first days of our constitution .
The normal position to argue against any standing freedom is to require the answer from those who wish to remove one's freedom .

Answer 6

If a person wants to smoke, they should be able to do it. They should add freedom to smoke in an ammendment. I don't smoke but its a social thing for people. Especially in bars, smoking and drinking are the norm.

Answer 7

Because no one has the right to tell anyone what to do if it is legal. Making it illegal would not solve the problem.It would hurt our revenue and make the Black market that much richer. One less freedom taken away from us.Why do smokers have more rights than smokers?
The smell is no worse to some people than liquor is to others.

Answer 8

go ahead and make tobacco illegal,I am sure the demoncrats will find a way to tax EVERYONE to make up for the lost tax base,I am a smoker and I don't mind not lighting up in a resaurant or bar where it is not allowed,I can wait until I get to my car or even home for that matter,and if I smoke in my car or home,who are you to tell me no??

Answer 9

because the Libs want to tax it,.....if it is baned, where will we get the money??,.....oh i guess every one could just pay more taxes,.....in fact the government should allow more smoking in more places, think of all the money we could get in the taxes,.....maybe the politicians should tell every family of 4 to designate one person in the family to smoke 2 or 3 packs a day think of the money,....."smoke em if you got em",....."if you don't have one, bum one from your buddy",.....

Answer 10

Smoking should be banned because it is not only hurting the smoker but its hurting other people breathing it twice as much! And it cause really bad lung diseases! GROSS!