Any thoughts on Illinois smoking ban?

Question

I know we are about the 20th state to do it, but we are also taxed heavily on cigs, yet you're not allowed to smoke anywhere?
btw, I don't smoke

Answer 1

Tennessee passed a similar law. I know non-smokers are usually for the laws but I see them as just another right taken by a controlling government. People don't understand that we are losing our freedoms little by little. We can't spank our children, we can't smoke in restaurants, we can't say "family" in California schools ... Soon it will be we can't buy or sell without permission from the government. Where will it end? We need to stand up and stop all these infringements against our rights before it's too late!

Answer 2

I think the sooner all states ban smoking in public places, the better. Why should me and my wife be punished by breathing in second-hand smoke just because we want to go out for the evening?

And all this talk about "smoker's rights" being taken away. What rights are those? Yes, you have the right to choose to start smoking or not, but that does not give you the right to light up any where you want. If you believe you have the right to smoke in bars and restaurant, do you also believe that people have the right to drink and drive?

By the way, I am not a non-smoker. I'm an ex-smoker, but my feeling on this topic has not changed since I quit. I felt this way even when I smoked.

Answer 3

I think this is one of those classic "Go Figure!" things ;-)

I've wondered for years why this country (US) continues to pay millions of dollars each and every year to subsidize tobacco farmers, while printing warning labels on cigarette packages, banning advertising from television (and other media) -- and generally admitting that smoking is a killer.

I think smoking bans are a fantastic example of the expression "all politics is local". While individual states were slow to enact smoking bans, local cities and towns began the effort. In some cases, a local Town Meeting would vote to ban smoking in their particular town.

In other communities, where there was sentiment AGAINST a smoking ban in a particular city or town, the local Board of Health was often able to effect a smoking ban -- as many (most) times a Board of Health gets it's authority (power) from the State ... the local Board of Health has a mandate to do what's in the best interest of protecting the citizens of that town ... (water quality, infectious diseases, food preparation in restaurants, etc.) -- and in the same way was able to bring about smoking bans in cities and towns where otherwise they may not have passed by a vote of the city council or town meeting.

Up it a notch to the state level, and you (may) have a majority of cities and towns within a state that have a smoking ban ... that makes it wayyyyyyyyyyyy easier for state legislators to support a state-wide measure to ban smoking, where otherwise a state politician might not wanna take the risk.

This then creates a classic example of "states rights" -- where states decide for themselves what's best for their state, vs. the federal government deciding (or, perhaps, NOT deciding ;-)

*Maybe* when there are a plurality of states with a smoking ban, there will be some federal legislation enacted ... then again, maybe it is better left to each state to decide.

And will those subsidizes to tobacco farmers ever end? Your guess is as good as mine!

BTW, on January 1st, France extends a NATIONWIDE ban on smoking in most public places to include bars, restaurants, nightclubs and the last hazy-blue bastion of French society, the cafe.

Answer 4

I dont see it as a smokers rights issue so much as a business owners rights. They should have the right to decide whether or not smoking is allowed. Then the customers decide whether or not to go somewhere that allows it. Here in my city we already have no smoking bars and smoking allowed bars. Everyone is happy. I think any business that is adult only like bars, private clubs and casinos should be able to make their own decisions on the issue. I have no problem with a ban anywhere else.

Answer 5

The ban on smoking in public places greatly improves the quality of going out almost anywhere. When traveling to SLC, UT years ago, the city was very clean and fresh, because of the smoking ban. We ate out more and tax revenue didn't seem to be a problem from a visitor standpoint. You have to see it to believe it.

Answer 6

another step down the road to making cigarettes dinosaurs.