Who really owns the air?

Question

At the root of the debate on smoking bans.  Anti-Smokers are claiming the ownership of all Air rights.  Even air within someone else s property (IE. bar/pubs/restaurants).  Do they have rights to claim ownership of the air in someone else s building?  Seems extremely twisted.  Does that mean when political trends switch smokers can claim rights to air within Anti-Smokers households and pursue rights to smoke in their homes?  What about open air that so many factories, vehicles, and nature itself pollutes all the time - who owns that air?  If it's shared air and managed by the government with taxes that wouldn't it be true that smokers own more air than Anti-smokers since they pay so much more in taxes?  If your house catches on fire or you burn weeds do you have to pay ownership fees on the air you pollute?

? · Accepted Answer

'Air' is not a commodity, nor is it 'manufactured' so nobody can declare ownership in such a situation. However, you seem to be asking a two-part question, and refer to smoking. This is a completely separate issue than, 'Owning air'

Michael T · Answer

nobody can control the air  or  where itt goes

you can't keep it on your own property or  in your  building 

the thing smokers do  not get is   they are subjecting everybody around them to pollution and toxins  they generate  and it creates a Health risk to those exposed 

we really don't give a damn if  you wish to smoke  and destroy your lungs  as long as you do not  do any harm to others  and  that is something no smoker can control

many jurisdictions are taking a more responsible  point of  view  to the point it is illegal in some places to subject your children to second hand smoke 

you may not be legally allowed to smoke in your home  if children are present  and  not in a vehicle with children as passengers

many places  have instituted policies that make it illegal to display tobacco products unless it is only a tobacco shop  and no minors are allowed on the premises
the idea is  kids may not adopt the habit  if  not subjected to a bunch of Bull  S  H  I  T advertising 

you may not  think any of this is  right  but in that case you are only considering the Smoker's point of view  in any successful society  every body's  point of  view must be considered and decisions based on what is better for the majority of  the population

Anonymous · Answer

air-space is owned by the property owner up to the height of the top of the tallest structure on that property.

Everything above that is owned by the government, until outer space

nobody actually owns "air" since it can float over to another property in a split-second, or waft around a thousand properties in an hour

? · Answer

At bottom you do not even own property. Lets differentiate the difference between the "right to property" and "private property rights". The right to property allows you to do what you will with your property, to utilize all it's benefits and resources without  third party manipulation. "Private property rights" allows you to exercise certain legislated rights for a given period of time, and for an annual fee (tax). It does not grant you ownership, and with the threat of confiscation for failing to pay the tax you never own that property, you're merely renting the rights to the property.

Anonymous · Answer

We'll this is a f****** stupid debate.. Non-smokers and smokers have tonnes of c02 polluting the atmosphere for their sake. You are correct

Who really owns the air?

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