Why are gov't banning smoking in public places? What about smokers rights?

As always, your rights end where mine begin. You do not have a right to put YOUR smoke into MY lungs.

(1) Absolutely, you have the right to smoke and do what u please with your body but u must remember that not everyone enjoys cigarettes. Its your personal interest and choice not the public's to inhale smoke.

(2) This banning of smoking near certain businesses was voted on years ago. Second hand smoke is bad to health and we all know it. If u chose to smoke that's ur decision but the rest of the world doesn't have to inhale that risk and suffer the consequences to their health. If u want total liberty to smoke anywhere u can always go live in Nevada.

(3) The public is humongous open space and there are endless places to smoke outside. Plus u can always smoke in the privacy of ur home without worrying about being "restricted."The places with restrictions are always due to businesses. Think about it, smoke is a very repulsive smell and it sticks to everything, clothing, hair, etc. It can be bad for business. Once smoke is in ur face and up ur nose that dinner or drink u ordered isn't as enjoyable when ur a nonsmoker.

(4) Now, if u are irked at the fact that u can't control urself from that necessity to smoke when away from home, u should come to the reality that u are addicted. Nicotine is just one of the hundreds of addicting/cancer inducing chemicals in cigarettes, the longer u smoke the less of a chance of permanently quitting u have.

Your right to smoke is not being taken away... just your right to smoke IN PUBLIC PLACES. You can still smoke at your home or wherever.

But one of the biggest reasons you can't smoke in public places is because of health implications. When smoking, you are not only damaging yourself, but smoke in the air and secondhand smoke is a danger to other people. For example, one of my grandparents has bad asthma and any smoke can cause her to have an asthma attack. I also get really bad headaches if I am near anyone who is smoking, or in an area where someone has smoked recently.

There is also the increased risk of fire from smokers not putting out their cigarettes properly. (Countless wildfires have been started from causes like these).

The right to smoke in public places being taken away is no different from things like the right to have guns on you at a public building being taken away, or rules on dress code before entering a building. It's simply for the public's best interest.

Public places are just that- places that you have no control over. Smoking pollutes the air and creates a mess. I do a neighborhood road clean up 4 times a year and you wouldn't believe how many cigarette butts are out there. You have the right to smoke on your own property.

Because your right to smoke infringes on others rights to breath clean air. Your smoking could actually be considered an assault on those around you. You are placing something in the air that can cause bodily harm. Second hand smoke has been shown to be harmful to anyone who breaths the same air. It can cause bodily harm, even death to those who inhale it.

This is a battle you will never win. What you need to do is design and create something that will fit over your cigarette that will take the smoke and put it through a portable filter that shall return it to the air without any smoke in it. Then you can smoke and kill ONLY yourself as you wish!

Good Luck!

Sounds like your getting it, but turn on the TV or pick up a News Paper, do you ever see or hear anyone talking about freedom? Every time a new Ban or restriction proposed they cheer for it like it came down from All Mighty God himself. "It's for the children", or, "It's the right thing to do" is the mantra they use. Maybe you say "Vote um out", but who is there to vote for? They are all the same, Its all about power, for them! Maybe an Anti establishment revolt (like in the 1960s) could happen, but that's a big maybe. And remember the people making all these "New Laws" were part of that revolt. Not a very pretty picture is it?

Consider the rights of others. I have the right to sit in a restaurant or park without having my allergies acting up because I'm breathing in smoke.

If you're a smoker, I'm cool with that. But just smoke on your own time. You may have developed a tolerance for breathing in smoke, but the rest of us haven't.

Others have rights too. Plus, people with asthma or allergies don't always appreciate smoke. It can make a bad allergy day even worse. Plus, second hand smoke is lso harmful. Smoke also stinks. It's your choice to smoke, but not everyone wants to smell it.

I agree with you. I do think that the government should encourage smokeless establishments. HOWEVER, I think that forcing all restaurants and businesses to go smoke free is a violation of the business' rights. Rather than imposing a ban, the government could really just raise taxes on companies that allow smoking or give tax reduction for those places that choose to be smoke free.

I understand the "no smoke in front of doorways" thing, but currently the rule is, "No smoking 10 meters in front of doorways and windows"?! Seriously, windows??!

To keep people from smoking in public, many of the ashtrays were removed. So...now people just throw butts on the ground?? It's so ridiculous.

I'm not allowed to smoke outside on a sidewalk because my cigarette smoke is somehow more dangerous than car exhaust fumes? Oh, right! The majority of people own cars, so rather than annoy the majority, it's easier to pick on the few lone smokers! Now all the non-smokers don't have to feel guilty about driving their cars, because they have done their part in purifying the air by removing all the smokers!

How do these people who "choke and get asthma attacks" by walking by a smoker survive? Seriously, I understand how sitting in a smokey room could trigger an attack. I understand how sitting in any enclosed space with a smoker would trigger an attack. But walking by some guy on the sidewalk with a cigarette gives you an asthma attack?? I'm sick of that argument.

I'm also tired of people who think that the few smokers standing outside are seriously jeopardizing their quality of air. Do you know how many carcinogens you inhale on a daily basis? Do you paint your nails? Paint your house? Fuel up your car? Use cleansers to clean your hose? Dye your hair? Drive your car? Go camping and have a fire? Seriously, walking by a smoker isn't going to give you cancer...it's probably related to the rest of the things you do in your life.

I'm sorry. Clearly this is a touchy subject. I'm sick of people who pick on smokers. I think we'd all be a little happier and more relaxed if we tried minding our own business and letting people do as they want without government regulating everything.

The forest fire thing is another serious issue. But this isn't addressed in the banning of public smoking. My city has implemented 1000$ fines for throwing cigarette butts out your car window - and I fully support that. Most cars do have ashtrays, so toss it in there. Perhaps if we stopped removing ashtrays from public places smokers would have somewhere to throw their cigarettes.

Edit: In case it's not completely clear, I'm only in favor of the right to smoke outside. I think restricting outside smoking is a little too much. I also think it should be up to the business whether they want to permit smoking inside their establishment.

What makes you think you have a right to smoke in public places? On what are you basing this supposition that you have that right?

Because this is the day and age of the Patriot Act. Because it is socially acceptable to demonize smokers. I don't think its a good idea to smoke in public places, but I draw the line with banning it outside of public places (such as the sidewalk).

I think fat people, smelly people, loud obnoxious people are next on the list of demons who will be socially unacceptable and banned.

LOL- actually it is a health hazard in restaurants and malls, etc. but it drives me crazy that smoking is banned in places of vice such as bars and casinos.