The smoke debate
The city is considering expanding its smoking ban to places like bus stops, Victoria Gardens, restaurant patios and other places. About time? Too much government interference? What do you think?
"I think residents want their children to be protected from second hand smoke no matter where that occurs."
-- Mayor Don Kurth
"Your rights end where my nose begins."
-- Floyd Petersen, councilman in Loma Linda, where smoking is banned on any public property
"We absolutely believe there's no place for government to say you can not smoke outdoors. We certainly don't want cigar smoking where there's families but certainly in outdoor patios or a cigar store ... that should be left to the owner's peril."
-- Brian Berman of Cigar Rights of America
"I don't regret my vote but in retrospect, I'm sad to see city employees walking around like they're homeless. They're not allowed to smoke on city property and I don't know if it's great for morale. They look like they're homeless people 'cause they have nowhere to go."
"We've collectively bought into the idea that safety and comfort is more vital than freedom and individual liberty. And as government power grows, and it does on every level, these laws gets easier and easier to pass. Apparently, we want to be taken care of by elected officials -- the antithesis of what this nation was founded on."
-- David Harsanyi, author of "Nanny State -- How Food Fascists, Teetotaling Do-Gooders, Priggish Moralists, and Other Boneheaded Bureaucrats are Turning America into a Nation of Children"
-- David Harsanyi, author of "Nanny State -- How Food Fascists, Teetotaling Do-Gooders, Priggish Moralists, and Other Boneheaded Bureaucrats are Turning America into a Nation of Children"
"I think residents want their children to be protected from second hand smoke no matter where that occurs."-- Mayor Don Kurth
"Your rights end where my nose begins."
-- Floyd Petersen, councilman in Loma Linda, where smoking is banned on any public property
"We absolutely believe there's no place for government to say you can not smoke outdoors. We certainly don't want cigar smoking where there's families but certainly in outdoor patios or a cigar store ... that should be left to the owner's peril."
-- Brian Berman of Cigar Rights of America
"I don't regret my vote but in retrospect, I'm sad to see city employees walking around like they're homeless. They're not allowed to smoke on city property and I don't know if it's great for morale. They look like they're homeless people 'cause they have nowhere to go."
-- Councilman Rex Gutierrez, reflections of his vote supporting a smoking ban at City Hall
I can somewhat understand a ban on city property to the extent that it makes sense (ie. in order to prevent non-smokers from having to deal with it, but not to micromanage the health habits of city employees "for their own good").
In practice, this would mean setting aside designated areas for smokers to do their thing without unduly impacting anyone else. I think that's a fair compromise.
Government has no right, however, to tell private home or business owners whether smoking can take place in their own property. If somebody doesn't want to be inconvenienced by smoke, they should take it upon themselves to frequent a different business.
- Jeff (a non-smoker)
Rex is a holy man. Higher than the others.
Pay back the money you owe the County of San Bernardino Rex!
My wife and I are former smokers(having quit 9 years ago) and now have a 10 month old son. When we are in public places and people are smoking, even in designated areas, we have to walk through the smoke to get by them and it is unfair for our baby to have to inhale this second-hand smoke. Especially if the concentration has shown to be similar to the indoor concentration of second-hand smoke. The public is well aware of the health risks of smoking. If they still choose to smoke, that is their right. But in public places they are "sharing" the smoke with unwilling non-smokers.
People should be able to do what they want as long as it doesn't affect others.
Public spaces are just that: Public. It isn't just for the "lowest common denominator".
Allow smoking, but just stay downwind from me please.
Oh.. and if you smoke, and get cancer, you shouldn't expect the public to foot your medical bills!
Again, in line with do what you want, as long as it doesn't affect others.