As a smoker, I would have no problem with smoking bans in public places as long as they would end the ridiculous inconsistency and just ban cigarettes altogether (and make them a class-B narcotic). But they won't, because of the tax revenue... So it's mixed messages all round.
133229
good. I really appreciate your  support for banning Smoking in public places. I hope every smoker thinks the same way.\n\nIt will be a difficult decissionfor any government to ban smoking entirely, as it brings huge tax revenues. (my personal opinion is that everything that is bad brings huge tax revenues if it is regularised by any government. It dosent mean governments shoud support bad things in the light of tax revenues.) \n\nA similar example :  Alcohol is banned in many countries in Arab world, even Alcholol brings huge revenues to the governments. It all depends upon the governments moral policies.
164363
yes, this is a good idea because peoples health will be better and those who dont smoke will not suffer from second hand smoking. my mother smokes and it bothers me a lot because of the diseases and other problems she can get just from smoking. Also because since all the other drugs such as pot is illegal smoking is also a drug therefore it too should be illegal.
553601
I think smoking is a personal choice.  I used to smoke and I quit, but I still believe this is a free country and what people do in their homes/cars etc. is their business as long as it's not hurting anyone else.  Second hand smoke is annoying, however, if I don't want to experience it, I don't go into places where there is a lot of smokers or bad ventilation.  I don't think it's fair to try and regulate everything because this is still the United States.  Not to mention, what do you think they will move to next?
463932
I don't think that it should be a Gov't choice...It should be the owner of the property choice....I have yet to be somewhere where smoke bothered me because most places are non smoking...bars here in Ohio aren't most anyway...and that doesn't bother me at all...maybe the next day after smelling my clothes and hair but my breath probably stinks just as bad after a night of drinks.  This is just a way of people controlling and getting money...one of the issues on the ballot if you read closely says money for the "clean air fund"...if they band smoking why would you need a clean air fund...and what on earth are you going to do with that money?  I prefer my money to go to my child's college fund...but If this passes I won't have a choice will I?
522306
The government will always controll us-there's no getting away from that.  I have been living in scotland for 3 months now, and have been working in a pub for the duration, and i've yet to make up my mind whether its a good thing or not.  As a non smoker, i can see the benifits of not stinking of smoke or inhaling second hand smoke all night.  However on the flip side, if i really hated stinking of ciggeretts and inhaling second hand smoke, i wouldn't work in a smokey enviroment, and i would stay away from similar enviroments.  What i DON'T think is a good thing is crowds of 20 to 30 people gathering outside a pub/club for a smoke-in the pouring rain. I think proper ventilation and/or a beer garden.  They are fantastic. especially with BBQs.
252901
Yes and make it for recreational use too!!! It is far less harmful than booze and cigarettes......But NOOOOOOO.....It would upset the fine upstanding (CHOKE!!!!) Religious Right i.e. Wrong!!!.....Oh God forbid!!! I wish that they would get off of their puritanical religious high horse and make America truly free. I have my habit.....and you have yours. I go to work pay my taxes (Smoke My Weed) and they can Kiss My A$$!!!
450575
I am a smoker,but I don't mind the bans.I smoke outside at home because of my kids,and I did it most of the time even before I had kids.I don't like to smell smoke when I'm not smoking.However,I think banning smoking in bars is just crazy.I mean,drinking and smoking just go together,and if you don't want to be around the smoke,you can always stay home or go to a restaurant.Same with casinos.
290996
I don't have a problem with smoking being banned in restaurants and cafes, but banning it from bars would be too extreme.  Considering that the majority of people I've seen in bars often smoke, might as well keep it legal there.
666484
Maybe the way tobacco products are advertised and promoted needs to changed but ban it all together?  No.....it is a viable product and like most things if used in moderation by adults there is nothing wrong with it.  Plus as an after thought, if it was banned get ready to pay a lot more in taxes in general.  My state alone collects almost $30 million a year in cigarette taxes.  You think if they banned tobacco they would give up that $30 Million?  No way, it would made up in higher gas, sales, and/or property taxes.
447805
Well, as a non smoker and a mother and married to a non smoker it would help decrease the amount of smoke that we all breath in at a closed in public place (it's illegal in my state to smoke anywhere inside, but is still legal to order your dunkin donuts while puffing on a cig in other states). I don't think it will help people quit though. I think it has more to do with people like me and my husband who don't smoke, to cut down on the 2nd hand smoke around us. The law was passed years ago in NY (my state) while I was working the bars. Many many people said that when the ban takes effect I would never see them again. Guess what, the same day the law was passed they were back in the bar drinking and stepping out every once in a while to light up. It hasn't killed the bar industry out here at all. Not one iota.\n\nI think that a lot of smokers make excuses, like calling us Nonsmokers PC (which isn't the case, we just don't like to smoke and prefer not to be forced to breathe it in), they say that we are impeding their rights as a smoker (what about my rights as a nonsmoker?), that they should feel free to smoke where ever they choose no matter how it effects me, my husband and my son. They make these excuses because they are addicted and addicts will make any excuse to do their drug.\n\nSince the smoking ban has passed in NY it has been a lot easier for me to enjoy my expeience in bars. The smokers have no problem stepping out and returning when they are done. But going to the mall it just means that I have to push my way through smokers that gather right outside the entry and exit door in order to get in and out, which I think is very rude of them.
487849
The tobacco tax is more of a prohibitive act rather than a forced imposition from smokers.  This tax is term as the "power to destroy" a business because it levies a burdensome tax on the makers and users of cigarettes.
467529
I'm a non-smoker, and I believe that I shouldn't have to be exposed to second-hand smoke that might harm me.  However, it's getting kind of ridiculous when it's being banned in bars.  Drunk people can be hazardous to the health of those around them too - shall we ban drinking in bars next?  I think reasonable people can agree that smoking in a bar is acceptable behavior.  There's nothing wrong with someone opening his own bar and saying "you can't smoke in my bar," but to make it an across-the-board law seems extreme and unnecessary.\n\nIt's also too extreme to ban smoking outdoors.  There have been no studies or data suggesting that being exposed to second-hand smoke in an outdoor, well-ventilated area is hazardous to one's health.  So I don't think smoking should be banned at bus stops, parks, etc., like some cities are doing.
149942
I would but NO. And why? By keeping it illegal I think they are just trying to make a private thing. Ya know, people complain about the second hand smoke from cigs could you imagine the mass witch fest that would go on because of that & the fact o contact buzzes. Then wht about the job market? Don't already have enough problems with drunk driving too? It does sound great but the reality is just to impracticle. Maybe you are fine & still live life happily but many others would not. I just say becareful when you have it in tow & I do what you like in private. I've seriously thought about it.... More than once. The cops really don't bother anyone, people are just gonna be at the wrong place at the wrong time & catch the heat. That's just life. Most smokers aren't really winning at the game of life, really most of them aren't.... I guess there's just some it works for & say cool!
578710
Neither should be against the law for adults.  I'm not saying that not wearing your seatbelt or smoking is a good thing to do, but those are personal choices that the gov't has no right getting involved in.
582213
i hope so,,, it bothers me as well since my nighbors downstairs smoke.... there is talk into banning smoking in appartments\n\nKetty.... its easy i'm upstairs. smoke travels UP. when they are out on there balcony there smoke travels UP to mine.    simple. plain and simple. \n\nanyways i just finished reading an article, they want to ban smoking compleatly in Santa cruz. they already banned it from the beach and public parks. there is also a  small town somewere in california where its compleatly banned. \n\nthere is also people wanting to ban smoking in casinos in vegas.,,.. now to me thats just CRAZY all the casinos i been to have very good venting.
547815
I think it was a trick question to older people ...for instant one women voted no to both opinion, thinking that she was voting for people to have the right to smoke in certain areas.The wording in the question throwed them off. So yes , I think if they got a petition people would sign it. And yes some would sign it that don't smoke, 2 people I know told me that they didn't want anymore Rights taken away from them.
502342
Really, this is a capitalist country. Competition and the free market are supposed to take care of everything. The point is, if people don't want to deal with smoke at a restaurant or bar, they'll go to a nonsmoking establishment. If the smoking establishment loses business they might consider banning smoking. That's how America works! You're totally right that it should be up to the individual owner. It's his own paycheck he's screwing with so he will make the right decision based on what kind of people patronize his place. It really pisses me off too that towns and states ban smoking.