Should smoking be outlawed in America?
108205
Definately. It is nearly completely banned in Australia. Soon the only place you will be able to smoke down here, will be in your own home with no children and non-smokers present and only if you have a purifier to clean the air before it escapes outside.
580102
Bad argument, as there are probably ample numbers of  accidents by people driving while high.\n\nThe better argument is why did the country decide that it needed to be illegal in the first place? Is there anything in the Constitution that gives them this power? [no]\n\nThis is what happens when you let do-gooders make laws that limit your freedoms, for your own good, of course. Like making it illegal to smoke tobacco in 'public' places. These are areas that no level of government in the US has the authority to go, yet they do it, because enough people have given those corrupt idiots the power.\n\nI don't smoke it, I don't want to smoke it, but by god, the Constitution as written gave me the freedom to choose to if I did want to. \n\nThat's what the real problem is. Our government's abandoning of the principles of the Constitution.
1169858
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.
784205
If it is anything like the law here in Massachusetts, It SUCKS. It is another step in our DICTATORSHIP government in becoming COMMUNIST. Please don't misunderstand me. To ban smoking in a restaurant is one thing. I say this as smoking CAN affect the taste of food and for a NON-smoker to have to sit there and try to enjoy a meal and be forced to breath the smoke from my cigar, well it isn't right. BUT Cigaretts and Cigars, and Pipes go with coffee or drinks. And to tell a person YOU can't SMOKE when you are in this bar is NOT RIGHT. I say put this question on a ballot and let the voters decide. WE the PEOPLE, should be able to say WE want smoking or WE don't want smoking. If WE the people decide what WE want or don't want then I could except the law if it passed. BUT for our DICTATORSHIP government to just make these laws and FORCE them down OUR throats I say again it is WRONG. Oh I don't even want to hear that the BAR-tender is being forced to breath second hand smoke. Thats is a BIG CROCK of chit. I mean if you are bothered by fire, then why would you become a fire-man. If you are bothered by guns, then why would you become a police man. The same applys to bar tending. If you are bothered by second hand smoke WHY become a bar tender? Sorry to have run off so long but this issue goes right up my backside.
127193
This is a question I love to answer....\nNo, but I do think they should have thier own area to smoke.\n\nYou have the right to not go into a restraunt that allows smoking too, sooooo.. DON'T...\n\nNow, why I love this question.  Those darn liberal's keep coming back up.  They can not draw a line on what is freedom of a person's body and what is not.\nAbortion to me should be illegal except in extreme cases. (They say that it is a right for a woman to chose what happens to her body)\nSmoking is already legal. (They don't think you should smoke, because it creates cancer and they have to pay for it) (They do not think you should have a choice about smoking)\nThey think that the country is taking away too many of it's freedoms with spying and Patriot act, yet, they do not want you to have the choice to smoke.  ILLOGICAL!\n\nBasically, I think everyone has the right to do what they want and enjoy as long as it does not encrouch the rights of others.  Smokers in a smoking area with a smoke eater system allows just that.\n\nOh, and for the Singapore comment..  If you love it so much, MOVE there!  It is communistic already!
375718
You make some excellent points about this.  On the surface, you are correct that people who have addictions to sex, food, alcohol and so many other vices aren’t kept away the way smokers are.  But the difference is, when you smoke, you affect other people who may be around you. \n \nSecond hand smoke is a serious health concern.  The US Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen, which means that it is a significant causal factor to cancer in humans. \nSmoking is being restricted because everyone is vulnerable to secondhand smoke exposure in public places, such as restaurants, shopping centers, public transportation, schools and daycare centers. Although some businesses are reluctant to ban smoking, there is no credible evidence that going smoke-free is bad for business. Public places where children go are a special area of concern.  \n\nIf a restaurant existed that was for smokers ONLY, then that would be great.  They all the smokers could dine and socialize and snort each other’s smoke.  But when there are non smokers present, it’s unfair to subject them to the health hazard of breathing in the smoke. \n\nThanks for this discussion.  You articulated your points very well and I appreciate the opportunity to share.
879845
Won't happen.  Ohio is trying to ban smoking cigarettes just about everywhere in the state today.  The liberals who want legal drugs don't want you to smoke a cigarette.  Crazy crazy country we have now.
19081
NO. There is not "A" law on smoking. But, I know of MANY laws AGAINST smoking.
712543
Actually, I don't think they should stop to prevent people from smoking. That should be a personal choice that the person should make on their own behalf. This is a free country and people jump down tobacco product companies throats for what reason? Because the smoking population spends their own money on cigs. So personally, I am no smoker but I am not tempted to buy cigarettes no matter what the commercial says. If that's what an individual wants to do w/ their then so be it. If that's the case then we should stop making alcohol, we should shut these fast foods joints down, etc.... so really, smoking and lung cancer is a matter of choice.
1013105
They killed my father. Small cell lung cancer.\nThe government gave them away during WWII.\nIt really promoted them and caused a generation of addicted people.\n\nHowever, you will create smugglers that are not taxed and increase the overloaded court system if you make them illegal. I think that taxation and insurance incentives may be a better way to discourage smoking. Fining smokers for smoking in public places has started and I am sure that more can be done.\n\nI think that loosing the Tax revenues and making this industry go underground would not stop it but make battling the problem more costly. I could be wrong and offer this only as another viewpoint after talking with some Dutchmen about similar issues in their country.\n\nAlso, I do not think that Police will give much priority to laws against smoking cigerettes when they are already overloaded with meth addicts, etc. and understaffed. My cousin is a NARC.
772598
Like I always say you should be allowed to kill yourself whenever and however you want.  I think this not smoking around kids thing is nonsense.  However if second hand smoke is proven to cause health problems then I wll be all for it.  You can kill yourself but if you bring others into it then thats a problem.
869298
Absolutely not. There's enough pollution in this world without some fool lighting up a cancer stick.\n\nPeople who smoke need to have plastic bubbles to lounge in and smoke away. That way they could soak up every bit of yummy nicotine w/o endangering others.
376403
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.
584994
Being a non-smoker, I really like the idea.  The ban on smoking in bars and restaurants has been effect in NY (USA) for a few years now and I personally enjoy going out now.  I understand that smokers feel their rights are being infringed on, but those same smokers often do not take into account that they infringe on the rights who do not smoke to breathe clean air.\n   It is an issue that has no clear-cut answer, but I think that when an infringement or taking away of rights happens, it should be done to protect the health of people, which is what the ban is for.
462487
Are you talking about the smokers that have died?\n\n"Smoking Kills \n\nEvery year, more then 400,000 American deaths are attributed to smoking. It’s banned in restaurants, workplaces and other public areas. It’s illegal for cigarettes to be sold to anyone under 18. Yet even with all the loss of customers by death, tobacco companies still manage to make a profit. \n\nHow do they do it? There are numerous laws against smoking. In 1998, a law passed that made it illegal to smoke in bars. An internal Philip Morris document states, "[The] financial impact of smoking bans will be tremendous - three to five fewer cigarettes per day per smoker will reduce annual manufacturer profits a billion dollars plus per year." In an effort to keep their customers smoking, the companies trick the public with lies and loopholes. Their goal is to slow the antismoking movement and keep people smoking—to get more profits. \n\nWhat about the health of non-smokers? Reports from 1993 state second-hand smoke causes lung cancer and respiratory diseases. The same findings have been concluded by a hundred other major studies, and still the tobacco industry says the results are flawed. \n\nA Philip Morris inside report from 1987 discussed how anti-smoking movements and price increases prevented 600,000 teens from taking up smoking. In 1979, a memo noted that “Marlboro dominates in the 17 and younger age category…” and in ’78 “…the base of our business is the high school student…”. Even with these companies’ lies and tricks to get around antismoking laws, they still try to sell their products to children. Who could blame them, considering their product kills more than 2,000 of their American customers a day? They need to replace these consumers quickly, and what easier way to do so than convince impressionable teens that smoking is the ‘cool’ thing to do? Hey, it keeps the profits coming! \n\nAntismoking movements are just beginning to be heard. With a product that kills more Americans than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, illegal drugs, and fires combined, no law can be too strict. So, when you see a tobacco ad, are offered a cigarette, or have the choice whether or not to smoke, remember that tobacco companies are greedy money-grubbers. No matter who you are, you’re just another dollar sign in the eyes of Philip Morris. \n\nSmoking Kills is for the nonsmokers of the internet. We know the effects of smoking, and we're smart enough to stay away. Are you one of us?"
618655
No. Smoking should be discouraged in every way possible.\n\nBesides, some moron will sue the school in a few years because they got cancer, and obviously it's the university's fault for "encouraging" smoking.
196276
Cigs because they can tax them.\nSuicide? Cannot tax it.\n\nAlcohol - can tax.\nMJ - Can be grown anywhere and tax easily avoided.\n\nI think both alcohol and M should be outlawed precisely because we have so many people who act stoned without any help from foreign substances.  No need to have any chemical assistance to augment our current level of stupidity.