Fort Worth passes partial smoking ban (Howe: legal, bars, eat)

[paulapoo123]

When some of your rights start being taken away from you. ( and they will) maybe them you will understand. No, people should not smoke in resturants, at hospitals, in buldings, where it could harm people, But if i am standing outside, and at least 50 ft away from you, or any building entry, MY SMOKE IS NOT BOTHERING YOU!!!!! Polution from car's, air planes, and chemical plants, is what is poluting the air. I should be able to go out side and smoke, this is suppose to be a FREE COUNTRY, and as long as you keep letting them BAN things, one day they will ban something you. Yes eating unhealthy food causes DEATH. So don't be suprised if one day you want an ice cream bar, you go to a store and because you might have put on a few extra pounds the checker can NOT sell it to you. I have already heard this discussion on the news...and one day we will not stand up and fight . and this ban will pass too...

[paulapoo123]

Like i said in my post When you have put on a few extra pounds, and the clerk at the store cannot sell you the ice cream bar you want. maybe you will understand. I respect people who dont smoke. There fore they sould respect me. If i am 50 ft away from you or a business, My smoke is NOT BOTHERING YOU OR ANY ONE ELSE.

Originally Posted by beowulf7

^ I understand your frustration, but there's so much exaggeration, I don't know where to begin. I'll just say that there's no way in hell that smoking kills fewer people per year than drunk drivers. Sure, drunk drivers are a big problem on the roads, but smoking/tobacco kills more. By far, but obviously not as quickly as drunks kill.

And as I mentioned before, I'm all for allowing people to smoke (and even do drugs, for that matter, but that's a different issue) in their private residence. I don't foresee the US government banning smoking altogether, esp. not in TX.

[beowulf7]

Originally Posted by paulapoo123

Like i said in my post When you have put on a few extra pounds, and the clerk at the store cannot sell you the ice cream bar you want. maybe you will understand. I respect people who dont smoke. There fore they sould respect me. If i am 50 ft away from you or a business, My smoke is NOT BOTHERING YOU OR ANY ONE ELSE.

Calm down - no one is banning outdoor smoking in FW. My beef is with indoor smoking, such as in bars/clubs.

[MakeHayNotBones]

Originally Posted by beowulf7

Calm down - no one is banning outdoor smoking in FW. My beef is with indoor smoking, such as in bars/clubs.

But it doesn't stop there. The banners don't stop. Next is the public beach, the park, the concert, the ... anywhere OTHER taxpayers are allowed to go.
Smokers are taxpayers too. We vote for VENTED smoking areas, and to keep the smoking areas we do already have. Banners want all smoking areas to cease and desist.
Smokers pay EXTRA taxes and are treated unfairly.
Smokers vote for FREE nicotine patches, nicorette, and other ways and means to help alleviate their addiction. We vote for REAL help and consideration.
Smokers vote for safe and dry smoking areas, because we too are human. Humans with an addiction that used to be a mainstream habit. Smokers are instead treated like animals, kicked to the curb in the rain.
Smoking areas, VENTED smoking areas, stop smoking help, ... are just a few of the ways that embrace all taxpayers, all humans.
Banning bans people. Real people. Real taxpayers.
Be careful what you wish for.

[beowulf7]

^ It seems like a lot of paranoia to me. Compromises are reasonable. IMO, that means ban smoking indoors and allow smoking outdoors, as long as smokers don't make the outdoors an ashtray.

[beowulf7]

Now that Dallas passed its smoking ban in bars/clubs/restaurants (effective 4/10/09), let's hop FW soon follows.

[expgc]

Originally Posted by Guingirl

Actually as a previous smoker and ex-Californian, I think it is pretty terrible. I am a big market forces person. If it needs to be banned, then ban it all the way...make it illegal, but then you can't have that tax money.

If you don't like smoking, don't patronize that establishment.

There was a guy on the tv last night with a WAD of chew in his mouth saying that he was upset that it wasn't enough. My thought is when they start banning one thing, it will only be a matter before they start banning other things...are transfats on the way? They did that in NYC...so hey...why not here??

I came to Texas because I always thought that Texans stood up for freedom and a live and let live attitude for things that are legal. You won't really hear an uproar until someone decides that they want to ban alcohol. Its legal, kills millions of people, but there is a lot bigger constituency that would actually speak out/flip out if there was talk of prohibition.

Economist Walter Williams states it as "cooking a frog...you can't put a frog in a hot pot or it will jump out, you put it in the pot then slowly turn up the temperature and before the frog knows it he is cooked". If you aren't watching closely enough our frog will be cooked .

Agreed. Sadly, Dallas just now banned smoking in pool halls and bars. It takes effect next year. Now who is this protecting; the kiddies as the ninnies like to always point out? I haven't seen too many little kids in pool halls and bars. Dallas did the same thing as every other city in the country does; cook you a little at a time, steal your rights. These ninnies that want everything banned are one day going to be upset when what they like to do is banned. I don't smoke and never have but I believe in freedom and people certainly have choices today to decide which bars, restaurants, pool halls, etc. that allow smoking and whether they want to enter them. It should be the individual owners of the establishments to decide whether they offer smoking or not. If you don't like it then don't go there. Why don't these ninnies have the guts to make all tobacco illegal right now? I say all tobacco because pretty soon that little pinch between your cheek and gum will be under assault as well.

[beowulf7]

^ I'm not as paranoid as you. I'm all for banning tobacco products in public establishments. Whatever people want to do in their home is fine. But I hate going out and having my clothes, hair, etc. smell like an ash tray when I return home. Not to mention that secondhand smoke isn't exactly conducive to one's health. I hope FW follow's Dallas' lead soon!

[beowulf7]

Dallas smoking ban could pressure Legislature

[kdogg817]

I think its great I hope they do ban smoking in public places