Tobacco Smoke indoors (Oak Ridge: homes, school, compensation)

[rescue1]

You people are way tooooo anal about this subject. I quit smoking three years ago,smoked for 35 years. I still belive you have the right to do so. When I was in high school in the late 60s we had a smoking area. Most of the time x-smokers are the worst ones to deal with.

[insanesmooch]

There was an article in today's Johnson City Press that says there is going to be a push in 2007 to pass a statewide smoke-free work place law. I tried to find a link to the story, but it won't come up for me. It is titled "Where there's smoke".

FYI for those interested in smoke free dining, it does say that the Firehouse Restaurant in Johnson City is smoke free. I'm sure there are others, but that one specifically is mentioned in the article.

[Mrs.Bewitched]

I too belive that you have the right to smoke as you want. But this is something that people need to know before moving. Will it stop me from moving? No...but now I know to be more aware when I am bringing my son to a restaurant and just to ask if they separate smoking from non, and so on.

[mbmouse]

Yes there are some smoke free restaurants in the Tri-Cities, you can always call them before you go to see if they do. That goes both ways, if you are a smoker or a non smoker. I know the schools here are totally smoke free, even the teachers. I think they make them go to their car.

[SouthernStar]

Guys, it's really not that big of a deal.I choose not to shop in stores where people can smoke. I don't expose my kids to it at home, so I don't do it when I'm out in public either. It's really not as much of an issue around here as it's being made out to be. Yes, many restaurants still have smoking sections. Some do not. If it's a medical issue, just go to restaurants where your son will not be exposed to it (just like you would choose the places you ate if he had food allergies). As I said before, it's not like they smoke in Wal Mart...or grocery stores, schools, hospitals, or any other of the necessary places.

By the way, there are so many other wonderful things about Tennessee, things that make the state lovely and authentic, which are being threatened. We should worry about those instead of accusing out-of-staters of ruining TN because they want smoke-free buildings. What about the infestion of box stores, unreal real estate prices, unchecked growth and suburbinization, rising taxes and crime, the near-extinction of small farms and locally owned stores...

[akm4]

Why? Maybe because second-hand smoke causes cancer, which is an especially torturous way to die.

SouthernStar says it's really not that big a deal. I disagree. I'm allowed.

[klosk]

Why is everyone up in the air about smoking? All should be concerned about drinking instead!!!! Look at how many innocent people are killed every year because of a drunk driver. I could very well live without alcohol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hjlacey]

If you do not want second hand smoke, pick and choose where you do business, but do not force your choices on others. simply put, if you do not want others to smoke round you, choose somewhere else to move. I am an ex-smoker but I choose not to force others to live with my choices

[akm4]

I'm not forcing anyone to do anything.

Maybe you missed my earlier post on this thread where I listed businesses in my town that are smoke-free.

[irwin]

Originally Posted by klosk

Why is everyone up in the air about smoking? All should be concerned about drinking instead!!!! Look at how many innocent people are killed every year because of a drunk driver. I could very well live without alcohol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice attempt to change the subject.
Tobacco is the number one killer in the country, period.

You have a right to smoke, fine. I have a right not to be polluted by your exhaust.
And don’t come to the government to pay for your medical bills when you are dieing of lung cancer or suffering emphysema.