Smoking bans improve our health

This is great news. I had an Aunt that died of lung cancer due to living with my Uncle who smoked around her for years. I hope the Mass Dept of Public Health keeps up the good work.

Just wait until the Obamites ban smoking in private homes. Next will be soda, followed by fast food and booze......

"The smoke-free workplace law has always been about the health of people and not trying to take away people's rights."

It doesn't try to take away people's rights, it does take them away, no trying about it. Then take a look at the taxes smokers pay, it's obscene. That's why there are non-stop sales at Market Basket in Nashua on the weekends. NH tax is $1.08/pk, in this sorry excuse for a state it's $2.51.

This is absolute nonsense.

I smoked for 15 years, I quit a year ago. I think its ridiculous how much cigarettes cost now. Do they realize that the lung related diseases that they contribute to are already conditions those people will get regardless? I've had numerous non smoking family members die of cancer, which means whether I smoke or not I'm predispositioned for it. My grandmother hadn't smoked or been around it for almost 20 years when she died of lung cancer. It needs to be about personal choice. The country knows the harmful possible side effects of smoking. They teach us from 2nd grade up these days. The warning labels on the side of the packs are dumb, because by the time you read them you've already spent the money on them so you're gonna smoke them. I can see not smoking in places where they allow minors I guess, but in Arkansas they put a ban on smoking in a car with a person under 70 lbs or 7 years old. I find THAT to be invasion of privacy. I've heard of them pulling people over JUST for that reason. Um... bored much? I think our government is bored to spend this much time and money on what one does in their own home. Obama is a smoker!

I totally agree with a smoke free work zone. I totally agree that bars and restaurants should be smoke free as well.

But seriously, are you really complaining about people smoking in their own homes?!? I don't smoke, but my neighbors do. And you know what? when I smell it, I close the window.

Mildly Disturbed wrote:

I totally agree with a smoke free work zone. I totally agree that bars and restaurants should be smoke free as well.
But seriously, are you really complaining about people smoking in their own homes?!? I don't smoke, but my neighbors do. And you know what? when I smell it, I close the window.

Yes, in multi-unit dwellings. Apartment buildings, etc. I'm not opposed to it but I know it can bother people in the other apartments. Whether it's allowed or not should be up to the property owner, not the government. Same thing for bars, restaurants, workplaces. If a restaurant or bar allows smoking, don't go there, don't apply for a job there if you don't like it or can't tolerate it. If a business doesn't allow smoking anywhere on its property, don't apply for work there. I can understand not allowing it inside the office or plant and especially on an airplane but it should be the decision of the owner 100% of the time, not the government.

It does not matter how you look at it. The fact is if the owner's of the business want to ban or allow smoking it should be up to them to make that choice. If you are a non-smoker or a smoker it is you're choice to work there or patronize that business or not. And any ban should be based on fact not fiction.

From reason.com

"Myocardial Infractions
A government-commissioned report promotes smoking bans by tweaking the evidence."
http://reason.com/archives/2009/10/21/myocard...

DRM wrote:

It does not matter how you look at it. The fact is if the owner's of the business want to ban or allow smoking it should be up to them to make that choice. If you are a non-smoker or a smoker it is you're choice to work there or patronize that business or not. And any ban should be based on fact not fiction.

We're almost in agreement here. Forget the fact or fiction part, it should be the owners choice because smoking is legal and because it's his business. If the state and federal government weren't getting rich off of smokers it probably would be made illegal. Next time you hear that we live in a free society, you question it. We never did and we never will.

Can you smoke in the fitness club?
Smoke away while you are on the LifeCycle...
Who is going to a bar to consume poison...that is interested in their health?

Bottom line in this day and age... if you still smoke, you are probably mentally defective. As for the government regulating where people can and cannot do something - wake up... the government regulates all kinds of stuff. There are rules against drinking in public, so why not rules against smoking in public? There are rules about what type of clothing you can and cannot wear, and what kind of medicines can only be purchased with a prescription. So quit the whining about how to feed your addiction and just grow up already. We live in a society with rules, if you disagree, vote for people who will change them. If you can't live in a democratic society, move to China.

Wondering wrote:

<quoted text>
We're almost in agreement here. Forget the fact or fiction part, it should be the owners choice because smoking is legal and because it's his business. If the state and federal government weren't getting rich off of smokers it probably would be made illegal. Next time you hear that we live in a free society, you question it. We never did and we never will.

It sounds as if we agre totally with the possible exception of the fact or fiction side.

If you believe smoking or SHS "will kill you" or "will give you cancer" then we disagree there. but if you believe it "can possibly" give you cancer then we agree totally. There are sme who believe that if they even smell cigarette smoke anywhere within 10 ft. of them they are going to get cancer and die. Wonder how they ever survived as long as they did since smoking is nothing new. only the hysteria about SHS. Fact is smoking can increase your chance of cancer by 2 or 3 percent. Fiction is SHS will give you cancer and you will die from it.

Concerned wrote:

Bottom line in this day and age... if you still smoke, you are probably mentally defective. As for the government regulating where people can and cannot do something - wake up... the government regulates all kinds of stuff. There are rules against drinking in public, so why not rules against smoking in public? There are rules about what type of clothing you can and cannot wear, and what kind of medicines can only be purchased with a prescription. So quit the whining about how to feed your addiction and just grow up already. We live in a society with rules, if you disagree, vote for people who will change them. If you can't live in a democratic society, move to China.

I think it's better said that if you cant live in a society with freedom of choice and need the government to regulate every aspect of your life. it is you that needs to move to china. They are very good at regulating their citizens. Who is the fol, the one who makes a choice as an adult to smoke... or the one who needs their government to make choices for them?

Concerned wrote:

Bottom line in this day and age... if you still smoke, you are probably mentally defective. As for the government regulating where people can and cannot do something - wake up... the government regulates all kinds of stuff. There are rules against drinking in public, so why not rules against smoking in public? There are rules about what type of clothing you can and cannot wear, and what kind of medicines can only be purchased with a prescription. So quit the whining about how to feed your addiction and just grow up already. We live in a society with rules, if you disagree, vote for people who will change them. If you can't live in a democratic society, move to China.

Or wait a few years when this fine country becomes a socialistic state that bans all non government approved activities....including hetro sex...after all you breeding makes a giant carbon footprint!

DRM wrote:

<quoted text>
It sounds as if we agre totally with the possible exception of the fact or fiction side.
If you believe smoking or SHS "will kill you" or "will give you cancer" then we disagree there. but if you believe it "can possibly" give you cancer then we agree totally. There are sme who believe that if they even smell cigarette smoke anywhere within 10 ft. of them they are going to get cancer and die. Wonder how they ever survived as long as they did since smoking is nothing new. only the hysteria about SHS. Fact is smoking can increase your chance of cancer by 2 or 3 percent. Fiction is SHS will give you cancer and you will die from it.

It doesn't even have anything to do with cancer. A report I read said that 15% of smokers die from lung cancer. I'm not going to tell you that I don't think smoking is risky, it has been linked to many more health problems than cancer, heart disease is a big one. Second hand smoke has been blown way out of proportion by the anti-smoking fanatics. It has to do with the freedom of a person to decide his/her own fate. Whether it's one person that enjoys sitting on the porch and having a smoke or a private business owner to allow or not allow smoking in his place of business. It's about freedom.

Wondering wrote:

<quoted text>
It doesn't even have anything to do with cancer. A report I read said that 15% of smokers die from lung cancer. I'm not going to tell you that I don't think smoking is risky, it has been linked to many more health problems than cancer, heart disease is a big one. Second hand smoke has been blown way out of proportion by the anti-smoking fanatics. It has to do with the freedom of a person to decide his/her own fate. Whether it's one person that enjoys sitting on the porch and having a smoke or a private business owner to allow or not allow smoking in his place of business. It's about freedom.

Why aren't people complaing of the effects of second hand marijuana smoke...something that actually affects you.

Bagdad Harry wrote:

<quoted text>
Why aren't people complaing of the effects of second hand marijuana smoke...something that actually affects you.

Maybe because it isn't generally done in restaurants and bars. Now, if you're talking about multi-family dwellings, you are asking a good question.

Wondering wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe because it isn't generally done in restaurants and bars. Now, if you're talking about multi-family dwellings, you are asking a good question.

I want to see a Government study on this...
Also it is becoming more frequent seeing pot smoking in public since question 2 passing!
If you read the pot posts on Topix...you would think that Marijuana is some kind of vitamin

Wondering wrote:

<quoted text>
It doesn't even have anything to do with cancer. A report I read said that 15% of smokers die from lung cancer. I'm not going to tell you that I don't think smoking is risky, it has been linked to many more health problems than cancer, heart disease is a big one. Second hand smoke has been blown way out of proportion by the anti-smoking fanatics. It has to do with the freedom of a person to decide his/her own fate. Whether it's one person that enjoys sitting on the porch and having a smoke or a private business owner to allow or not allow smoking in his place of business. It's about freedom.

Most if not all of these health problem's are genetic. If it's in you're family line there's a good chance you'll get it too.
so we do agree 100% that the SHS issue has been blown way out of proportion. And the weak minded make it worse.