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03/19/2006 02:19:52 PM · #1 |
California City Bans Smoking in Public Places (including parks!)
First things first: I am NOT a smoker. I never have been and I never will be.
But I find it very disturbing that smokers are being persecuted to such an extent in this country (USA). Now Calabasas, a city in California, has outlawed smoking in public parks! That is just absurd. I'm sorry, but someone strolling through a park smoking a cigarette poses absolutely no threat to any other human being. If you are in a public park, and you are concerned for your health because someone else in the same park has just lit up a cigarette, then my advice to you is to stay away from that person. There's plenty of space in the park for the both of you.
In my mind, the actions of the city of Calabasas expose an ugly truth about the anti-smoking movement: it is motivated by INTOLERANCE as much as by concern about lung cancer. It's like our society has decided that smoking is socially unacceptable, and is using the second-hand-smoke-causes-cancer argument as a flimsy excuse to tell smokers how they can and can't live their lives. I know the statistics: supposedly second-hand smoke causes 3000 cancer deaths per year. I would be curious to know how many of those 3000 deaths were caused by second-hand smoke contact in public parks. I'm guessing none.
Cities across the nation are starting to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. Personally, I find smoke-filled bars to be gross, and I avoid them like the plague. I hate it when my clothes smell like an ashtray the next morning. Having said that, though, I feel that a bar owner should have the right to decide if he wants to allow smoking in his bar. If I have a problem with smoke-filled bars (which I do), then it is my right to not patronize those bars. Besides, the real social problem created by bars is drunk driving, not cancer deaths. I'm sure drunk drivers kill way more than 3000 people per year. Yet no one is suggesting we outlaw drinking in bars.
This is something that's really bugged me for a long time. I'm glad we have this Rant forum on DPChallenge to get things like this off of our chests :)
Message edited by author 2006-03-21 14:00:39. |
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03/19/2006 04:02:40 PM · #2 |
Cool, hope it spreads -- quickly!
David
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03/19/2006 11:37:59 PM · #3 |
| Colorado is doing the same except for several sites, casinos, cigar clubs, etc... |
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03/19/2006 11:46:16 PM · #4 |
Talk about over-zealous....the city of Calabasas, California, just outlawed smoking indoors and OUTDOORS (not just parks, everywhere)! Now I am not huge on smelling other people's smoke, but c'mon.....outside too?! At some point, there needs to be a voice of reason (this post brought to you by a non-smoker).
Message edited by author 2006-03-19 23:47:08. |
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03/20/2006 01:00:06 AM · #5 |
Yes indeed... let's worry about the cigarette smoker... and cast a blind eye on multi-nationals that pollute the environment with toxic fumes.... and the countless thousands of vehicles, aircrafts, and other gas powered entities that will, given enough time, kill all of us.
DO I smoke no... but I am offended by the sanctimonious approach that seems to prevail when dealing with this issue.
If indeed governments were sincere in wanting people to stop smoking, programs could be devised to assist smokers to quit, as they do for other groups. Then again, this would bring about a significant loss in revenue... hence it is not likely to happen.
OK.... I have vented and now feel much better.
Ray |
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03/21/2006 06:16:45 AM · #6 |
I wish they'd hurry up and pass something like that here !! It's about time.
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03/21/2006 04:04:14 PM · #7 |
I can't wait for that to be implmented in New York...
I can't walk through the front door of ANY building because we have those dragnos puffing smog all over the entrance. |
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03/21/2006 04:11:19 PM · #8 |
| Maybe part of the problem is that so many smokers use the world as their ashtray. Butts definitely do not add to a scenic view. Laws like that don't bother me at all! |
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03/21/2006 06:00:00 PM · #9 |
It a rather sad comment that so many are quite prepared to accept laws such as this.
Seriously folks think about it. We are not talking about a closed in environment here.... we are talking about the great outdoors.
I for one have a great deal more problem with the scent of perfumes on planes, and the stench of diesel fumes which permeate the air at bus stops.
Just because a law such as this has no bearing on your life style, you should really stop and consider what legislation of this ilk is telling the legislators, namely that they can push anything through if they can convince the masses that it is a good thing.
What's next.... a law that says that since we have a penury of donor organs, the state can harvest organs even without the consent of the grieving family members.... OH WAIT.... that is already in the works in Canada.
What I am saying is that I for one would never support such draconian measures.... if they can pass laws like this.....who knows what is possible.
Just a thought.
Ray |
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03/21/2006 06:19:57 PM · #10 |
when I'm out and around I quite often see candy wrappers, and fast food papers and empty chip bags and stuff. Let's ban all eating in public.
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03/22/2006 01:29:03 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by taterbug:
when I'm out and around I quite often see candy wrappers, and fast food papers and empty chip bags and stuff. Let's ban all eating in public. |
I agree. I would also add that I am offended when I see people chew with an open mouth and talk with a mouthful of food. Therefore, I would like to see a federal law requiring people who eat in public to wear a face shield or head scarf of some sort to prevent me from having to see it. I would also like to see chewing gum banned for the same reasons.
Can't people masticate in the privacy of their own homes? I mean, we all do it (c'mon, admit it - I do it at LEAST three times a day), but just do it in private. OK?
Thanks
Message edited by author 2006-03-23 07:51:19. |
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03/22/2006 01:58:45 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Gatorguy:
Can't people emasticate in the privacy of their own homes? |
I don't think I have a high enough bandwidth. |
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03/22/2006 02:00:35 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by RayEthier:
What's next.... |
Firearms ownership then free speech.
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03/22/2006 02:01:40 PM · #14 |
| Can't protect #1 without #2! |
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03/22/2006 03:35:09 PM · #15 |
COOL! Let's extend the ban to National Forest, Parks, Monuments, Wilderness areas and BLM land as well!
I'm sick of seeing cigarette butts all over the ground the first 1/4 mile of all the trails. Forest fires will probably be reduced too.
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