Smoking Laws in NY and NJ

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Just because I own some land it doesn't mean I can set up shop and do whatever I want with it.

Right. You cannot interfere with the rights of someone else. Apart from that, it's a free country -- at least, that's what it's supposedto be.

Originally Posted by TheMalcomConnection

Well, the government decides a lot of things you can do on business property, so why should smoking not be one of them?

The short answer to your question is, why give the government one more reason to intrude into the lives of private property owners?

Now, here’s the long answer. As an example to your point Malcom, let’s use the Department of Health argument -- What's the difference between the government instituting food safety standards and doing the same with smoking?

The difference is that you can protect yourself from second hand smoke (if you're a non-smoker) and first-hand smoke (if you are a smoker): you can leave the restaurant, or you can quit. However, the same is not true of food-borne illnesses. In the latter case, the government is adhering to its legitimate purpose of protecting the rights of life, liberty and property of individuals through force or fraud. Since no one can protect themselves from the hazards of food-borne illnesses, short of not eating out, the government has the responsibility to guard against a threat that an individual otherwise cannot guard him or herself against.

Bottom line, government has the power and the obligation to protect your rights from others. It doesn’t have the power, nor the resources to protect you from yourself.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

To me, the issue isn't about smokers rights vs. non-smokers rights. It's about private property rights.

If I started a restaurant, why should the government be in a position to decide for me whether I can or cannot allow smoking on my property?

Well, the government decides a lot of things you can do on business property, so why should smoking not be one of them?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Well, the government decides a lot of things you can do on business property, so why should smoking not be one of them?

Ok, thats fine with me so from now on restaurants and bars have a one drink ( 1 beer, or 1 glass of wine,or 1oz of alch) per hour restriction. DUI's kill alot of people every year and alot are from people driving home from bars so now the goverment will regulate this too. People are dying from high blood presure and colesteral and red meat and fried food is to blame so its now against the law to sell red meats and fried foods. My point is that our goverment is taking more and more of our rights every day and if I own a bar and want smokers than thats my right. If I want a bar that is non smoking than that is my right. If the public demand is for non smoking smoking bars than there will be non smking bars. I see more and more non smoking bars everyday.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Oh, I don't hate it at all. I just think it would be awesome if bars banned it. Seriously I don't have a HUGE issue with it, just would "prefer" if it was banned in public areas.

[Redskins_P]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Oh, I don't hate it at all. I just think it would be awesome if bars banned it. Seriously I don't have a HUGE issue with it, just would "prefer" if it was banned in public areas.

I agree, and it does annoy me to. I hate the smell of it on my clothes.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Oh, I don't hate it at all. I just think it would be awesome if bars banned it. Seriously I don't have a HUGE issue with it, just would "prefer" if it was banned in public areas.

Ditto. Do it in your own home all you want, although I'd want someone with a small child to be responsible about it. In public places, because of the number of IRRESPONSIBLE and rude smokers, it needs to be banned. They had their chance and didn't make good with it.

I just wish they'd start enforcing littering laws on smokers. If I ate some chicken on a stick from the Chinese restaurant and tossed the stick out of my car when finished, I'd expect to hear sirens and a $500 deduction from my checking account. I didn't even light my trash on fire!

[MTK]

I smoked for about 6 years, started in college and quit back in '97. For a long time after I was just a social smoker if you will, only having a few if I was out drinking. Now I'm totally done with smoking.

I can see both sides of these new laws, but overall I tend to side with the non-smokers. It's so nice to be able to go out to a bar and not come home stinking of smoke.

The smokers want to say it's taking away their right... but when you have a habit that directly affects those around you, I can't have too much pity for you.

[dmek25]

i dont smoke and love going into bars that are non smoking.i dont mind people smoking,just the idiots that think because they are talking to me or someone in my group,that gives them the right to blow their smoke all over me

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Yup, same here. Littering laws are DEFINITELY not enforced on smokers. And yes I can see the other side's argument, but how can you seriously justify a habit that's been proving to be more damaging to others than yourself?

In that same story I quoted above, one girl was like, "Well they can just avoid us." Why should we have to go out of the way to accommodate your habit?

[jamf]

I hate kissing a smoker...

[saden1]

Originally Posted by jamf

I hate kissing a smoker...

I ain't gonna lie, I'd hit a smoker

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by jamf

I hate kissing a smoker...

Then dump him.


Sorry!

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Actually, you can really say the same thing for smoking. I think you're only thinking about the smokers, I'm talking about the non-smokers. Should the government not protect our health from smokers?

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Actually, you can really say the same thing for smoking. I think you're only thinking about the smokers, I'm talking about the non-smokers. Should the government not protect our health from smokers?

Again, isn't that something that non-smokers can do for themselves? I mean, if you're in a restaurant with 300 other people and they're all smoking and you're not, is it the government's role to bust in there and tell everyone to put out their cigarettes, or is it your responsibility to leave?

[PWNED]

the only thing i think girls hsould be able to smoke are poles. thats win-win baby.