Smoking is not a "right", it is a privilege and too few prople know the difference. I too am a non-smoker and I would be thrilled if a smoking ban was put on a ballot in St. Joe. I have no problem with people smoking, I just don't want them doing it around me and my family. I say that because of the exact reasons you state in your call, most smokers need to be responsible but they are not. They believe the privilege of being allowed to smoke trumps my right to breathe clean air. Every day I drive behind people who throw lit cigarette butts out car windows. My kids and I go into restaurants and have to deal with their smoke. I would be THRILLED to see it on thet ballot, I believe it would pass easily. Nothign good comes from smoking, I have never heard a Doctor say "you should start smoking, it would improve your health...."

Rax, every American citizen has the right to Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In some cases this may mean they find happiness in smoking a cigarette. That makes it their right and not a privelige.

i am a non-smoker. there are non-smoking options in stjo. if an individual chooses to dine/drink/play at a smoking establishment, and doesn't like the policy, they need not return. politely inform the proprietor why you are not returning. smoking IS legal, and choices in this country are becoming fewer and farther between. i heartily agree that each entrepreneur should have the ability to conduct their business as they choose. non-smokers have the ability to choose, also. lets leave it that way!

I’m re-posting my entry from last night in “Smoke-free Kansas City may affect St. Joseph”.

Since I stopped smoking 11 years ago I’ve probably become one of the most anti-smoking people around. There are some bar/restaurants here in KC that don't have a non-smoking section. We’ve tried to eat in a couple of them because we've heard numerous times that they have excellent food. I couldn’t stand the smell of cigarettes so we left. I often say that if I had known how badly cigarettes make your body and breath smell (not to mention how brown your teeth get) I would have stopped years sooner.
With that said, I still feel that it is not the government’s place to dictate whether or not people smoke in a business establishment.

Echo,
You are absolutely WRONG. smoking is not a right given to anyone, it is a privilege. You can think or want what you want but that doesn't make it fact. Yes, we Americans are given the right of "pursuit of happiness" but that right only exists so long as it does not infringe on the rights of others. I don't want to breathe their smoke, I should not have limit the restaurant or entertainment choices I have to avoid their smoke. I would be the first to sign a petition to get in on a ballot!

Rax...you're the typical narrow minded individual that thinks that if you want to do something it's your right. If you don't want to do something and someone else does...it's not a right.
You can't have it both ways.

dalearch,
I don't expect people to put up with anything that I do that interferes with their health or way of life. I have no right to cause someone else pain or aggravation just to do something that I want. The narrow minded individuals yo uspeak of are those who smoke and don't care if their actions affect others. I am simply a man who doesn't want his kids to have to breathe that crap. They can smoke in their houses all they want, I don't care if they want to kill themselves. Just don't do it in public places.

I think Rax makes some good points in the first post. Smoking is an awful activity, and you can avoid so many serious problems later in life by never starting. My mom died from COPD six years ago after having to be on oxygen and the drug Prednisone. I'm so thankful I never started smoking.
Restaurant policy: I favor the free market. I'm personally happy with smoking and non-smoking sections in restaurants and think restaurant owners should have the freedom to allow or disallow smoking based upon what would be best for their businesses. Customers can fill out comment cards opposing smoking, and restaurant employees can cite health concerns in encouraging their employers to prohibit smoking in their facilities. California prohibits any smoking in restaurants, and it even wants to make it illegal to smoke in your own car if children are present (even as it supports abortion on demand with breathtaking bellicosity and chutzpah). That's going too far. I would just like to see positive change take place without hurting restaurant and bar owners with a total government smoking ban. Let the owners, their employees and customers decide in the free market.

Rax, smoking is not a right, nor is it a privilage. It's a choice. Before you ask, yes I am a smoker. Not all smokers are inconsiderate. If I'm with friends or family that do not smoke i will not smoke around them. You complain how bad it is for you and your children to be around, and it limits the choices you have when going to resturants and entertainment. By you emposing your choice to ban smoking in public places just put a limit on my choices to dineout or entertainment. You complain now about how bad we smokers are. Can you imagine the taxes that Americans will have to pay if smoking was baned or made illegal. Right now smokers pay and average of $1.00 per pack just in taxes. Therefor those millions of dollars lost per week will have to made up some how and who do you think will pay for that. That's right we Americans, Smoking and nonsmoking. Think about that when you complain about you limit of choices.

As an individual with asthma, I'm very limited in the establishments I can visit. I'm thankful that St. Joseph has several non-smoking establishments, because unfortunately, I cannot visit establishments with a designated smoking and non-smoking area. They're frequently not ventilated properly and the smoke ends up in the non-smoking area, thus causing an asthma attack. I would be pleased to see a city-wide smoking ban so that my health is not infringed on. People forget about the consequences that their actions have on others. Sure, smoking is your right, but is it right?

Smoking is really foul.

I'm an ex-smoker, quit dozens of times, gone a few years this time.

And I remember just how gross and foul it is everytime I come across a smoker.

They stink, their breath generally stinks, their clothes stink, generally, they are pretty gross.

And addicted, they are addicts and smoking will kill them, without question. A slow, painful death, at that.

Addicts who need help, take a moment and pray for them. Pray for them to have the strength to quit.

Anyway, inside public establishments marked no smoking would be great. Inside places that allow smoking should be clearly marked, so people who prefer to smoke or prefer to avoid it can.

Outside, who cares, as long as their is not any littering and I can stay plenty clear of them.

Cars, cars with kids, smokers smoking in cars with kids should be - jailed.........

Ummmm, Winston Light, ummmmmm........

Addictions suck, I know from experience, one cig and I'm back on them. Been fooled too many times thinking I could smoke just one......

And being around smokers sometimes give me the urge, that's my problem though......

gocubbies,
I never said that all smokers were inconsiderate I said most were and that is the absolute truth. I have seen many smokers who don't smoke if someone asks them not too, and I appreciate those folks doing that. A non-smoking ban would in no way limit your dining or entertainment choices. You can still go out and enjoy a meal or a movie. You would simply have to wait until you leave to smoke. Which doesn't prevent you from eating, or seeing a play, or whatever you'd like to do. You also say that smokers pay taxes and that money will be lost. What about the billiions of dollars spent by non-smokers to insurance companies for medical claims filed by smokers? Who do you think pays for those? Non-smokers insurance premiums go up too. Medical insurance costs, research costs, etc. those all go up and non-smokers pay for those also. It certainly isn't just smokers who pay. You need to understand, I don't care if you smoke. Enjoy them all you want. All I am saying is do it in when and where it doesn't affect other people.

A comment on the smoking ban. I too agree that the smoking section of the restaraunts is a joke, too many times we've asked for a non-smoking table and we end up sat right next to the smoking section. I've lots of friends who smoke but even in their own homes they smoke either outside or at an open window because even they don't like the smoke in the house. I don't want the government to start restricting activities that are not illegal, even if I don't agree with them. However, for the sake of health, I think the establishments that allow smoking should have regulations on ventilhation systems to keep the air clear, and/or very well separated smoking sections

I was watching the pope and our president today and I heard our president talk about how holy and god fearing this country is. Is it me or is Mr. Bush two faced? How can we be so holy that we take GOD out of our schools? Is it one nation under George or GOD? I was just wondering.

God is not gone from our schools.

I had the opportunity to travel America with a company I worked for. Could of transfered about anywhere, in fact, left after decades because they wanted me to transfer.

To stay in St. Joe.

God is here, sure, we have issues, everyplace does. Most, a lot worse than we have here.

God is not gone from our schools, God is strong in our community.

bido, take a deep breath, calm down, and then ask yourself -

"What did that have to do with smoking?"

:-)