Smoking ban legislation
When I was in school a government teacher once explained that "My rights end where your nose begins." They were talking about physically intruding on another person then (fist to face) but I think it is a good way look at this smoking 'choice/right.'
Smokers can't control where the smoke from their bad habit goes and it is foolish to think that mere distance between "sections" can be good enough. My nose (and lungs for that matter) are having its rights trampled on with every breath when I go anywhere that allows smoking in even a small part of the establishment.
For my part I am sick and tired of not being able to go out with friends and be 'normal' socially because I am allergic to tobacco smoke. I even had to stop helping out with my volunteer fire department at some of our fund-raising events because there are so many people there smoking that I had an attack and almost had to have our own ambulance crew take me to hospital. That was very embarrassing and all because all the rest have a choice to exercise their so called right to smoke.
I and others like me don't have a choice, we have a condition. Yet we are the ones made to run away when those who have a choice choose to light up.
My comment/two cent's worth on Senate Bill 246 As amended now -- this bill is completely worthless to any of us who need a truly smoke free environment. SB0246 isn't worth the paper it's written on now. Please Do NOT Allow this to get through as is. If pro smoking lobbies want to use the argument that their businesses will loose money or that the gaming industry couldn't survive without allowing this bad habit then the proper answer is a strong TOTAL Ban on smoking everywhere. That way the 'smokers' don't have anywhere else to go where they can smoke thus no one can complain they will lose money. These amendments are an abomination and should be stricken out completely.
I have been keeping an eye on the other three bills pending and at this point HB0720 is the only one left worth fighting for. HB1419 needs to get rid of the "Adult only establishment" definition and exception, and SB0314 is just laughable with just as many loop holes as was just added to SB0246. If Pennsylvania wants to be truly serious about keeping its citizens healthy and showing that it is not able to be cowed by big money lobbies then it needs to start with a bill that is simple straightforward and strong for the right reasons.
Lori Ann Black
Emigsville
Soon the Government will be telling us we can't smoke in our own home or our car. Talk about rights being trampled. A resturant is a PRIVATE business, you don't need to go there if you don't want. If tobacco is so deadly than make it illegal. Never going to happen though. The hypocrites get to much tax money off of tobacco. They don't want you to quit. What would they tax then? Your donuts?
Soon the Government will be telling us we can't smoke in our own home or our car. Talk about rights being trampled. A resturant is a PRIVATE business, you don't need to go there if you don't want. If tobacco is so deadly than make it illegal. Never going to happen though. The hypocrites get to much tax money off of tobacco. They don't want you to quit. What would they tax then? Your donuts?