WRAL is reporting about NC House Bill 259 that would ban smoking in pretty much any establishment that has employees.

Even though I don't smoke anymore, I'm against this bill on the grounds that it prevents business owners from deciding what legal activities go on in their business.

Discuss.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/1241795/

3/21/2007 5:57:08 PM

Even though I don't smoke anymore, I'm against this bill on the grounds that it prevents business owners from deciding what legal activities go on in their business.

3/21/2007 6:04:07 PM

I guess this isn't too surpising for our state since France of all countries banned smoking in bars.

3/21/2007 6:19:43 PM

I'm no fan of tobacco smoke, but if we are going to legislate every stupid area of our existence then maybe we should start by outlawing drinking in pubs. Virtually no one has died at the prime of their life due to second hand smoke but every week a few more are slaughtered as the unfortunate consequence of somebody's poor decision making with alcohol. Not to mention domestic abuse etc... Lets make that illegal first its doing more damage to soceity. I don't know of cases where smoking has caused child abuse, do you?

Of course what I really think is we should leave both alone and let people live their own lives. If you don't like the smoke get take out you stooge.

3/21/2007 6:43:36 PM

Even though I don't smoke anymore, I'm against this bill on the grounds that it prevents business owners from deciding what legal activities go on in their business.

3/21/2007 7:17:14 PM

I don't really have a dog in this fight, but as a matter of general philosophy, I'm against it. Let customers and their businesses decide for themselves.

3/21/2007 8:19:35 PM

I am in favor of this bill. I'd like to be able to go to a bar and not come home smelling like an ash tray and not hacking up a lung.

3/21/2007 8:29:01 PM

Latest version of the bill: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H259v2.html

3/21/2007 8:42:49 PM

If they can regulate radon in private businesses, they can regulate tobacco smoke in private businesses

3/21/2007 8:50:00 PM

It would be nice for people with respiratory ailments to go places without being punished. People act like its a constitutional right to smoke around other people.

3/21/2007 8:57:31 PM

It would be nice to let the private business owner decide what is the best decision for his establishment, people act like it is a constitutional right to be able to go to a bar without being in a bar-like atmosphere.

3/21/2007 9:28:02 PM

it's okay, the senate bill came out of committee favorably.

the real politiking will be when this comes to a floor vote.

As a smoker, I'm completely in favor of this legislation.

Quote :

"It would be nice to let the private business owner decide what is the best decision for his establishment, people act like it is a constitutional right to be able to go to a bar without being in a bar-like atmosphere. "

also, the hospitality industry is in full support of this legislation, so far as it doesn't create exemptions for private clubs (ie jackpot, slims)

[Edited on March 21, 2007 at 9:42 PM. Reason : .]

3/21/2007 9:40:44 PM

Quote :

"It would be nice for people with respiratory ailments to go places without being punished. People act like its a constitutional right to smoke around other people."

unlike the 90% of all places they can go right now.

3/21/2007 9:43:26 PM

At least make it possible -- but maybe a bit difficult -- to get exemptions. Most places will just say, "Eh, fuck it" and stick with the ban, but at least some businesses will seek it and smokers will have a place to go.

3/21/2007 9:55:21 PM

^Yeah, I think that's how I feel.

I mean, I want businesses to be able to do what they want with regards to smoking and, on an extremely cold day, it's nice to have a cigarette with my beer or after a meal inside, but second-hand smoke is a legitimate public health issue, and I can't ignore that.

It's difficult.

3/21/2007 10:09:55 PM

Quote :

"Even though I don't smoke anymore use tobacco, I'm against this bill on the grounds that it prevents business owners from deciding what legal activities go on in their business."

3/21/2007 10:12:25 PM

^ bingo

3/21/2007 10:13:38 PM

A Passage to Bangkok

Our first stop is in Bogota
To check Columbian fields
The natives smile and pass along
A sample of their yield
Sweet Jamaican pipe dreams
Golden Acapulco nights
Then Morocco, and the East,
Fly by morning light

We're on the train to Bangkok
Aboard the Thailand Express
We'll hit the stops along the way
We only stop for the best

Wreathed in smoke in Lebanon
We burn the midnight oil
The fragrance of Afghanistan
Rewards a long days toil pulling into Katmandu
Smoke rings fill the air
Perfumed by a Nepal night
The Express gets you there



[Edited on March 21, 2007 at 10:45 PM. Reason : .]

3/21/2007 10:39:36 PM

Mmmmmmmmmm...opium...

3/21/2007 10:44:17 PM

Mitch's is no smoking now

3/21/2007 10:55:49 PM

Ahahahaha. I just got a letter at work that said THIS LAW WILL DIRECTLY HARM YOUR BUSINESS. Lolz city.

3/22/2007 1:08:27 PM

YOU MEAN I CAN'T SMOKE AT THE MOVIE THEATER ANY MORE EITHER?!?!?! THE HORROR!

3/22/2007 1:12:11 PM

Lots of cities do this, I don't see why Raleigh wouldn't.

I'm sure it's just one supreme court case away of a worker with respiratory problems getting fired for not being able to work around the smoke from being a widely legislated practice.

Quote :

"I'm no fan of tobacco smoke, but if we are going to legislate every stupid area of our existence then maybe we should start by outlawing drinking in pubs. Virtually no one has died at the prime of their life due to second hand smoke but every week a few more are slaughtered as the unfortunate consequence of somebody's poor decision making with alcohol. Not to mention domestic abuse etc... Lets make that illegal first its doing more damage to soceity. I don't know of cases where smoking has caused child abuse, do you?"

Well you see, drunk driving and domestic abuse are legislated as illegal aleady.

I hate smoke in bars so I'd be glad to see it banned. But personally I'd like for the bars to ban it not the city but that probably won't happen. Bars might want to do it but think they can't because it'll alienate a part of their business and wouldn't work unless all bars banned it.


[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 1:24 PM. Reason : adsf]

3/22/2007 1:18:21 PM

^x6


I'm opposed to this in principal, but if its done at all, inserting a clause which exempted establishments whose primary purpose was to serve alcohol, would probably take care of it practically.

[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 1:22 PM. Reason : .]

3/22/2007 1:19:14 PM

i don't understand why bars should get a special exemption. . .

[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 1:28 PM. Reason : .]

3/22/2007 1:25:09 PM

[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 1:28 PM. Reason : dble -- fllood control]

3/22/2007 1:28:26 PM

my views on politics make me against this type of regulation.

my views on not smelling like shit make me not really care about my political views though.

3/22/2007 1:38:26 PM

Quote :

"People act like its a constitutional right to smoke around other people."

People act like its a constitutional right to be able to dictate what does or doesn't happen in someone else's private business

3/22/2007 1:44:46 PM

it's a state law. it's well within a state's right to regulate things which affect public health.

[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 1:45 PM. Reason : .]

3/22/2007 1:45:13 PM

how does what happens in someone's PRIVATE business affect public health?

i have ZERO problem with banning smoking in any govt buildings, etc...but I do have a problem with telling private business owners what to do in their private business

[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 1:48 PM. Reason : .]

3/22/2007 1:48:08 PM

so you are ok with lifting sanitation laws?

3/22/2007 1:50:04 PM

^^you have a problem with health codes in restaurants?

[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 1:50 PM. Reason : .]

3/22/2007 1:50:14 PM

So if a law passed that said you cant play music in your bar...that wouldnt bother you

3/22/2007 1:52:49 PM

music will not give me ear cancer.

[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 1:57 PM. Reason : !]

3/22/2007 1:56:57 PM

music doesn't pose an inherent risk to my health

3/22/2007 1:57:05 PM

of course it would...and like i said, politically, i dont agree with the smoking ban.

that doesnt change that there are already laws in affect to regulate private businesses in relation to public health.

3/22/2007 1:58:22 PM

Quote :

"i don't understand why bars should get a special exemption. . ."

Now you've quit preachin' and started meddlin'.

3/22/2007 1:58:40 PM

loud music can make you go deaf

hey, i'm not the one who started with the lame ass comparisons about public health and sanitation

3/22/2007 2:03:47 PM

so please tell us what the point of sanitation is?

[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 2:05 PM. Reason : d]

3/22/2007 2:05:04 PM

please tell us what property rights are

3/22/2007 2:06:49 PM

Twista: For someone who was bitching about John Edwards causing increases in healthcare you don't seem to care about legislation that would lead to a decrease in exposure to a substance that also causes increases in healthcare.

double standard much?

3/22/2007 2:08:25 PM

stick to the question. you are claiming that comparing public health and sanition is "lame". im just curious why you think that. imo, they go hand in hand.

3/22/2007 2:08:38 PM

Quote :

"stick to the question"

pot kettle with your sanitation law comments

imo property rights go hand in hand with the rights of the property owner in a private bar

3/22/2007 2:09:59 PM

why should bars get a special exemption again?

3/22/2007 2:10:42 PM

because I smoke when I drink doooooood!

3/22/2007 2:11:45 PM

your opinion doesnt really matter here. laws are already in place that routinely regulate public health in private establishments.

3/22/2007 2:12:31 PM

good thing your opinion doesnt matter either since i was smoking in a bar last night and i didnt get arrested for it...hell i wasnt even the only one doing it!

3/22/2007 2:13:19 PM

of course it doesnt. whats your point?

3/22/2007 2:14:11 PM

my point is that banning something like smoking in a private business is a violation of private property rights

you already admitted the only reason you'd be for this is due to the smell of your clothes after a night at the bar, and that you disagree with it constitutionally

3/22/2007 2:15:28 PM

does the state have a right to regulate things they deem as important to public health?

3/22/2007 2:17:03 PM