Poll: Should Kansas ban smoking in public places?

[dsato]

Should Kansas ban smoking in public places? What are your thoughts? Be sure to vote on our homepage as well.

[ksdoglady]

I would love it.  Don't know about the "should" part, but my husband and I went to a nice dinner/dance place in Wichita last weekend, and I couldn't really enjoy myself due to all the terrible smoke.  Even though the food was good, and the place was really fun, I wouldn't go back.

[Insert_Name]

I believe something like that should be left an option for the business owner. For one, the Government has it's hands in too many pots as it were, and if they try to control any more aspects of basic freedom of choice we will have to sign up with the communistic countries. I understand the medical factor of backhand smoke, but if it needs to be decided if you can or can't do something in a public area it should fall on the person running the place. It would be them who pay for what the state decides in this matter. Look hard at the Grain Bin... then try to convince me it closing had nothing to do with smoking being banned in city limits. I see that many businesses that linger in county and chose to continue to allow smoking at their establishment are still open. If you don't like how an establishment is run, don't go there. The State and Government Officials need to be looking at the big problems, like work and the economy. So far all I see the people wanting to talk about is having them regulate personal habits and grocery bags. Come on.

[Bucksboy]

I completely disagree with Insert_name about the ban on smoking. People have the right to go into any public place without having to deal with smoke from other people's tobacco. Smoker's do not have the right to make others sick, or have their clothes stink just because of a smoker's addiction. You can call it government intrusion if you so desire, but we have many laws to protect us, examples of this would be speed limits, and seat belt laws. They too may be controversial however they are their only to protect society.
What I do not understand is how the state can not ban smoking in casinos when it is banned in almost all other places in the state! How goofy is that?

[NANNY]

IF THEY DO THAT THEN ALL BARS SHOULD BE BAN TO  FROM DRINKING

[Bucksboy]

I do not understand you last statement NANNY.

[Insert_Name]

Perhaps that drinking also affects the health of others is what Nanny means. What my point was in my statement is that overall, it affects the business owners in establishments they are trying to make a living from. It should be their choice, and most likely you'd end up with a good average of businesses for both personal choices. I don't drink so I don't frequent bars, and I don't eat seafood so I don't eat at Golden Dragon (they have a large selection of it I learned). People will go to where their preferences are met.

[Bucksboy]

What is hard for me to understand is, how people are unwilling to see how terrible smoking is for people! Whether you are the smoker or somebody that has inhaled the second hand smoke, it really does not make that much difference. Tobacco has killed more people and put more people on oxygen than any other substance. I know the addiction, I smoked for 28 years. Nobody, yes nobody can tell me people should have the right to smoke where ever they desire, thus taking away the right of nonsmokers. I have the right to go into any public place without the fear of breathing second hand smoke. That has nothing to do with sea food or drinking of alcohol. The reason I have that right is because tobacco should be totally banned from use. What once was socially acceptable is no longer.

[Insert_Name]

You say that has nothing to do with alcohol and next say people have the right to not be exposed to smoke inhalation, do you not believe then that people have the right to drive down the road without being exposed to alcohol induced accidents? My take on this is not regarding if smoking is bad for you or not, this is not the issue for me, it is the amount of choice being taken away. I never said the issue of harm from smoking wasn't important, nor that I disagree with you. I disagree with the government being brought in to address it. Business owners should have the option, same as the general public has the option to not frequent locations that don't provide the atmosphere preferred. While your opinions are more medically based, mine are political. I don't like the idea of more and more freedom of choice being removed. My regarding 'sea food' is to point out that I utilize my right to choose the establishments that meet my preference, and if you don't like a place because they choose to allow smoking, by all means don't spend your money there. Your statement that it should be banned is a matter of opinion, same as statements I make myself. That is the strength in this country. I fear that with every ban forcing conformity another step closer to the loss of that strength. I think you have the right to be a nonsmoker, down to not being exposed at all. I also think smokers have the right to be smokers, without worry they will upset others.

[Bucksboy]

We are a nation of laws. We do not want to be exposed to activities that endanger our lives. That is why we have laws against driving under the influence of alcohol. That is why we have laws that regulate our speed when we drive. That also is why we have a law to protect us from tobacco smoke. Once again you want to give the smoker a right to stop me from going somewhere because his right to smoke! That is just plain wrong.
I agree we do not want the government to regulate everything we do. We do however have to have laws that protect us from others as well as from ourselves. An example of this would be the seat belt law. Many people believe they have a right to drive or ride in a vehicle without wearing a seatbelt. I understand those people's resistance to that law much more than people's resistance to the smoking ban, unless they are smokers. By the way I wear my seat belt whenever I am riding in a moving vehicle.

[Bucksboy]

And what do the British say about smoking!?

[Insert_Name]

"Once again you want to give the smoker a right to stop me from going somewhere because his right to smoke! That is just plain wrong." This is not what I said. Business owners pay leases and mortgages and have to meet all other licensing requirements, for this I believe it should be their right to choose what they allow in their establishment.

And, I'm not British, unless you are I don't see the relevance.

[Bucksboy]

Your last posting makes no sense.

[John Candle]

Smoking will be banned in all public places. Smokers do not have the right to make other people sick.

[Bucksboy]

Now that posting makes sense, and I certainly agree with it!