Burnt Orange Report

More government regulations, just what we need. Let's take away liberty one law at a time -- California style.

Exactly, which is why we should oppose the Texas Marriage Amendment.

If you think two people of the same sex should have the right to choose to get married, why shouldn't a business owner have the right to choose whether his or her patrons can smoke?

Because of this ordinance, soon you will have fewer choices of downtown bars to attend -- regardless of how you smell.

Which ones were you planning on going to? Just wanted to make a mental note.

I think people should be able to have whatever kind of sex they want and smoke whatever they want...but I don't think they should be able to make me breath their smoke or make me have sex with them :-) Peace kiddies.

Yes, let's get rid of that activity which "kills you and negatively affects those around you" at bars so we can drink our harmless beer and liquor without nuisance.

Excellent point. For those folks who are genuinely health-concerned and live all-around healthy lifestyles, I can understand voting for the ban. But I know way, way, way too many people that voted for the smoking ban because "they hate smelling like smoke", yet still:

1) Don't have safe sex; or
2) Don't mind smelling like booze at the end of the night; or
3) Are comfortable getting in their car after a night of drinking; or
4) Have terrible eating habits...

I could go on and on. This isn't going to make smoking disappear from downtown. It's just going to move it to the street, where second-hand smoking will still be a factor, only now it will affect everyone that goes downtown, and not just those that want to go hang out in a bar.

The ban is little more than a knee-jerk morality law, passed -- not entirely, but primarily -- by people that believe smoking is evil and/or never go downtown anyway.

And, uh, a friend of mine still smokes downtown, in bars. In fact, when I... I mean my friend... asked a bartender if he could smoke on his birthday (which was last friday), she said only if he would let her have a drag, as she was about to have a "nic fit".

And if you go to the Aquarium, they still smoke upstairs. Half the bars have patios anyways, and people smoke up there. And people don't do anything healthy downtown. You go to bars to drink, smoke, fight, get it on and play pool. After last call you eat pizza or tacos. All bad for you.

Oh, and if you don't like second hand smoke, don't go downtown. At least that's the way it should be. You don't have a right to not be inconvenienced at a place that you don't have any obligation to be at.

I also think it is ridiculous the way this town sticks its thumb in the eye of one of its biggest industries--entertainment. Houston is pretty friendly to the energy industry, San Francisco to shipping, New York to high finance. That's because the cornerstone industry of your city provides the foundation for your prosperity and the way of life of the people who live there. Entertainment is a HUGE industry in this town and what people know us for. Our cavalier attitude towards noise ordinances, smoking bans, etc. is ridiculous. Bars are already talking about closing their doors, some are already doing layoffs. Great job, assholes.

Finally, bars now smell like sweat, cleaning solution and skunked beer. Some things smell worse than smoke.

I've been smoking for thirty years and there's nothing wrong with my lung!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/moreletters/chi-gfe2292ao.3oct20,0,2009972.story?coll=chi-newsmoreletters-hed
Smoking issues
Published October 20, 2005

Shall we put this smoking issue in perspective?

Smoke from a handful of crushed leaves and some paper, mixed with the air of a well-ventilated venue is dangerous to your health?

If anybody believes that, then I have a bridge I would like to sell them.

It is not about health and it
never was about health. It is all about de-normalizing smoking.

Unfortunately, the
hospitality sector is caught in the crossfire.

Thomas Laprade

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Copyright © 2005, Chicago Tribune

I think this whole debate or rationalization from smokers is absurd. People you will never convince smoker's that non-smoker's can die, are dying, or have died from second hand smoke, because it is not that they are stupid, or just don't get it. It's simply they don't care because if they did care would they be smoking, or even smoking around their kids, or elderly parents and so on. So when they start crying and gripping about their rights, what about our rights (non-smokers)that we chose, choose, or choosen not to smoke not have the same rights. Also why is it that every workplace, or business that is smoke free always designate the smoking area right by the door....dumb!

Why is it that people ride around with their animals in the back of a pickup truck....come on people use common sense, either put them inside of the vehicle with you or place them inside of a kennel or pet taxi, really that is the least you can do for man best friend. If that does not matter to you I believe it is a law.