Banning smoking in public places? isnt it the thin edge of the wedge?

It really depends. If the public place is indoors, then I agree that smoking should be banned. Who wants to be in a room full of smoke? If it is outdoor public places. the problem is with the lazy smokers who just dropped their butts on the ground and walk off. I don't smoke and I prefer to breathe clean, fresh air especially due to the fact that I am allergic to ciggies.

as sad as it is, yea I think we will eventually end up with the "morality police" watching our every move and hounding us every chance they get...I've actually heard over the past few/many months that there is talk about banning smoking in your car and home if you have kids etc too...(though the exact threat I dont remember but thats the basic idea)...personally I think thats REALLY pushing it..who in the hell has the right to tell me what I can or cant do in my own flippin home and on my own damn property??? I personally think that money and time would be better served on more pressing issues like oh I dunno..poverty for example :-/

Absolutely! Apparently here in the US we don't care about freedom at all. We only care about our own sacred cows. We demand the nanny state ensure we are comfortable, then whine that our rights are being taken away. Let the owners and managers of a business decide what legal products can be used in their establishments! Let those who don't agree with the owners and managers take their business elsewhere.

I think they are crossing the line when the say that they are trying to make it against the law to smoke in my own automobile and home. My civil rights are obviously of not importance to the ban smoking fanatics.

I think banning smoking in public places is an excellent idea. Here in VA, we are trying to do this very thing. If someone wants to smoke, let them go outside away from others who do not want to inhale it. Secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous as smoking it yourself.

There seems to be something of a reversal in this country at the moment. We have some people getting away with the most violent acts and otherwise law-abiding people getting severely penalised relatively minor offences often committed in ignorance or error. And what's worse nobody seems to be addressing this imbalance.. all we get is a load of rhetoric and then... nothing. You say "if we allow this"... Are we going to get a choice?

I know what you mean Eskarena, and I do agree with you. People are adults not children in need of a babysitter. Are we bringing big brother to watch over us? WHen one decides that knows better and will make people do something because it's for their own good.... where does freedom of choice end and autocracy start? It bothers me because even though people believe this is done for our own good, believe me, the concern is not about us, it's not out of caring for us.. if it was then maybe they could start with all the pollutants throw in the air by industry, cars, factories etc. But getting rid of that would affect money and economy, of course. ANy form of restriction like that creates a precedent that will open the way to more restrictions in the name of " we know better what is good or bad for you" and that's what worries me, sorry for the ones who support it but instead they can teach common sense and most problems with smoking would be solved ( if you smoke, be considerate of others, don't smoke unless in a designated area, etc etc - and if you don't smoke, make your choices, move away from someone who is smoking, choose non smoking places and restaurants which are the majority nowadays anyways, if everyone uses common sense then things can work without big brother) none of this will protect you from all the other harming stuff in our air, but at least it will make you feel better that you avoided second hand smoke.

I hate people smoking in front of me, especially some public occasions, the circulation of air is not the case, if coupled with the more smoke, this kind of feeling is obnoxious, I think as a gentleman should have this kind of consciousness, which is a basic quality.