It's a free country...

Smoking kills, it kills others it kills the person that is smoking. I see nothing wrong with the laws we have in place right now to protect children from chain smoking parents in a small confined place such as a car. Sorry but there is reason for this. As far as smoking in public what about my right not to have my lungs infected with that crap. (can you tell I am a non smoker, who has asthma and three medically fragile children, premature, lungs not developed) I do not see smoking as a right. It is fine if you want to do something that is going to put your life in danger, or could harm your health but when that same act could harm the health of others it is different.

Can I ask where are you from? (yes, I am a smoker) When I was living in Jersey they were trying to pass the law, no smoking in cars. In upstate new york they passed the law no smoking with kids in the car. I understand the whole no smoking with kids, but if I don't have kids, don't tell me I can't smoke in a car that I bought with my money, and I am paying the bills on. And at that point I feel if you are going to take away my smoking privilege then can I complain about the person standing next to me that showered in perfume/cologne? I heard, I don't know how true it is that in NC they want to start charging tax if you own a cow, cause of when it passes gas. I really hope that was a joke.

in our state....no going without a seat belt...which is funny as you are enclosed in a car but if you are riding a motorcycle you can go without a helmet? dah!

There's plenty of stuff you can't do in a "free" country. Free doesn't mean void of rule and order. Things deemed detrimental to a society are not freedoms. Now, what people actually deem detrimental to society is up for debate. You will always have people who think they should be free to do this, free to do that, and free to do whatever they please. I witnessed an example of not-so-free freedom just yesterday. I don't mean to get into a political thing here, but Michael Steele said that a lot of liberals only voted for Obama because, since he was black, it would relieve their "guilt." Now, he has freedom of speech and can say what he wants, even if you disagree with it. But Steele is black. If a white man would have said it, that "freedom" of speech wouldn't be so free. It would be deemed detrimental to society and the sayer would be punished. Our freedoms are still here. Unfortunately, we all have to accept that there are certain things we're just not free to do. The way I get my head around this is to compare what America is with other countries of the world. I personally enjoy a lot of freedoms. The ones I don't enjoy, like drinking in public if I wanted and saying what I feel without being torn to shreds, I can live without. My theory on America is simple: As a citizen, you should always be willing to conform to your country. If there are true injustices in the US (and not just petty grievances), we live in a country that allows for PERMANENT change! However, the person that tries to make America fit their personal lifestyle is always going to find something wrong with it. Weighing your wants against someone else's wants, who's right? That's the idea behind democracy -- a majority of the people rule. There are plenty of things that I don't think are very "free" in America. But there's nowhere else I'd rather be. We're the country that the rest of the world aspires to, even if they won't readily admit it ;)

I hear in some parts of Georgia, you get a fine if your underwear is showing. As for the smoking legislation, I think, if more Smokers lobbied against the government passing the law, then the law wouldn't have been passed. But since, the people lobbying to get the law passed out numbered those lobbying against, then well what can you do. In a democracy, as a citizen, you have as much power in what you can do to influence your congress people, as the power they hold.

I am not a smoker. You think this is not a free country because a lot area is not allowed. I disagree about this. For example, you have the right to use knife to hurt yourself, but it is forbidden to hurt others, so you also think our country is not a free country? You can smoke and can kill your health, but if your action have influence to others, then you would lose the free to do so.

I don't think it's about smokers having no rights anymore than homosexuals having no rights...it's about balancing both sides so that both sides have rights. Smokers have a right to smoke...in certain areas...to balance out that non-smokers have the right not to have to breathe in second hand smoke in certain areas. The problem comes in that alot of smokers have been able to smoke just where ever they want and haven't had to think about the non-smokers...now they do and they don't like it. At the same time, non-smokers have to realize that smokers are going to smoke so their not going to make them quit by telling them they can't smoke anywhere. I'm a non-smoker, I quit years ago, but Hubby is a smoker. I don't like it and I wish he'd quit but he smoked when we met and I married him anyways so I don't hassle him about it. Most of the time he's in the house but when he has to go to the doctors then he respects their signs of not smoking in the building. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]

On the smoking thing, I have to say that I understand some of the limits put on smokers. I think the idea is that we are "free" to do what we want as long as what we are doing doesn't infringe on another person's rights. Smoking in public infringes on the rights of other's to breathe relatively clean air... I don't have anything against smokers. I grew up with my dad and my grandmother blowing smoke in my face at the dinner table... But, I can understand wanting to prevent people (kids too!) from having to breathe second hand smoke. As to where the line should be drawn on the rights of smokers vs the rights on non-smokers, I won't even venture a guess. It's not a battle I choose to fight or even contemplate. To answer your question about other examples of us not being "free". The first two things that come to mind are helmet laws and seatbelt laws. I guess if a person doesn't value their own life enough, who are we to make them wear a seatbelt or motorcycle helmet? Again, I somewhat understand these laws, but I am more opposed to making someone wear a motorcycle helmet than I am opposed to limiting where people can smoke.

I'm a smoker and I do understand the whole smoking around the kids issues. I used to smoke around my kids years ago but that was before it was shown how damaging that can be. I don't smoke in my home and i don't smoke in my car if I have my daughter or anyone for that matter that doesn't smoke. I try to be considerate. I don't know as it needs to be a law. Most people if they are aware that something is harmful to their kids would refrain from doing it. Education would seem to be more effective than more orders.

There are some others perhaps. The word "free" does not mean free to do anything, but realize others' right?

I live in the Philippines and we are not fee either when it comes to smoking. There is a law in out city that no smoking in cars, public placesm malls etc. But people here don't obey. They keep on smoking anywhere they wanted. But we are free when it comes to religion because no one will stop anybody to share his faith to others. No body will stop them to avoid offending any other religion? Nope not that in the Philippines, So, we are a free country than US.. hahaha

Smoking is injures to health. It is clearly known that smoking infront of childern or non-smokers effects the health of both the smokers and the non-smokers. If you want to smoke go to a private place where no one is around so that you can smoke in peace. As long as homosexual is concern we have no right to interfere in others business. Like you say this is a free country.

Iit's a real free country.i hate smoking.smoking is not only unhealthy to smokers but also to on-smokers.it's unfair to second-hand smokers

i'm not a smoker,but i can understand these smokers.i have some friends who smoke many years,and they want to give up,but most of them fail to achieve it. what's the real reason?i think it's too complicated,we are not heavy smoker,so we cannot imagine it.i think all smokers know smoking in not healthy,but....

I think more people know that smoking is harmful for their health,but some people like smoking,for example my father and my some friends,the smokers mayber have many reason to smoke but i think smoker behavior can not effact other people,e.g public place ,home and car etc,we know the second smoker is more harm for others,so you have right to smoke ,but please no harm others ,no matter smoking signs or not

of course we are 'free',why not.but when we have the right of free,at the same time.others also have the right too.so you can use you 'free' right to challenge others right.right?if you want you free right to smoke.but others also have there right to not smoke and not be influented.right?so never forget the earth is our human beings.not you own.thanks.

coming from a person that used to smoke to one that doesn't now, i think that it should be up to the individual on what should be put int here body. there are other ways of killing yourself, people usually find them.