"What are you to do, arrest me for smoking?" ( a rant)

United States
March 5, 2011 5:32pm CST
Remember this line from Basic Instinct? Sharon lights a cigarette at the police station while she is being interrogated.Well this question can now be asked in Northern Virginia standing outside at a bus stop! I just read a sign at my bus stop that says there is no smoking Anywhere outside! If caught it is a 25.00 fine. i thought here we go, Soon All smokers will be shipped away to a remote state and they Must stay until they are not smokers! I can see not smoking in a restaurant. Or in a school or hospital but outside?! There is enough open air for a smoker and a non smoker to co exist!From all of this you may assume I am a smoker but I am not. In fact I am allergic to cigarette smoke.But I am for smoker's rights. Last time I heard , tobacco was still legal! But then again , it may not be! Your thoughts.
3 people like this
8 responses
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
9 Mar 11
I am not a smoker, and I can't stand smoke indoors. But I respect other people's right to choose for themselves. If they want to smoke, even if others deem it unhealthy, it is still their choice. I also understand giving designated spots for smokers. Where they can light up and not bother non-smokers. What I don't understand is making a bus stop part of the 'non-smoking area' too! I would assume that the bus stop is not in-doors, so why would it matter?!
2 people like this
• United States
10 Mar 11
I'm assuming because non smokers are at the bus stop too. I am telling you , they Will grab all the smokers one day , put them on a train to a western state and leave them there. Parents that smoke will be seprated from their children. It seems like this is the path we are on!
1 person likes this
@Mickie30 (2626)
6 Mar 11
I cannot stand smokers. Even though I once was one. Why should I have to take in the fumes of someone smoking when I don't smoke myself? Why should my 5 year old son and 16 month old boy have to breath it in? That is wrong. Yes, good on them. There should be a ban against smoking. In particular smokers should not be able to force their smoke down none smokers throats. The amount of times I have had to inhale someone's smoke. Walking past someone who is smoking and getting a big breath of their fumes and then nearly choking because of it. That's not fair! However, for the responsible smokers who care about others then if they are having problems giving up they should be helped. People who still want to smoke should be aware of none smokers and make sure that they don't smoke near none smokers. They should be aware not to breath their fumes down a none smokers throat. I don't want to be inhaling someone's smoke when I choose not to smoke. I don't mind people smoking as long as they do it well away from me and my family.
• United States
7 Mar 11
Agreed. The world is bigg enough for all of us , non smoker and smoker. There should be consideration on Both sides. Oops ! You made her a boy! I won't tell , lol!
• United States
7 Mar 11
• Canada
13 Mar 11
I have to disagree with you on this one. Often times, I'll be walking with my smoking husband, and the wind will change, and I'll get a lungfull of second hand smoke. As long as the wind's not blowing in someone else's direction, they won't be affected, but the moment the wind changes, there will be a problem.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Mar 11
Keep Hubby up in Canada where he is safe! Here , especially in Fairfax County Virginia , that walk while smoking will cost 250.00! I agree , if the wind is just right , smoke will come your way. What I disagree with is making smokers second class citizens. If smoking is deadly , outlaw it , all of it I mean jail the growers! But they can't do that, there is way too many taxes involved.So there are all these rules that smokers will break.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
6 Mar 11
I agree...smoker or not...there are rights. I mean..they sell them in the stores..they tax the crap out of them..how can they treat people like criminals for doing it. Last I checked a smoker paid triple the taxes that a non smoker paid. Where do people think that extra money is going to come from once people do quit smoking? I can understand the ban on smoking in resturants and hospitals too..in any business facility for that matter...but outside is a little much for me too. I read that there is a hospital..I can't remember where it is...but they were giving nicotine tests to potential employees. They weren't going to hire anyone that smoked. I thought that was a little much too. I mean they could go to their car or a designated area.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Mar 11
Only $25 bucks? Here no one can smoke within 15 feet of any business, let alone inside any. First time offense it is $250 and the business $500 if they allow someone to do it in front regardless if they know the person or not, to prevent the businesses from allowing it. Second offense and so on doubles! Wow and not it is not illegal. Just cannot do it freely anywhere.
• United States
6 Mar 11
Wow! A non smoker's State!
• United States
6 Mar 11
I could honestly understand if smoking was made illegal, it's so deadly and so addictive. But as long as it is legal, it should allowed outside! It isn't really affecting anyone else in an open air environment. I can understand completely if it isn't allowed indoors, or even outside at places that aren't public. But if you are somewhere that you cannot smoke outside and you can't smoke inside, you are basically reduced to doing all your smoking at home, and that just seems ridiculous.
• United States
6 Mar 11
Exactly.I think that's what they to happen but guess what , smokers are going to smoke outside!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
5 Mar 11
It truly amazes me that they continue to constantly find something to pick on with the smokers! And raise taxes on them! I too think it's important that people have certain rights...if they really wanted everyone to quit smoking they should make it illegal for them to raise tabacco!
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Mar 11
I'm allergic to smoke too... but it's made me against people's right to smoke. lol I go to college and 95% of my classmates are smokers. They're not supposed to smoke in the halls or the courtyards... but they do. They always come back from breaks smelling like smoke. I'm not fond of choking and gagging my way through class. I know it's their "right" to smoke... but I don't like it much to be honest. [em]rofl[/em ]If it were up to me... nobody would have the right to smoke. But it's not up to me.
1 person likes this