Our town is about to have it's normal votes that come around this time of year. Rageandlove....muffinsandsex....you both have probably become aware of this by now.

While people are arguing that smoking is bad and that it kills, there is no reason to ban smoking in public places.
Yet, while people are arguing that it's alright and that it's the business owner's choice, there is still reason to ban public smoking.


If passed, this city smoking ban will not allow public buildings to have smoking inside them. Instead, smoking must be done at a minimum of 25 feet from any exit.

This has been passed around town many a time and every time, I hear a new point made. I'll argue to some of these...



My parents believe that the government should not be given the power to tell buildings whether they can or cannot allow smoking. While I agree with this, I must argue that it would be nice to be able to go into Bruffs (local bar & grill that's currently ALL smoking) and not spend the whole time with my shirt up over my nose and smell like smoke when I leave.

But...If he doesn't want our business, that's his decision. And while smoking businesses lose business already, they would be losing a lot more if the ban took place.


Another point made is that a smoking ban would be bad for the kids; they'd see people smoking everywhere. But honestly....they see people smoking anyway. It's the parents decision to tell them it's bad, if a parent is that dense that they think it will increase the odds of their kid winding up as a smoker, they have another thing coming. It's not like they don't go to restaurants that allow smoking, anyway.

Not only would it keep the smokers away, but it would keep the non-smokers away, too. A building that was normally smoking, but converts to non is still going to have the lingering smell. Also, what few smokers do continue to go to that business will have to smoke outside. Granted, there's wind, but the non-smokers get aggravated enough as it is when they walk through a cloud of cigarette smoke trying to get into a building.


Final point; it's bad for the little businesses. Even The Blind (local bar, first to willingly be smoke-free) would suffer from this. Not only would there be [forced] competition, but they have a patio out back where people can smoke if they want.