Reply #18: As a smoker... [View All]

[ltfranklin]

I have no problem with the city, state or federal government setting reasonable limits on the amount of smoke in the air of a public place. But if the public place is willing to install systems to keep the ambient smoke level down to below that limit, I think that it should be allowed to do so, with adequate warnings at the door for those that may wish to take their business to a bar with no smoking. Personally, I think that if you can install systems that keep the level of airborne particles down to, say, the level on the average city street, what's the problem? I doubt that so many bars would do so, given the expense of these kind of systems, that it would mean people that don't want ANY smoke in the air would not have many alternatives...unlike smokers, who don't have ANY alternative if the government completely bans smoking bars.

As I recall, the government already has regulations stating the allowed amount of rat droppings and insect parts in the food you get served at said restaurant. So they're already saying it's OK for you to have rat droppings and insect parts in your buffalo wings, as long as you don't have TOO MANY rat droppings and insect parts.

And don't say the ban should be there because of the people that work there...unless you're willing to give the guys who work on city streets air filter masks. People make decisions every day as to how much risk they want to take for a given job. I wouldn't want to work as a Steel-Worker, although the pay is pretty good, the risks just aren't worth it to me...but I wouldn't keep somebody else from doing the job just because it's dangerous.

Of course, that's just me...your milage may vary.