Same thing here, Shawn, and I just read in the newspaper that our city council is considering banning smoking in parks as well. Sheesh.We already lost the battle against indoor smoking bans up here in Ontario. As a result its sometimes impossible to go to a restaurant - specifically in poor weather - and have an after dinner cigar because you aren't even allowed to smoke underneath the over hang of a permanent structure... Public parks are even more of a joke.
I can most definitely agree with keeping smoking away from children or places where they may come into contact with the refuse produced by it, but banning smoking in parks all together is a little extreme. Many work places, government buildings, and even universities now have designated smoking areas, so why can't public parks? Surely an approach such as this doesn't solve all the problems that parties on both sides of the argument wish to resolve, but at the very least it would be much more feasible way to work towards meeting somewhere in the middle as opposed to stripping people of their right to enjoy a smoke.Same thing here, Shawn, and I just read in the newspaper that our city council is considering banning smoking in parks as well. Sheesh.
Edit...Some of our city councillors are willing to consider a smoking ban in public parks which is what an Alberta group is suggesting. They are suggesting that the city start with playgrounds and areas where large groups of people congregate, and move from there.
Now comes the conundrum. I have no issue with them outlawing smoking at a playground where children are at play, and will come in contact with left behind cigarette butts. I'm a conscientious cigar smoker, and butt out my cigar and then place it in a trash bin where it belongs. The wife on the other hand....grrrrr...So I can see their point on playgrounds. At least there's one councillor who is willing to man up and say that this probably is not a good idea.
Anti tobacco "people" are nearly impossible to fight, they come in the form of lobbyists and interests groups, as well as social movements devoted to stopping smoking for varying reasons. By and large, whether or not you should be able to smoke in a public place rests largely on the view of the public. Smokers today are a minority and local government - i.e city councilor's and aldermen - will often act to appease groups with the largest number of eligible voters, in this case non-smokers, this isn't ALWAYS the case but, unfortunately, it is often a sad reality.Wow! I wonder how enforced this will be? I mean you don't need a license to go outside or even ID so will you get arrested if you don't have ID because you are having a cigar in a park? I really think these anti tobacco people need to grow a pair and stop it already. I mean smoking in buildings and such I can see but outside now?
Isn't that democracy, the will of the majority? They get together, pool a lot of money to use to push their cause and if they have enough people and more importantly money they get their way. I know the Constitution is there to give us rights, but lets be honest if a majority of Americans want something they will expect the government to not allow some silly document to get in the way, and since the official likes their job they usually go with the majority.Smokers today are a minority and local government - i.e city councilor's and aldermen - will often act to appease groups with the largest number of eligible voters, in this case non-smokers, this isn't ALWAYS the case but, unfortunately, it is often a sad reality.
Well if you want to get technical, its lobbyists and interest groups that do the "pushing". They hire lawyers, spokespersons, add agencies etc. to change the view of the public, and, in turn, the will of politicians to suit their needs. Really its manipulating the system, but we call it democracy.Isn't that democracy, the will of the majority? They get together, pool a lot of money to use to push their cause and if they have enough people and more importantly money they get their way. I know the Constitution is there to give us rights, but lets be honest if a majority of Americans want something they will expect the government to not allow some silly document to get in the way, and since the official likes their job they usually go with the majority.
Lets be honest, it is the same reason people can have assault rifles, and I am sure many of you don't mind using the same system to get gun laws on your side so can you blame non-smokers for doing the same to get their way?
Hail the Terminator! Destroyer of anti-smoking bills!hey, arnold did something decent. he vetoed the bill!!!