More on Smoking in California...

[GarMan]

The smoke-NAZIs are furious...  And YES, I said it!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/03/BA1Q1D8VVL.DTL&tsp=1

Schwarzenegger vetoes smoking ban at parks
Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

Monday, May 3, 2010

(05-03) 17:43 PDT Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill today that would have prohibited smoking at nearly all state beaches and parks, saying the law would have been too intrusive and would not have done much to curb litter on California's shoreline.

The groundbreaking legislation would have created the nation's most far-reaching smoking ban in a state that already restricts people from lighting up in cars with children, restaurants and bars. State Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, who authored the bill, said Schwarzenegger's veto stands in "stark contrast to what is already being done at more than 100 local cities and counties statewide," including smoking bans at beaches and parks controlled by local jurisdictions. Oropeza and other supporters said the bill was necessary to cut down on litter, second-hand smoke and forest fires at the 278 parks and 64 beaches owned by the state.

"I'm sorry the governor did not agree with this widely supported effort to increase public awareness about the environmental threats carelessly tossed cigarettes are doing to our marine life and to the great outdoors," Oropeza said in a written statement.

But Schwarzenegger - whose cigar habit is well known - wrote in his one-page veto message that Senate Bill 4 was an "improper intrusion of government into people's lives." Noting that he has supported other smoking bans, the governor nonetheless said that Oropeza's bill "crosses an important threshold between state power and command and local decision making.

"There is something inherently uncomfortable about the idea of the state encroaching in such a broad manner on the people of California," Schwarzenegger wrote. "With respect to marine debris, I understand the challenge cigarette butts cause to our beaches and marine life. But, this bill applies the ban solely to those beaches and parks owned and operated by the state of California ... As we have seen, marine debris and litter know no boundaries."

Schwarzenegger also noted that the state Department of Parks and Recreation has some discretion to ban smoking in parks and beaches under certain circumstances, such as when fire hazards exist.

The bill, which was first introduced as a broader measure in 2006, would have imposed a $100 fine on people who violated the ban. After changes made during the legislative process last year, it exempted all state-owned campsites and parking lots as well as a vehicle recreation area in San Luis Obispo County, and could only have been enforced in areas where signs were posted advertising the ban.

E-mail Marisa Lagos at mlagos@sfchronicle.com. 

[GH2001]

I am for any smoking ban in public.You lose your right to smoke when I lose my right not to have to breath it in against my will.  Plus - if Swartzendumbass did it, we should probably be against it. He's terrible.

[AUTiger1]

Good for the Gov, IMO.   

[GarMan]

I am for any smoking ban in public.You lose your right to smoke when I lose my right not to have to breath it in against my will.  Plus - if Swartzendumbass did it, we should probably be against it. He's terrible. 

Here we go...  I think I agreed with 90+% of your posts in the other threads, but I don't see much opportunity for any of that alleged "back-patting" on this one. 

Nobody is forcing you to breath in anything.  Is a smoker holding you down and blowing it in your face?  Are you tied up in a room with a group of smokers?  Do you have the same opinion of diesel exhaust?  What about excessive perfume or cologne?  How are you losing your "right" when you're perfectly capable of moving away from the situation?  What entitles you to anything when you're out in public?

Next, what's a public place where smoking should be banned?  Is it my backyard?  My front yard?  My driveway?  What about when I'm in my car smoking with the window down?  What about the street, sidewalks, parks and beaches? 

Personally, I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, and I actually experience a bit of an asthmatic/allergic reaction when I'm around too much of it.  But, I smoke cigars, lots of them...  I don't have a problem with natural tobacco, but cigarettes are rough on me.  It's not my place to impose my beliefs, wants or desires on others.  Similarly, I think that most smokers should be courteous enough to be aware when their smoke is bothering another, but when everyone is outside, it’s a significant stretch to start calling for smoke bans. 

[dallaswareagle]

Here we go...  I think I agreed with 90+% of your posts in the other threads, but I don't see much opportunity for any of that alleged "back-patting" on this one. 

Nobody is forcing you to breath in anything.  Is a smoker holding you down and blowing it in your face?  Are you tied up in a room with a group of smokers?  Do you have the same opinion of diesel exhaust?  What about excessive perfume or cologne?  How are you losing your "right" when you're perfectly capable of moving away from the situation?  What entitles you to anything when you're out in public?

Next, what's a public place where smoking should be banned?  Is it my backyard?  My front yard?  My driveway?  What about when I'm in my car smoking with the window down?  What about the street, sidewalks, parks and beaches? 

Personally, I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, and I actually experience a bit of an asthmatic/allergic reaction when I'm around too much of it.  But, I smoke cigars, lots of them...  I don't have a problem with natural tobacco, but cigarettes are rough on me.  It's not my place to impose my beliefs, wants or desires on others.  Similarly, I think that most smokers should be courteous enough to be aware when their smoke is bothering another, but when everyone is outside, it’s a significant stretch to start calling for smoke bans. 

I understand what you are saying, but if I am sitting on a park bench in the public place, and someone sits down next to me, and lights up, why should I have move just to avoid the smoke. Most smokers are not courteous at all. Go out to any street and walk 100 yards in any direction, count how many butts you see.

[AUChizad]

I am for any smoking ban in public.You lose your right to smoke when I lose my right not to have to breath it in against my will.  Plus - if Swartzendumbass did it, we should probably be against it. He's terrible.

Personally, I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, and I actually experience a bit of an asthmatic/allergic reaction when I'm around too much of it.  But, I smoke cigars, lots of them...  I don't have a problem with natural tobacco, but cigarettes are rough on me.

Sounds like you're the Beta-male.

But in all seriousness, I'm with you on this one.

[GH2001]

Here we go...  I think I agreed with 90+% of your posts in the other threads, but I don't see much opportunity for any of that alleged "back-patting" on this one.  

Nobody is forcing you to breath in anything.  Is a smoker holding you down and blowing it in your face?  Are you tied up in a room with a group of smokers?  Do you have the same opinion of diesel exhaust?  What about excessive perfume or cologne?  How are you losing your "right" when you're perfectly capable of moving away from the situation?  What entitles you to anything when you're out in public?

Next, what's a public place where smoking should be banned?  Is it my backyard?  My front yard?  My driveway?  What about when I'm in my car smoking with the window down?  What about the street, sidewalks, parks and beaches?  

Personally, I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, and I actually experience a bit of an asthmatic/allergic reaction when I'm around too much of it.  But, I smoke cigars, lots of them...  I don't have a problem with natural tobacco, but cigarettes are rough on me.  It's not my place to impose my beliefs, wants or desires on others.  Similarly, I think that most smokers should be courteous enough to be aware when their smoke is bothering another, but when everyone is outside, it’s a significant stretch to start calling for smoke bans.  

AWK, Chad - are you watching the good ole boy club here? Back patting?  

Seriously though - if I am out in public (not private property) - a park, a restaurant, etc I have no choice but to breathe in what is there. I cant tell you how many times I have been in a restaurant before and been forced to breathe in that crap against my will. Smokers are not usually the most courteous bastards in the world. Even at Jordan Hare, that little area they have - if I go down to get a drink in line on the concourse, I'm pretty much forced to breathe it in - unless I want to sit in my seat the entire friggin time. Smoke travels! Sure - I can go home and avoid it all. But then who is dictating the public places?  The smokers - and Ive essentially lost any privilege of being able to enjoy a public place without smoke.

Your backyard and your driveway are your property - you can do as you wish. My point is that if someone else is being subjected to that filth against their will in public, the smoker has lost that right. That applies to any right.  If your gonna blow smoke around in public, people in the vicinity have a right NOT to breathe it in.

[GH2001]

[AUChizad]

The language filter "phuked" up the url name.

I recommend turning it off anyway.

[GarMan]

Sounds like you're the Beta-male.

But in all seriousness, I'm with you on this one. 

 

Sweetheart, your man-card was revoked years ago.  Oh...  Wait a minute...  That may just mean that you're a better judge of beta-male character than me.   

I can't control my health situation, especially those items that are genetic. 

[GH2001]

Sweetheart, your man-card was revoked years ago.  Oh...  Wait a minute...  That may just mean that you're a better judge of beta-male character than me.   

I can't control my health situation, especially those items that are genetic. 

Whole lot of Beta-Male'ing going on here.

Why don't you guys just hug and end it....mmmmkkkk??  Alrighty then.

What exactly does "GarMan" mean?

[AWK]

I smoke, but I understand where the complaints come from.  If I am in a restaurant or around a large group of people I will walk away/out to smoke. 

Also, I don't mind having to go outside of a bar to smoke. 

[GH2001]

I smoke, but I understand where the complaints come from.  If I am in a restaurant or around a large group of people I will walk away/out to smoke. 

Also, I don't mind having to go outside of a bar to smoke. 

Good man. Only if all smokers had this mentality.

[Snaggletiger]

I only smoke AWK's cigs

[AWK]

I only smoke AWK's cigs

Fact.  Shark week.  But it's all good because a beer without a cigarette just seems wrong.

[chinook]

I only smoke AWK's cigs

capris?

[AWK]

capris?

Nope, Virginia Slims.

[GarMan]

AWK, Chad - are you watching the good ole boy club here? Back patting?  

I felt like I had been molested...  

Seriously though - if I am out in public (not private property) - a park, a restaurant, etc I have no choice but to breathe in what is there. I cant tell you how many times I have been in a restaurant before and been forced to breathe in that crap against my will. Smokers are not usually the most courteous bastards in the world. Even at Jordan Hare, that little area they have - if I go down to get a drink in line on the concourse, I'm pretty much forced to breathe it in - unless I want to sit in my seat the entire friggin time. Smoke travels! Sure - I can go home and avoid it all. But then who is dictating the public places?  The smokers - and Ive essentially lost any privilege of being able to enjoy a public place without smoke.  

Most of those "public" places are not really public.  It's not the government's place to impose this type of control over the use of that property.  If a particular restaurant or bar allows smoking and you find it offensive, go somewhere else that doesn't allow smoking.  Eventually, when enough people adopt your position, the owners will change their internal policies.  As an example, most restaurants in the area where I live in Georgia were non-smoking long before the state ever passed a silly smoking ban.

Your backyard and your driveway are your property - you can do as you wish. My point is that if someone else is being subjected to that filth against their will in public, the smoker has lost that right. That applies to any right.  If your gonna blow smoke around in public, people in the vicinity have a right NOT to breathe it in.  

Like I said, define "public" very carefully.  If you allow the government to mandate non-smoking policies in privately owned restaurants, bars and other establishments, when do you think they'll start pushing into other private property?  Take your home, for instance.  

[Snaggletiger]

Nope, Virginia Slims.

Thsi^  They're women's cigarettes and they have little boobies on them you can play with while you smoke..but not in public...nudity offends some people.

[GarMan]

Fact.  PRIDE week.  But it's all good because a cock without a cigarette just seems wrong.

FTFY...