Pennsylvania Smoking ban still smolders

Key lawmakers appear to be favoring a public smoking ban that would exempt small taverns and most of casino floors while allowing private clubs to decide their own smoking policies.

[Jeff]

Works for me.

[JWB]

Hopefully a sense of reasonableness and fairness is guiding this, which in this day and age is increasingly unusual from Legislators.

[Mark]

Does NOT work for me. In fact it is incredibly stupid. There may as well be no smoking ban at all under these conditons. The statement of making it easier to enforce with these regulations is nothing short of political jibberish. NO SMOKING IN BUILDINGS is the easiest to enforce and the most effective ban, period.
Taverns can fudge their books to show whatever food sale percentage they like. It is how some stay open on Sundays now.
Allowing clubs to set their own policies, now there's a complete joke ! Gee .... I wonder what they'll choose ??? Families and children go to these clubs and all paying members are not smokers.
I'm an ex-smoker myself and would have had no problem stepping outside for a smoke YEARS ago when a REAL ban should have been in place.

[Clubs]

The clubs are private so they should be able to make their own rules. They have governing bodies to establish rules and enforce them. If you have a problem you can make a motion for a change as a member. Otherwise you don't have to be a member of the club. I don't understand why people think that just because the majority do something everyone else needs to or else. Isn't this part of the reason private clubs were created, to cater to the needs of similar thinking people with similar interests.

[Mark]

Clubs wrote:

The clubs are private so they should be able to make their own rules. They have governing bodies to establish rules and enforce them. If you have a problem you can make a motion for a change as a member. Otherwise you don't have to be a member of the club. I don't understand why people think that just because the majority do something everyone else needs to or else. Isn't this part of the reason private clubs were created, to cater to the needs of similar thinking people with similar interests.

These aren't needs of similar thinking people with similar interests. This is about being subject to to a situation that puts health at risk.
I understand the point you're trying to make and given almost any other topic, I'd agree with you. But this is not about dress code, drink prices, club hours, etc.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to matter and it appears that a joke of a smoking ban wil be approved. I will remember your statement and will see how many clubs I have to choose from that won't allow smoking. My guess is "0".

[antoinette]

The hospital where I work just became a "Non-Smoking" Hosipital. Very upsetting! I'm not blowing it into patients' faces! I walk as far away from the hospital as possible to be polite..but now there are patrolmen. No smoking=cranky nurses (although I'm a medical assistant). I say if you are outside, you can smoke. If you're inside, it's up to the owner of the establishment. There's no smoking in my house, but feel free to use the porch. That's how it should be everywhere! My as well ban cigarettes altogether next. And alcohol too!

[thecynic]

Mark wrote:

<quoted text>
These aren't needs of similar thinking people with similar interests. This is about being subject to to a situation that puts health at risk.
I understand the point you're trying to make and given almost any other topic, I'd agree with you. But this is not about dress code, drink prices, club hours, etc.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to matter and it appears that a joke of a smoking ban wil be approved. I will remember your statement and will see how many clubs I have to choose from that won't allow smoking. My guess is "0".

All this bitchin while you sit there destroying your liver with alchohol, haha

[galvodog6]

antoinette wrote:

The hospital where I work just became a "Non-Smoking" Hosipital. Very upsetting! I'm not blowing it into patients' faces! I walk as far away from the hospital as possible to be polite..but now there are patrolmen. No smoking=cranky nurses (although I'm a medical assistant). I say if you are outside, you can smoke. If you're inside, it's up to the owner of the establishment. There's no smoking in my house, but feel free to use the porch. That's how it should be everywhere! My as well ban cigarettes altogether next. And alcohol too!

no disrespect meant to u.. but as a former RN in NY.. the smoking ban was 500 feet from the property line in any medical facility... try doing that in the freezing cold!

[lol]

Mark wrote:

Does NOT work for me. In fact it is incredibly stupid. There may as well be no smoking ban at all under these conditons. The statement of making it easier to enforce with these regulations is nothing short of political jibberish. NO SMOKING IN BUILDINGS is the easiest to enforce and the most effective ban, period.
Taverns can fudge their books to show whatever food sale percentage they like. It is how some stay open on Sundays now.
Allowing clubs to set their own policies, now there's a complete joke ! Gee .... I wonder what they'll choose ??? Families and children go to these clubs and all paying members are not smokers.
I'm an ex-smoker myself and would have had no problem stepping outside for a smoke YEARS ago when a REAL ban should have been in place.

I love when these fascists speak openly of their desire to control the lives of other adults.

It is too bad they did not live in the Nazi era...they would have felt so good--imposing their "superior" know-it-all values on others.

Hail Hitler!! Now step in line!!

[Clubs]

I don't see the Moose doing it the Home or the Eagles doing it. I do think it's possible that clubs like the Elks or the K of C might depending on the members. Let's face it some of the clubs really are not family oriented enviroments. People go for the cheap booze and to play the jars and see a band or kereoke from time to time. Why some people take kids out to a place like that for dinner never made sense to me, but it's not my right to tell other people what to do.

Mark wrote:

<quoted text>
These aren't needs of similar thinking people with similar interests. This is about being subject to to a situation that puts health at risk.
I understand the point you're trying to make and given almost any other topic, I'd agree with you. But this is not about dress code, drink prices, club hours, etc.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to matter and it appears that a joke of a smoking ban wil be approved. I will remember your statement and will see how many clubs I have to choose from that won't allow smoking. My guess is "0".