Michigan lawmakers vote in favor of smoking ban

A ban on smoking in Michigan bars and restaurants is one step closer to becoming a reality.

[oops]

1st!!!

[Baruch HaShem]

About time, second smoke is a killer and nothing ruins a good dinner then second smoke coming across your table or going home smelling like smoke when you do not smoke.
I totally agree, many children are expose to second hand smoke, employees are expose to second hand smoke and it is a proven case in all aspects that it is dangerous and harmful. Even to your eyesight, hearing and overall health, good I am glade that it is happening.

[Bobbiez]

Hooray for MI...let's become a socialist state with the government telling business owners who they may or may not wish to cater to!!! Let's put some small mom and pop bars out of business!!! Yeah!!! Why will no one give me an answer to the question that I keep asking???? Why should a business owner not have the right to cater to the people they want to??? Why is the state government who is TOO STUPID to figure out a way to balance the budget telling small business owners how to run their business? This is NOT about smoking, it is about government control of the people. I don't smoke, and I'm not particularly into organized religion. However, when I see anyones' rights being taken away,(a business owner's right to choose who to serve so that they may make money and pay taxes, or a person's right to pray) I get angry. Our government is supposed to protect rights...not take them away. Heil Hitler to all of you people who are against free enterprise!! Planning on burning any books soon?

[Gentle Taz]

To me, this is a big smoke screen, based on junk science. Actually, the junk science is the smoke screen. Once they have run a bunch of small businesses out, who will be next? I would be very careful what I wish for. Could end up with something I didn't expect!

Now, if the legislature would just get back to work and do what is best for the state, rather than their perception of what the people (a small minority that makes a lot of noise) want. Our state has many problems that are not being addressed.

[Tat]

I do not agree with the smoking ban. Public places, fine -- but not private enterprise. It should be the business owner's decision, PERIOD. Last time I checked, this was a free country with freedom of choice. I shiver to find out what might be next.

[jtphantom]

Then, as a smoker I want a ban on Alcoholic Beverages of any kind sold too. If I cannot sit in a privately owned business open to the public and have a legal cigarette that does not impair my judgment. Why should a person be able to drink at any privately owned bar then get in their vehicle and drive home? Drunk Drivers get treated better than smokers these days.

Yet, another example of bad decisions based on adults legal rights to chose. Oh did I mention there is a beer tent at the Tulip Festival for charity? What message does that send to anyone?

[Wonderful]

It's about time! Now we can all finally go to bars and other restaurants without reeking of smoke when we leave! Thank you Michigan for protecting NON-smokers! Not to mention the fact that it is extremely rude to smoke around non-smokers. We don't like it, and now we won't have to put up with it anymore! So all of you smokers can just take it outside. Perhaps the inconvenience of having to go outside when it's raining or snowing will actually make you think twice before lighting up. The way I see it, it's better for everyone. It helps you quit smoking (and save some money) and now businesses do not need to operate smoke-eaters, therefore reducing operating costs.

Now, if they could only make it illegal to smoke around children.....

[rontheharleyman]

One more step for total domination from our already controlling government, I am 48 years old and have never smoked, I could never live with a smoker, I also used to bartend for about 7 years and breathed second hand smoke BUT it was my choice, the need for income outweighted complaining about someone else's bad habit. This used to be a "free" country, if you don't smoke and don't like being around it then stay home, you don't like something on T.V. you change the channel, you are supposed to have choices so leave the smokers be, how would you like it if someone told you how to wipe your @*#?!

[rontheharleyman]

jtphantom wrote:

Then, as a smoker I want a ban on Alcoholic Beverages of any kind sold too. If I cannot sit in a privately owned business open to the public and have a legal cigarette that does not impair my judgment. Why should a person be able to drink at any privately owned bar then get in their vehicle and drive home? Drunk Drivers get treated better than smokers these days.
Yet, another example of bad decisions based on adults legal rights to chose. Oh did I mention there is a beer tent at the Tulip Festival for charity? What message does that send to anyone?

You're right! And I don't smoke or drink for that matter.

[rontheharleyman]

Bobbiez wrote:

Hooray for MI...let's become a socialist state with the government telling business owners who they may or may not wish to cater to!!! Let's put some small mom and pop bars out of business!!! Yeah!!! Why will no one give me an answer to the question that I keep asking???? Why should a business owner not have the right to cater to the people they want to??? Why is the state government who is TOO STUPID to figure out a way to balance the budget telling small business owners how to run their business? This is NOT about smoking, it is about government control of the people. I don't smoke, and I'm not particularly into organized religion. However, when I see anyones' rights being taken away,(a business owner's right to choose who to serve so that they may make money and pay taxes, or a person's right to pray) I get angry. Our government is supposed to protect rights...not take them away. Heil Hitler to all of you people who are against free enterprise!! Planning on burning any books soon?

Ditto.

[Kris]

It is about time that lawmakers in Michigan have made a good decision. I saw the smoking ban work very well in the state of California, and there is no reason why it would be any different in Michigan. The smokers will still get to endulge in their bad habit, but not at the risk of others getting sick from second hand smoke. This is long overdue..

[Timothy Davis]

ABOUT TIME !!!

Michigan should not be seen as the final state to put this law into place. If you look around the United States, California, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, and Colorado… as well 24 other states (29 total, Jan 2008) have already placed this into affect. I feel that seeing this going into place is finally about time. As people with asthma, like myself, want to be able to go out and enjoy a night on the town as well.

[bdjunker]

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." ~Voltaire

[Jeff]

Sure, let's focus on smoking bans instead of the way the economy is heading.

[shelly]

Florida had a law that banned smoking a lot of the bars and restrants closed down.With the economy the way that it is I feel this is the what the politicans want.That doesnt mean it is going to be a good thing for small bussiness owners.

[Free America]

Wonderful wrote:

It's about time! Now we can all finally go to bars and other restaurants without reeking of smoke when we leave! Thank you Michigan for protecting NON-smokers! Not to mention the fact that it is extremely rude to smoke around non-smokers. We don't like it, and now we won't have to put up with it anymore! So all of you smokers can just take it outside. Perhaps the inconvenience of having to go outside when it's raining or snowing will actually make you think twice before lighting up. The way I see it, it's better for everyone. It helps you quit smoking (and save some money) and now businesses do not need to operate smoke-eaters, therefore reducing operating costs.
Now, if they could only make it illegal to smoke around children.....

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp...
http://milkandcookies.com/link/101779/detail/

[Free America]

Kris wrote:

It is about time that lawmakers in Michigan have made a good decision. I saw the smoking ban work very well in the state of California, and there is no reason why it would be any different in Michigan. The smokers will still get to endulge in their bad habit, but not at the risk of others getting sick from second hand smoke. This is long overdue..

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[Bri Bri 73]

Gentle Taz wrote:

To me, this is a big smoke screen, based on junk science. Actually, the junk science is the smoke screen. Once they have run a bunch of small businesses out, who will be next? I would be very careful what I wish for. Could end up with something I didn't expect!
Now, if the legislature would just get back to work and do what is best for the state, rather than their perception of what the people (a small minority that makes a lot of noise) want. Our state has many problems that are not being addressed.

AMEN to that Taz!
I just do not understand, how can they tell a private business owner that they can not allow something in their establishment.
Cigarettes are not illegal, smokers pay taxes on them. Would it not be the choice of the people going into the establishment, if they want to be around second hand smoke?

If they own it, is it not their decision if they allow smoking or not?
BTW taz, I found a article in the paper, I copied it to you on the thread where mom left children in car while playing gambling, I thought you might like to see it..
I don't know if you already saw it...just in case, I thought I would let you know..
sorry , if you already read it...

[MBG]

We have more important things to worry about then banning smoking. Like the PRICE OF GAS when are they going to do something about.

[Jen]

Gas is at its all time high, and the only thing our Michigan gov. can do is put more people out of business and loose more jobs. I can understand family est. having a ban, but the last time I checked I was free and 21. Meaning, if you don't like the bar scene, DON'T GO. I lost a very good friend fighting in Iraq last year. Fighting for freedom. He died for us!!!! And he would be pist to know that he couldn't smoke anymore with his cold beer, after a long days work. This is just another way for the gov. to make money....Whats it going to cost for the ticket? They ought to be thinking about whats their going to do when truckers start to strike because they can't afford to pay the price of deisel anymore, or when your mail is no longer being delievered because carriers can't afford the gas to bring it to your home.