Smoking ordinance.....

[Dionne]

Here in Crystal Springs, Mississippi our board of Aldermen has passed a smoking ordinance. There were four participating Aldermen that passed this ban. I'm a non-smoker.....I quit in '95. I support this ban. Here are some of the banned areas.

Bars. ?????????? We're in a dry county. We don't have any bars.

Shopping Malls. ?????? We have less than 5000 people in the entire county. We don't have any shopping Malls. We don't even have a Wal-Mart.

Private clubs. ??????? Huh? We have a Lions club and the Boy Scouts.

Within 15 feet of a mail drop box. ?????? The only drop box we have is on an island in the middle of the street used by people in cars.

Restaurants. We have two. A McDonalds which is already non-smoking. A Subway which is also non-smoking. Both of the "restaurants" are out by the Interstate.

All places of employment. Designated smoking areas for employees are not permitted. Employer is responsible for enforcement. (hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!)

All public areas. Sidewalks are considered a public area.

So here's my take on the deal. You can smoke in your truck so long as your not working. You can smoke in your car so long as your not dropping off mail or waiting in the take out line at McDonalds. But I'm confused.....can a person smoke while driving across a pedestrian lane in the roadway?

The absolute best part of the ordinance is the grammar. People is already a plural word.....it does not require an "s" as in peoples.

[somethingfunny]

Only thing I have a problem with there is the public sidewalks ban. That's getting a little ridiculous in my view. Granted I try to hide my cigarette when I see kids, but it's only because I don't want them to see me, a young guy (20) smoking a stogie and for them to then perhaps think it's alright. Out in the open air, surrounded by all the exhaust from cars and smoke from controlled brush burns and other everyday pollutants, I really don't care much about secondhand smoke.

BTW, nobody's mail is going to give them cancer if a cigarette has been smoked within 15 feet of a mailbox.

[TexasStooge]

The only ordinance the City of Irving has effective as of 2007 is no smoking within 25 feet of a public building. That includes hospitals, libraries, and government-owned buildings.

Not like I'm gonna smoke anyways.

[O Town]

LOL Dionne, alot of good that ordinance will do huh?
As for the whole outside smoking part of the ordinance, its all hogwash. People that smoke are going to continue to smoke at outside. I think they passed something here about smoking on the public beaches and do you really think that worked or was enforced? Heck no.

[Jason_B]

Out in the open air, surrounded by all the exhaust from cars and smoke from controlled brush burns and other everyday pollutants, I really don't care much about secondhand smoke.

Second hand smoke is everywhere as well as car fumes... But, second hand smoke is forced upon people who don't smoke, by those who do, because they think its their "right" to smoke, and commit slow suicide. Second hand smoke causes lung cancer, and other lung diseases (my parents smoked and I have asthma).

[somethingfunny]

Out in the open air, surrounded by all the exhaust from cars and smoke from controlled brush burns and other everyday pollutants, I really don't care much about secondhand smoke.

Second hand smoke is everywhere as well as car fumes... But, second hand smoke is forced upon people who don't smoke, by those who do, because they think its their "right" to smoke, and commit slow suicide. Second hand smoke causes lung cancer, and other lung diseases (my parents smoked and I have asthma).

Your parents probably smoked in the house. My mom did too and I hated it until I tried it.....

The difference between secondhand from indoor smoke and outdoor smoke is like peeing in a swimming pool vs. peeing in the ocean.

[O Town]

Out in the open air, surrounded by all the exhaust from cars and smoke from controlled brush burns and other everyday pollutants, I really don't care much about secondhand smoke.

Second hand smoke is everywhere as well as car fumes... But, second hand smoke is forced upon people who don't smoke, by those who do, because they think its their "right" to smoke, and commit slow suicide. Second hand smoke causes lung cancer, and other lung diseases (my parents smoked and I have asthma).

Your parents probably smoked in the house. My mom did too and I hated it until I tried it.....

The difference between secondhand from indoor smoke and outdoor smoke is like peeing in a swimming pool vs. peeing in the ocean.

LOL, and a great analogy. Its so true. I don't smoke inside my house around my kids, nor would I want to makes other uncomfortable in a restaurant or other indoor public place. But outside????? Puuuulez, thats just re-donk-ulous.

[Dionne]

The smoking ban ordinance is not set to be enforced until Nov 2. Oddly enough most public places are already changing policy and pushing smokers outside. So whats happening is smokers congregating around entrances. The 15 foot distance is being ignored. Non-smokers now have to walk through the second hand smoke to get inside. The analogy comparing the outside to the ocean just doesn't work. The second hand smoke is very noticeable. Most smokers could care less if they blow smoke in your direction. Cigarettes are simply a delivery system for nicotine addicts.

I am of the opinion that this ordinance was poorly written and seriously doubt enforcement is possible.

[somethingfunny]

Don't get me wrong- I support basic smoking ordinances. For instance, at my college there is no smoking allowed any closer to the buildings than the parking lots. There is one area where the parking lot comes very close to the main entrance of the Liberal Arts building....in that case there is a bench about 50 feet away across two driveways, and no smoking is allowed anywhere closer than that far curb. I have never seen it enforced, but I also don't see it being disregarded. Granted, there's no telling what will happen when it rains....we haven't really seen any rain (Ike hit over the weekend) since school started!

But I agree that congregating around entrances defeats the purpose and does make things very uncomfortable for nonsmokers.....

[Meso]

Jason_B : <3.

I use that term all the time. "commit slow suicide."

They should think about getting stricter and just banning the sales of the no good cancer sticks altogether. They're no different to drugs, only more socially acceptable. And the idea that "It's my lungs, I can do what I want" is just a selfish point of view. If you are alone on an island, sure go ahead. But in reality 90% of the time there will be a child who is either exposed to the smoke, or sees a parent doing it and thinks it's normal or right to smoke. I really don't understand how anyone could actually want to perform such a selfish, pointless and self-destructive activity. `\_(O_o)_/`