Texans Don’t Need A Smoking Ban

The Dallas Morning News’ editorial board wants you to quit smoking. Rather than just persuade or educate the public about smoking dangers, DMN wants to use the blunt power of government to force smokers into hiding. Even worse, they want to subject every city and community to the same rules. If they should exist, smoking bans should be local. What works in El Paso may not work in Highland Park etc.

I don’t smoke. I don’t want to smell like smoke. I don’t want you to smoke next to me. I still don’t support a smoking ban. This isn’t even morality policing, we are legislating taste.

Let’s examine the inanity. From DMN-

Smokers complain that this bill tramples on their right to light up, which they think trumps non-smokers’ right to eat, drink, socialize and breathe free of secondhand smoke. What smokers really demand is the right not to be inconvenienced. Sorry, but the time has come for you to step outside if you want to foul the air.

Positive rights are a favorite of nanny statists. Negative rights are a legitimate end of a limited government. Property rights are one example, the right to not have the government force you to ban smoking at your bar.

DMN wants to create a new right; the right to eat and drink wherever you want without anyone smoking around you. That’s not a right, that’s an entitlement. If you want to dine sans smoker you already have the right to choose establishments that outlaw smoking.

Nanny state demagoguery is never complete without acknowledging the idol of public health.

Secondhand smoke is both an annoyance and a serious public health threat, according to the 2006 surgeon general’s report. Secondhand smoke kills an estimated 53,000 people a year. Numerous surveys indicate that most Texans support a statewide smoking ban.

First, second hand smoke health studies are not above reproach, or without dissenting opinions.

Second, by DMN’s logic we should ban automobiles. Traffic fatalities average around 42,000 annually. I should have the “right ” to not be hit by your car. Ergo, you shouldn’t use a car in public. Don’t like that example? Then why not ban drinking in public? Like smokers some drunks smell bad. Drinkers also cause accidents and injure others. If we continue banning things that have any effect on the “public health”, pretty soon we live in a Nerf world without any meaningful choices to make. We will no longer be adults, but children with caring bureaucratic parents.

Finally, let’s update the DMN editorial board morality scorecard-
Marijuana= Murder, arrest everyone
Gambling= More money for government, legalize
Smoking= Gross, must be outlawed

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5 responses to “Texans Don’t Need A Smoking Ban”

  1. A Medical Marijuana is soon to be presented to the Governor’s legislative director Senator Armbrister. Advocates of this bill must contact their representatives quickly to show their support.

  2. Bob says:

    After over a year of experience here in Chicago, trying to ban smoking in small neighborhood “shot and beer” bars is pretty useless. Many small bars in my area ignore the ban to keep their customers, neighbors, and local police (many are patrons when off duty) satisfied. The problem of undesirables being attracted by groups of people outside the bars and causing disturbances on the PUBLIC STREET, property that the owner has no control over, far outweighs the issue of people peacefully smoking inside a bar, bothering absolutly no one. Bars ignoring the ban also result in fewer kids being exposed to more smoke than ever before at home when adults gather there instead of at a local bar.

  3. Greg says:

    that “nerf” world is exactly what every neo-conservative (or not-so-neo) desires to live in! So bad they want this that it clouds their ability to make clear judgement calls (the words POLICE STATE never seem to enter their conciousness) I, smoker that I am, fully understand how bad cigs can smell to nonsmokers and don’t mind a trip outside if I must light one up, I get it. If they had their way cigarretes would become an addition to the enemy list in our (choke.. cough cough) war on drugs and eradicated completely. A new black market item to fuel the violence. Seems like their next “it” will be alchohol… no more merlot with your stakes? uh oh, looks like no more blood of christ with your communions either, a reality that could feasibly happen within the next 10 years unless we decide now that enough is enough! In the meantime, stop sniffing my “2nd hand” cig smoke that I pay for. Too bad we cannot gather up these (psuedo) moralists and ship them off to Greenland.. give them the whole island, I’m sure it’s boring so they should love it.. I see a need to stand up to these nazi-like laws which I intend to begin doing in every way possible! I have no interest in an Amish-like way of life nor interest in having a liver and/or lungs that is “show room new”

  4. Greg says:

    that “nerf” world is exactly what every neo-conservative (or not-so-neo) desires to live in! So bad they want this that it clouds their ability to make clear judgement calls (the words POLICE STATE never seem to enter their conciousness) I, smoker that I am, fully understand how bad cigs can smell to nonsmokers and don’t mind a trip outside if I must light one up, I get it. If they had their way cigarretes would become an addition to the enemy list in our (choke.. cough cough) war on drugs and eradicated completely. A new black market item to fuel the violence. Seems like their next “it” will be alchohol… no more merlot with your stakes? uh oh, looks like no more blood of christ with your communions either, a reality that could feasibly happen within the next 10 years unless we decide now that enough is enough! In the meantime, stop sniffing my “2nd hand” cig smoke that I pay for. Too bad we cannot gather up these (psuedo) moralists and ship them off to Greenland.. give them the whole island, I’m sure it’s boring so they should love it.. I see a need to stand up to these nazi-like laws which I intend to begin doing in every way possible! I have no interest in an Amish-like way of life nor interest in having a liver and/or lungs that is “show room new”

  5. They ban smoking inside bars, and so every bar opens a enclosed “patio” area for people to smoke and drink. Then every one in town has to listen to these fools carry on as they walk down the street.

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