High Time

[elidog]

I just received my Summer 2007 issue of Cigar Magazine and after a little reading I find the tone of the issue to be one that has been on my mind for a while. Seldom to I enter into political conversation or express my beliefs on major social issues. Today, however I thought I would take the time to say a few words concerning an issue that certainly affects us all and some drastically more than others. We are facing a time where I honestly believe that our right to smoke is going to be taken away. Here in Alabama new legislation is in the works to bring us closer to the realm of the absurd than ever before concerning smoker’s rights. Cities all over the United States are enacting and enforcing bans on indoor and outdoor smoking. Their aim, so they say, is to protect us and them from the evils of smoking. These so called do gooders are looking to severely limit our civil liberties and take from us our right to pursue happiness through something as simple as a cigar. It seems that these people know better than you and I what is good for us.

There are many things that we see eye to eye on and other things we don’t. One thing that I am sure of, however, is that we all agree that we have the right to smoke our beloved cigars and that we are tired of being told we can’t. It is high time that we began to make a stand of sorts by letting the political powers that be that we have had enough and they must stop trying to take our right to smoke away. Please consistently write to your local politicians and show up to council meetings and make your self heard. We do need to intervene now and let our opinions be made known.

If I sound naive I’m honestly sorry. I do believe that if we speak loud enough we will be heard. So please speak up.


steve

 

[Travismaine]

The idea of a walk in looks better every day.

 

[HiTide]

Steve,
Here in Alabama, Miss V. Figures, State Senator is waging the ban against smoking.
She has appeared in the local paper a couple of time recently.

 

[phisherman]

A walk for civil liberties. A walk to show people that cigar smokers are united and will fight so that they can still enjoy the pleasures of a good cigar. I like the idea.

 

[BigMatt]

I agree! This is an important subject for us cigar smokers. We should do our part to advocate our rights in our comunities. If anyone has any more suggestions on how, please speak up.

Cheers!
Matt


If we don't take action now
We settle for nothing later
We'll settle for nothing now
And we'll settle for nothing later

- Zack de la Rocha

 

[Alex Svenson]

Great thread. IL just passed a statewide ban last week that goes into effect on 1/1/08

 

[Barcochris]

in AZ we can not smoke in bars or restaurants as of 5/1/07

 

[cmontgomery]

To add to Chris, we cannot even smoke within 20 ft of doors to businesses.

 

[elidog]

Steve,
Here in Alabama, Miss V. Figures, State Senator is waging the ban against smoking.
She has appeared in the local paper a couple of time recently.

I'm composing a letter to her right now. She needs to be reminded that she is our employee.

 

[cybrus]

Allegheny County in Pennsylvania (where Pittsburgh is located) passed a smoking ban that went into effect Jan 1 2007. There was a court injunction that kept it from applying to restaurants and bars, and that is still under appeal. I've spoken and written to my reps and letters to the editor as well. There is also a bill in the State senate (SB 246) that would be a state-wide ban. It's been sitting there for some time though, so it may not have a chance.

What bothers me is that most people see this in terms of the right to smoke vs the right to not be around smoke. These "rights" are irrelevant here! This is all about the right to private property - a business owner should be allowed to choose whether or not to allow smoking in their establishment.

There were already quite a few non-smoking places here in Pittsburgh before the ban - the market indicated that there was a desire for that and business owners responded. Unfortunately, there is a larger apparent demand for smoking establishments which meant that most allowed it to some degree. This is what bothers the non-smoking activists - they can't stand the fact that some places may not cater to their tastes and they want to change that.

As cigar smokers, we're used to this situation - a large portion of the bars/restaurants that allowed cigarette smoking did not allow cigar smoking. So we, as cigar smokers, had a choice - either don't smoke a cigar while you're there, or go somewhere else.

At the end of the day it comes down to the fact that it is private property and, as such, should be governed by the owner's actions. Not the governments.

 

[chrisguinther]

Here in Ohio there is also a statewide smoking ban. The only places you can smoke are in tobacco shops and your own private property. They have signs at most restaurants now with the phone number to report "offenders."

 

[flagman]

Ditto Cybrus. It is personal property rights. Go ask a restaurant or bar owner how much they will lose if a smoking ban goes into effect - it's about 20-40%. I have seen many small stand alone bars that have operated for 40 or 50 years go out of business in the last few years here in CT. Add the loss of business and the dlubling of power bills in the last few years, smoling allowed in the casinos etc and it's not ggod for buisness. Stay on your state reps and legislature !!!

 

[kuzi16]

Here in Ohio there is also a statewide smoking ban. The only places you can smoke are in tobacco shops and your own private property. They have signs at most restaurants now with the phone number to report "offenders."

ive been contemplating "civil disobediance"

old school sit-ins but with cigars or other tobaccos in hand.

ever see that King of the Hill where Dale is the smoking bandit?


in all seriousness it is very much about private property rights and the rights of the business owners. When did it become the the state's job to run our businesses and tell them how they can practice?
At the very least cant we find some kind of compromise? In france you can have a smoking section as long as it is in a different room
with its own air circulation system.
even that is better than state wide bans.

iduno just a though.

 

[Carduus]

In Nebraska (A big red state, no pun intended) we are facing a state wide smoking ban too. The funny thing is, we just got concealed carry for firearms! I can't have a cigar, but I can have my Ruger .40 S&W!

 

[Bikeman]

Excellent post Steve! Here in my city we have had a very severe ban for quite some time now, and it is too late to roll it back, but you guys keep fighting, it is important to make your voices heard!!