Losing Our Freedoms?

Recently in my little part of the world there has been a huge debate over an incredibly controversial topic... second hand smoke. A couple of years ago there was a smoking ban proposed that would force those who smoke to only do so on thier own property or to be incovienced if they wanted to have a smoke in a public place. They would be pushed, literally out into the street in most cases if they wanted to light up in public. It proposed that smokers would have to go at least 25 ft from any building entrances before lighting up a cigarette. In the case of many businesses, especially in our downtown area that meant that the were actually expected to stand on the curb, or a couple feet into a city street in order to follow the ordinance. Also every public place...stores, banks, shops, restaurants, even clubs and bars would be barred from allowing smoking on thier premesis. That one was shot down and we assumed that it was over. Just a couple of weeks ago we had another vote on a very similar city ordinance. The only change was that now people would be allowed to smoke 10 feet from building entrances rather than 25ft away, in the road. This one was voted down as well.

I say all that to say this: I am not a smoker anymore, and I don't really like to smell smoke or breathe it in when I am entering or exiting a building. Nor do I like to sit in a restaurant and breathe in smoke as I try to eat. But I still find this ordinance to be ridiculous and overly restricitive in a country that espouses freedom of choice. I think that forcing people who smoke to have to hide in thier cars or homes is wrong and in a way discriminatory. It is a personal choice, just like the choice to go to a place that allows smoking. I don't think that it is right to tell a person that is running a business how they have to run it and what is allowed on thier property. It is robbing people of thier freedom when the government steps in a tries to legislate how people are expected to live thier lives.

So, to all those that voted in favor of the smoking ban and to any that are reading this and think that I am wrong all I have to say is: If you have an issue with places that allow smoking, don't go there. Put on your big kid undies and make a decision, but don't expect that your thoughts and choices should be what everybody else needs to do as well. Don't take away other people's freedom to choose becuase you don't like what they are doing.

O.K...Rant over.