www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=local&story_id=090105a4_smokingban

Statewide smoking ban proposed for 2006 ballot

The initiative launched by several major health groups would affect all enclosed public places.

The Associated Press

PHOENIX - Major health groups yesterday launched an initiative campaign to ask Arizona voters in 2006 to ban smoking in restaurants, bars, offices and other enclosed workplaces and public places.

Several Arizona communities, including Flagstaff and Tempe, already have anti-smoking laws, but supporters of the Smoke-Free Arizona campaign said a statewide ban would set a standard for smoking rules and protect the health of employees at bars and restaurants from secondhand smoke.

"This is a public health law. This is an occupational health law," said Bill Pfeifer, the campaign's chairman and chief executive and president of the American Lung Association's Arizona affiliate.

Tucson's and Pima County's laws ban smoking in restaurants unless a smoking area is physically separate and equipped with a separate ventilation system.

If passed, the state ban would take effect in May 2007.

Smokers who violate it would be subject to fines of between $50 and $300. The owners or managers of violating businesses would get a warning on a first offense, then be subject to fines of $100 to $500. They would be subject to fines of up to $5,000 for willful violations or a "pattern of noncompliance."

Upon voter OK, the initiative would add 2 cents to the state's tax on each package of cigarettes - raising it to $1.20 from $1.18 - with the money going to the state Department of Health Services to enforce the law and curtail tobacco use.

Supporters need to collect the signatures of 122,612 registered voters by July 6 to get the ban on the November 2006 ballot.

Along with the lung association, other backers include the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association.

Pfeifer said the groups plan grass-roots fund-raising to augment their own planned contributions toward a $2 million to $3 million war chest.

Bill Weigele, president of the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association, said the bar industry group would oppose the initiative as an intrusion on business owners' rights.

it's been like that in tucson for a while now

Quoted: www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=local&story_id=090105a4_smokingban Statewide smoking ban proposed for 2006 ballot The initiative launched by several major health groups would affect all enclosed public places. The Associated Press PHOENIX - Major health groups yesterday launched an initiative campaign to ask Arizona voters in 2006 to ban smoking in restaurants, bars, offices and other enclosed workplaces and public places. Several Arizona communities, including Flagstaff and Tempe, already have anti-smoking laws, but supporters of the Smoke-Free Arizona campaign said a statewide ban would set a standard for smoking rules and protect the health of employees at bars and restaurants from secondhand smoke. "This is a public health law. This is an occupational health law," said Bill Pfeifer, the campaign's chairman and chief executive and president of the American Lung Association's Arizona affiliate. Tucson's and Pima County's laws ban smoking in restaurants unless a smoking area is physically separate and equipped with a separate ventilation system. If passed, the state ban would take effect in May 2007. Smokers who violate it would be subject to fines of between $50 and $300. The owners or managers of violating businesses would get a warning on a first offense, then be subject to fines of $100 to $500. They would be subject to fines of up to $5,000 for willful violations or a "pattern of noncompliance." Upon voter OK, the initiative would add 2 cents to the state's tax on each package of cigarettes - raising it to $1.20 from $1.18 - with the money going to the state Department of Health Services to enforce the law and curtail tobacco use. Supporters need to collect the signatures of 122,612 registered voters by July 6 to get the ban on the November 2006 ballot. Along with the lung association, other backers include the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. Pfeifer said the groups plan grass-roots fund-raising to augment their own planned contributions toward a $2 million to $3 million war chest. Bill Weigele, president of the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association, said the bar industry group would oppose the initiative as an intrusion on business owners' rights.

Good, its the one thing I dont mind our governments doing.

If I own a restaurant, why the hell should the government be allowed to tell me that I can't let people smoke?  It may be open to the public, but it's still privatly owned.  The .gov should have no say in this matter.  Now, if it's a government owned establishment(sports arena's and such) then they can decide to do what they want, but not telling someone what they can and can't allow people to do on their own property.

Quoted: If I own a restaurant, why the hell should the government be allowed to tell me that I can't let people smoke?  It may be open to the public, but it's still privatly owned.  The .gov should have no say in this matter.  Now, if it's a government owned establishment(sports arena's and such) then they can decide to do what they want, but not telling someone what they can and can't allow people to do on their own property.

Egggfrigginzactly

If a privately owned restaraunt or shoping center can restrict me from carrying my legally possessed and legally cincealed weapon why can't they allow people to smoke?

It is PRIVATE PROPERTY!

If they allow people to smoke and you dont like it take your money elsewhere.
If they do not allow us to carry our defensive firearms we take our money elsewhere.

We are losing our freedom to control our own possessions and to make our own decisions one law at a time.

FUCKING SOCIALISM!!!

One area this would help is Tempe.  My son used to run a bar/poolhall in Tempe.  He said that when the smoking ban went into effect, they lost about 50% of their business to nearby cities like Mesa, Scottsdale or Phoenix. Having a no smoking island surrounded by area that did not restrict smoking killed them.

I think this law is bullshit. The .gov is taking away freedoms one by one. I don't even smoke. What a fucking joke.

I absolutely hate being around people who are smoking.  What do I do?  I stay away from people who are smoking and businesses where people are allowed to smoke.  This law would just be more government encroachment on our freedoms; no way am I voting for it.  

Using a legal product on private property, with the property owners permission, simply cannot be illegal under the Constitution.  It's wrong, wrong, wrong and even us non smokers should stand up and fight this one.  If you don't then next time they will take away something that YOU like.

I will say this, if most smokers weren't such an arrogant lot then they wouldn't be facing this with little or no support from non smokers.  But years of having to put up with smokers who light up next to you without a care in the friggin world for anyone but themselves has brought them to this.  If smokers, when in public, would simply ask around them, "Do you mind if I smoke", then all this could have been avoided.  At least I think it could have.

My Brother is a prime example.  He's in a car with 3 other people, it's 20 freaking below zero out, and he'll get a cigarette out, roll down the window 3 inches and start smoking.  He never thinks and doesn't give a shit that he's freezing everyone else in the car.  

I was in The People's Republic when they were passing the law.  The waitress union (they unionize everything) was one of the biggest supporters.  There were radio commercials everywhere saying that you should vote yes, because the waitresses don't want to be exposed to the 2nd hand smoke.  But they could never answer the question:  If you don't like your working conditions why don't you quit?

Just preparing for some of the arguments that we will hear.

Quoted: it's been like that in tucson for a while now

Actually, Tucson hasn't banned smoking.  You can still have a smoking establishment.  However, you must have a totally sealed area, with its own ventilation system, to allow smoking.  Most places regard this as cost prohibitive, therefore don't do it.

Also, most bars/night clubs allow smoking.

Quoted: Using a legal product on private property, with the property owners permission, simply cannot be illegal under the Constitution.  It's wrong, wrong, wrong and even us non smokers should stand up and fight this one.  If you don't then next time they will take away something that YOU like. I will say this, if most smokers weren't such an arrogant lot then they wouldn't be facing this with little or no support from non smokers.  But years of having to put up with smokers who light up next to you without a care in the friggin world for anyone but themselves has brought them to this.  If smokers, when in public, would simply ask around them, "Do you mind if I smoke", then all this could have been avoided.  At least I think it could have. My Brother is a prime example.  He's in a car with 3 other people, it's 20 freaking below zero out, and he'll get a cigarette out, roll down the window 3 inches and start smoking.  He never thinks and doesn't give a shit that he's freezing everyone else in the car.

yep.

I smoke.  But even when I am in my own house, if I have company over, I ask if it will bother them.

If it bothers them, I simply excuse myself and go outside, or I just don't smoke.  And that is in my own home.  I don't smoke around people who are eating, and if I am at a table with others close by, I ask if it will bother them.  If they say yes, I will, once again, excuse myself and then find another table.

Smoking is a nasty habit, period.  And just because I have the habit doesn't mean I need to be an asshole and totally disrespectful to others around me who don't appreciate it.  Outside is one thing, like if we are we out shooting...  But even then I always make sure I am downwind and I pay attention to faces.  If they seem disgusted, I move of my own volition.   And if someone is chewing and spitting, I have no problem asking them to kindly step a few steps to the side.

It's all about mutual respect.  And the .gov should NOT be forcing that on us.  Just like they should NOT be able to regulate firearms on national forest land.  Time to take a stand, folks.  

Quoted: Quoted: www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=local&story_id=090105a4_smokingban Statewide smoking ban proposed for 2006 ballot The initiative launched by several major health groups would affect all enclosed public places. The Associated Press PHOENIX - Major health groups yesterday launched an initiative campaign to ask Arizona voters in 2006 to ban smoking in restaurants, bars, offices and other enclosed workplaces and public places. Several Arizona communities, including Flagstaff and Tempe, already have anti-smoking laws, but supporters of the Smoke-Free Arizona campaign said a statewide ban would set a standard for smoking rules and protect the health of employees at bars and restaurants from secondhand smoke. "This is a public health law. This is an occupational health law," said Bill Pfeifer, the campaign's chairman and chief executive and president of the American Lung Association's Arizona affiliate. Tucson's and Pima County's laws ban smoking in restaurants unless a smoking area is physically separate and equipped with a separate ventilation system. If passed, the state ban would take effect in May 2007. Smokers who violate it would be subject to fines of between $50 and $300. The owners or managers of violating businesses would get a warning on a first offense, then be subject to fines of $100 to $500. They would be subject to fines of up to $5,000 for willful violations or a "pattern of noncompliance." Upon voter OK, the initiative would add 2 cents to the state's tax on each package of cigarettes - raising it to $1.20 from $1.18 - with the money going to the state Department of Health Services to enforce the law and curtail tobacco use. Supporters need to collect the signatures of 122,612 registered voters by July 6 to get the ban on the November 2006 ballot. Along with the lung association, other backers include the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. Pfeifer said the groups plan grass-roots fund-raising to augment their own planned contributions toward a $2 million to $3 million war chest. Bill Weigele, president of the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association, said the bar industry group would oppose the initiative as an intrusion on business owners' rights. Good, its the one thing I dont mind our governments doing.

Spoken like a true communist.  Its people like you who piss me off.

I don't smoke, and If I don't want to be around smokers I know where to spend my money to be able to avoid them.  As much as I don't like or dislike something I don't try to tell others what they can or can't do with their property.  I hope they pass a law telling you you can't go to church and read your Luke passage.


Get the relevance of the analogy?  Equal and unalienable rights for all....