New York City attempts to ban outdoor smoking.

[Ericgamer1]

New York City could be inching closer to banning outdoor smoking in parks, beaches, marinas, boardwalks and pedestrian plazas.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Wednesday plans to expand smoking bans outdoors because of the effects of secondhand smoke.
“The science is clear: prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke – whether you’re indoors or out – hurts your health. Today, we’re doing something about it,” the mayor said in a news release.
Read more about Secondhand smoke exposure 'striking' in the U.S.
A New York councilmember is expected to introduce the new local law tomorrow at the City Council meeting.

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2...tdoor-smoking/


A complete blow to personal freedom of choice, or a grand victory in protecting the health of citizens? Your thoughts?

[Cobra Commander]

Grand victory for me, I'm allergic to cigarette smoke.

[Light Buster]

Sort of both.

1) Most people die from secondhand smoking, as you stated.

2) As you stated again, people who smoke lose their personal freedom.

Either way is a win/lose deal.

[GameGeeks]

Massive blow to personal freedom, this just shows politicians trying to control the people. Indoor ban is fine since it's an enclosed area but outdoor second hand smoke isn't an issue. This wont pass, I can tell you that much, and if it does there's bound to be an appeal that'd end up overturning it.

[Light Buster]

Massive blow to personal freedom, this just shows politicians trying to control the people. Indoor ban is fine since it's an enclosed area but outdoor second hand smoke isn't an issue.

But smoking is one of the contribution to air pollution. How do you explain that?

[Capernicus]

This wont pass, I can tell you that much, and if it does there's bound to be an appeal that'd end up overturning it.

I'm not so sure with that. The popularity of NYC is comparable to that of LA here in Cali, and there is a strong push to extend outdoor smoking bans in West Hollywood. Hell, my girlfriend lives in Glendale (immediately north of LA), and outdoor smoking is already banned, as is in enclosed patios, parking structures, your car, and most apartment buildings.

[GameGeeks]

That's just not right, don't get me wrong, I don't smoke and think others shouldn't either, but I do believe people have the right to do what they want.

@LB, if it is it's probably so small it wont make any difference if it all suddenly stopped.

[DOOM!]

america can go to hell from now on!!!

[Eris]

Sort of both.

1) Most people die from secondhand smoking, as you stated.

2) As you stated again, people who smoke lose their personal freedom.

Either way is a win/lose deal.

For second hand smoke to be dangerous, it needs to be way more than someone passing you by with a cigarette in their hand twice a day. You need much more exposure than that to even approach dangerous levels. It needs to be indoors, and it needs to be frequently. If you die from second hand smoking, you've lived with someone who smokes indoors, or worked indoors in a locale where smoking is permitted.

But smoking is one of the contribution to air pollution. How do you explain that?

Being a contribution to air pollution, and being a significant contribution to air pollution are two significantly very different things. Banning cars is going to affect pollution levels much, much more.

[Aku no Hikari]

Yeah. Banning -outdoor- smoking is a quite useless thing to do. It doesn't carry any real benefit to none-smokers or to the environment, so it's a mere blow to personal freedom.

If the government is to involve itself in the personal life of smokers, it would make more sense to ban smoking altogether. But this is a crazy idea, and probably has no chance to go right... no matter how appealing it is.

[Furore]

Those bastards.
Seriously, cigar lovers there already got screwed over by that whole embargo against Cuba and now they might get banned from smoking altogether?
Thankfully most of the people I know from the US are in different states.

[miniPhil]

Seriously, cigar lovers there already got screwed over by that whole embargo against Cuba and now they might get banned from smoking altogether?

Have they not lifted that embargo yet? I thought Obama said he would remove it.
Anyway yeah, removes freedom and all that jazz. Out door smoking not really harmful etc.

[Kaitou+]

I personally thing that Smoking is stupid and bad for you, and bad for others as well. But overall, this is stupid. You can just go to a corner and smoke. or maybe your backyard.

[brolyx74]

I am not an advocate for smoking, but I am an advocate for big business. 2/3s of our economy is based on people buying things here, so this would be a big blow to the tobacco industry. If more places did this, they could really hurt it. I know smoking isn't healthy, but who are we to make peoples choices for them. If they want to unwind with a smoke outside, let them. Smoking outside would be a victimless crime. If this even came close to passing, I would do everything in my power to fight it. That is a strike against personal freedom and big business.

[Capernicus]

I say we trap all the smokers in one big room and let them kill each other with their death sticks!

[Takizawa]

We don't have to take it, Stacey. Like Henry David Thoreau and Rosa Parks and David Lee Roth when he left Van Halen, we can say, "Enough. Enough injustice." And when you and I are old and gray, we can look back on this and remember when we were 30,000 feet above God's green earth, and we smoked one, we smoked one for America. - Don Ready

that is all.

[Masked Mantis]

Is it even possible to have prolonged exposure to second hand smoke outside?

Your at more risk catching a cold then anything from outside smoke. XD

[aether]

My own personal view is that if you decide to smoke its your choice not everyone else's so therefor why should those who chose not to smoke suffer from the effects of smoking? If you wanna smoke do it in your own home.

[Memento Mori]

Let's just ban smoking and put a giant, sun-blocking blanket over the world. The sun can kill you, too, if you get prolonged exposure. Then we'll be super safe!!!

[Srk]

If I'd get arrested for smoking outdoors, I'd go right to the the city border, take one step over, and light up. But that's just me.

[aether]

Let's just ban smoking and put a giant, sun-blocking blanket over the world. The sun can kill you, too, if you get prolonged exposure. Then we'll be super safe!!!

Or not, lets face it smoking is bad and should only take place in private homes

[Rainbow Crash]

Well not only is smoking bad to the person and the person around you. But New York City has HORRIBLE air pollution. Banning outdoor smoking is a tiny but needed step in order to help improve their air quality. Though what would really help is cutting down on the amount of automobiles in the city. But I guess they are being wise and starting out with small problems rather than immediate tackling the bigger ones. Which take longer and seem like nothing ever gets done. But I don't think allowing them to only smoke indoors in their own private homes is "taking away their freedom" It's just limiting the freedom which is what the government always does. But I think it would better benefit the whole rather than the minority.

[MissAstaire]

Or not, lets face it smoking is bad and should only take place in private homes

So is walking outside, because you could catch pneumonia. And microwaves, because of the radiation. And driving, because of the petrol fumes. Reading, because it might stress your eyes. Moving around, because it might wear down your joints. There are so many things that are bad for you, yet we do them. How is smoking any different? It is against our constitution to take away that choice. Who is anyone to say that we aren't allowed to do anything?

[Wio]

I doubt that the effect of smoking on air pollution is really noteworthy if you compare it to that of car exhaust. The only justification for this law is to stop second hand smoke. But, where do you think second hand smoke most deadly? Outside in a park, or inside a home where others might live?

I don't like these smoking bans, but at least give smokers a designated smoking area.

[brolyx74]

Well, if you can't smoke in hotels, or stores, or bars, or most business offices, or apartments, and now outside, then where are they supposed to smoke? Most people don't own private homes in New York City. Its not an attack to stop pollution or to help people's health. Its just an attack on the tobacco industry.