I think we all can agree -- smokers included -- that smoking is bad for one's health. We know the risks, and after years of cover up and/or denial, we've taken some positive steps in this country to really raise awareness about the harmful effects of nicotine and to ban smoking in public places like on airplanes and in restaurants. Good for us.
One California town, however, has taken things about 5,000 steps further and gone into straight-up crazy mode. According to The Blaze, the Rocklin City Council is actually considering a proposal that would outlaw smoking not just in restaurants or public places, but it would also ban smoking on people's own private property. That means people wouldn't be able to smoke on their front porch, in their backyard, or anywhere else that it may waft into their neighbor's yard.
So where exactly will smokers be allowed to smoke?
If such a ban passes, it seems their only remaining haven would be in their own homes or in the few random airport smoking lounges that still exist. And what if they have children at home? Sure quitting would be the best option, but if they don't, are they supposed to smoke instead their home instead of out in the great wide outdoors?
I can't stand being around smoke, but wow, I'm almost starting to feel sorry for smokers here.
It's not illegal to smoke, and while I feel for the father who brought the proposal to the council (his children have asthma), we can't completely abolish smokers and their rights. What's next, a ban on perfume that's too strong? Maybe a ban on people using a grill because we don't like the smoke when they barbecue their burgers?
Look, I don't really want to live next to someone who puffs away on his or her porch all day either. However, I think I'd rather live next to a smoker than to someone who thinks banning people from smoking on their own private property is a good idea.
Do you think this proposal to ban smoking on private property is outrageous? Have you ever lived by people whose smoking was a problem?
Image via Haprog_/Flickr
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Comments 33
Wow, this would never go over in my state....thank god. Cigs may be nasty,but for me it is a lifelong addiction that I keep trying to beat. We smoke outside. I even try to hide from the neighbor kids. I am tired of this anti smoking craziness. Now the number one reason people get lung cancer is car exhaust. We keep trying to be big brother. Living in a neighborhood you have to put up with some smells and sounds. I am sure we drive our neighbors nuts every year when we put down our manure. We also burn incense at our Buddha alter outside...should we ban that too? That is worse then cig smoke. I could understand being annoyed if smoke smell wafted into your house.....I would be mad as well. I hate it when my husband leaves the door open and I have break out the febreze. But the whole problem is the slippery slope of if you let big brother have an inch they take a foot. If you cannot smoke on your own property (again I am assuming single family dewling with a yard) what else is the government going to tell you that you can and cannot do? In one state a lady was arrested for having a veggie garden. I am sorry the Castle Doctrine is needed to protect rights.
Also breathing in fireplace fumes and BBQ fumes are 100x's worse then cig smoke. Time to ban campfires, car exhast, fireplaces/woodburning stoves, perfumes, round up (weed killer and pesticides choke me up, I have to leave work when they spray) digging in your own backyard (you know that dust you kick up, and we have valley fever here) your kids/dogs should not be allowed to run on the dirt (that upsets my breathing as well). Oh I could go over a million things that are part of living in a neighborhood that effect my breathing more then the cigs.
I think it is pretty ridiculous, however, since smoking is expensive slow suicide, it's not a something I'm willing to fight for. Really, I care more about library fees or tree trimming rules (and I don't care about those) than anyone's right to smoke.
My neigbors throw cigarette butts in my yard.
Yuck, I cannot STAND cigarettes. The smoke is absolutely foul. I'd much rather live next to the guy proposing the ban than someone who smokes.
I'd rather see perfume banned. Walking past someone wearing too much is all it takes to set off a migraine.
As a non-smoking resident of California, this is completely ridiculous! Seems as though people are being told what they can or can not do in almost every aspect of their OWN LIfe! You want to have an abortion? No you can't for reasons. Want to get birth control? No you can't for reasons. Want to get married to a person of the same sex as you? No you can't for reasons. Want to smoke cigarettes in your home? No you can't for reasons! Where does it end?! I have no idea how someone smoking outside of their home bothers you SO much! Really? What doesn't cause cancer these days? What doesn't put you in harms way? Oh I have asthma, cigarette smoke is stinky, whatever, umm do you have a cell phone? Aren't those bad for your health? Do you drive a car? Ride a bus? Use hairspray? Use any type of chemical products ever? I don't want to get into some type of Internet argument but people need to look at themselves and what they are doing before they go all judge judy on others. Your smoke loving neighbor is not blowing smoke in your mouth or your kids mouths. They are hurting themselves much, much more than you. My step dad smokes, has since he was like 17, he never smoked inside our home, which we shared for close to 10 years of my life and when he would, he would go outside and close the door. And guess what? I didn't smell a thing. Guess I don't have super spidey sense of smell as some people seem to have!
Now you know how all marijuana smokers feel. We should have the right to choose what we put into our bodies, period.