[Terpesman]

Maybe they should form a lobby to get Congress to change the laws?

You have to understand that Non-smokers are just as pissed. As a smoker you might not realize just how awful the smell is if you are't used to it. You don't mind if you're clothes smell, well I do. I don't want to smell like an ashtray everytime I come home.

And don't give me the "junk science" bit. You can't honestly say that smoking is healthy? You can't sit there and tell me that you think second hand smoke is good for people.

And let me ask you this, do you think that the majority of society should change how we feel about smoking to accomodate your feelings? I know you are outside and I know it's not cool that there aren't better shelters for you to use when it's raining. But does that mean that 3 or 4 smokers should be allowed to sit in a restaurant and smoke while the people around them, some with children, are miserable?

[Just another Joe]

And don't give me the "junk science" bit. You can't honestly say that smoking is healthy?

We are not talking about smoking. We're talking about ETS, or second hand smoke, and no, the vast majority of the studies done, including the three largest, say there is no health risk from ETS unless there is a pre-existing medical condition.
As for the smell - you're going to have a law enacted stripping property owners of their rights because you don't like the SMELL?

But does that mean that 3 or 4 smokers should be allowed to sit in a restaurant and smoke while the people around them, some with children, are miserable?

If the restaurant owner allows smoking, yes.
But you come at that position from a wrong position.
There are things that can be done by the property owner to accomodate both the smoker AND the nonsmoker. Why not let the property owner decide?

[Dan from Michigan]

But does that mean that 3 or 4 smokers should be allowed to sit in a restaurant and smoke while the people around them, some with children, are miserable?

That should be a business decision.

[beckysueb]

I'm sure there are a few bad people in every group but I wish you wouldn't paint everyone with the same brush. For one thing, there are just as many smokers as nonsmokers. When my husband and I go to a restaurant, we always go to the smoking section and you'd be surprised how many people bring their small children into a smoking section. Even if we are in smoking, if there are kids there, we wait till we get outside to smoke.

[douglas1]

WHY would anybody take their kids where their is smoking allowed and then bitch and moan about it. IF a man opens up a bar and decides he will allow smoking should he be shut down because of you, or maybe we are just having fun.