Elk Grove (IL) eyes ban on selling cigarettes

Chicago Tribune ^ | 1/12/06 | Richard Wronski

[elkfersupper]

Worried that measures to limit smoking don't go far enough, Elk Grove Village officials are considering banning the sale of cigarettes, apparently the first time that has been seriously proposed in Illinois, experts said. Mayor Craig Johnson said the village would be hypocritical to consider a current proposal to restrict smoking in bars and restaurants without going after cigarettes themselves. "If we think smoking is so detrimental to the community that we should ban it, then we should think about a ban on selling cigarettes,"

[elkfersupper]

Well, here we go.

Coming soon to your town / county / state.

[elkfersupper]

"It will never happen" Ping.

[Phantom Lord]

Coming soon to your town / county / state.

I doubt it. Sure this small town may ban the sale of cigarettes within the town limits.

But the states and Feds have too much of a need for the tax revenue. Government makes more money on cigarettes than cigarette companies do.

[Jack Ian]

The mayor of Elk Grove, Johnson, is a RINO. He tried to stop O'Hare airport Expansion and lost. People in the Cook County suburbs of Chicago will just drive a mile and buy in Dupage County, robbing Elk Grove of Sales Tax. DIMWITS

[redgolum]

When has government ever acted with enough for site to avoid shooting itself in the foot?

I think that there will be a lot more of this soon.

[radioman]

"If we think smoking is so detrimental to the community that we should ban it, then we should think about a ban on selling cigarettes,"

How long before nicotine addicts share prison space with heroin addicts?
.

[Publius6961]

Although I believe these people are wrong and misguided, not to say taking an unconstitutional process to its ultimate conclusion, I have to admire their honesty.
The are not willing to rake in more and more revenues based on lies.

There is something unsettling about all the anti-smoking laws nationwide, specially those addressing second-hand smoke, based on lies, fraud and misrepresentation.

[BlueStateDepression]

Being that the president of the State Senate is a smoker, as much as it pains me to do this elkfersupper, ;) I have to agree with you. Never Gonna Happen!!!!

[beltfed308]

Whatever happened to good old tar and feathers? What is next? Alcohol?

[Phantom Lord]

I would enjoy a great deal watching a state ban the sale of cigarettes within its borders and then wack the residents with a tax increase to make up for the lost revenue. It would almost be deserved by the anti-smoking crowd that they get wacked with higher taxes.

I would prefer though that the next time a state passes a smoking ban, sues a tobacco company, or takes some action against tobacco that tobacco companies announce that clearly the state is not interested in it citizens enjoying its product and they will hence for no longer sell to that state.

How fast would the states sue to get cigarettes back on the shelves?

[Texan5]

This is just as stupid and ill-thought out as the "dry counties" we have here in Texas-people just drive over to the liquor store right across the county line to spend their money-and the "dry county" doesn't get a penny of the tax revenue from the sales.

[Thebaddog]

Isn'tg Elk Grove Village one big warehouse park in the flight path of O'hare? Which one of those warehouse kids will be the first to go postal withdrawing from nicotine?

[EequalsMC2]

This is not a smokers issue. It is a Freedom issue.

Someone, some category WILL be next.

[sandbar]

Yep, they learned they couldn't bring on prohibition suddenly, so they are going the slow route.

[Vicomte13]

Interferes with interstate commerce.
Federal court should strike it down.

[elkfersupper]

That takes care of the money leg of the three-legged stool.

What about the power and control legs?

[aligncare]

Liberty is overrated.

Who needs all that personal decision making, anyway.

[Wolfie]

Methinks the Mayor is trying to make a point.

[SittinYonder]

Elk Grove Village's proposal came as Des Plaines and Park Ridge considered tighter limits Wednesday on smoking in public places. In Chicago, most public places are to become smoke-free Monday.

I'm sick of this "public places" crap. It's a skewing of the meaning of words to try to make "publicly accessible places" such as businesses the same as "public property" which is government owned property.

[Tzimisce]

And there goes a PILE of taxes with the cigs...