Posted on 10/20/2007 1:52:53 PM PDT by Wheee The People
Poll: Two-thirds of Wyoming voters support statewide smoking ban
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A statewide poll shows that two-thirds of Wyoming voters support a ban on smoking in public places, including restaurants and bars.
The poll, commissioned by the American Cancer Society in Wyoming and other health organizations, also found that 74 percent of registered voters believe the right of customers and employees to breathe clean air outweighs smokers' right to light up indoors.
"It shows that the people of Wyoming would absolutely support a smoke-free Wyoming," said Loretta Wolf, spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society in Wyoming. The American Cancer Society and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, a national group that supports smoke-free legislation, also helped pay for the poll.
Harstad Strategic Research Inc. of Boulder, Colo. conducted the poll between Sept. 26 and Oct 1. They contacted 504 registered voters across the state. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent.
A poll commissioned last year by the Casper Star-Tribune found 57 percent of Wyoming voters supported a comprehensive, indoor smoking ban. That poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc., surveyed 625 Wyoming voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
The new American Cancer Society poll found that 92 percent of voters say they would go to restaurants more frequently or at least as frequently as they currently do if smoking were prohibited in them.
Only 6 percent of voters said they would go to restaurants less frequently if indoor smoking were outlawed, while 8 percent said they would be less likely to frequent bars.
While 66 percent of voters supported a statewide smoking ban, the American Cancer Society poll found 32 percent opposed it. Democrats and Republicans supported the ban at about the same level, 67 percent and 68 percent, respectively.
Support for the ban also remained constant among people of different ages, with support only varying a few percentage points between voters aged 18 to those 60 or older.
The poll found that 70 percent of women supported a smoking ban compared to 61 percent of men.
More than 70 percent responded that they believe exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke is harmful to people's health. Twenty-seven percent of voters surveyed said that exposure to secondhand smoke is "just somewhat" or "not at all" harmful.
The poll results were released while a legislative committee is considering whether to introduce smoke-free legislation at the upcoming budget session in February.
Wolf, of the American Cancer Society, said her group is pushing for a comprehensive bill that includes a ban on smoking in bars, restaurants or other businesses. About 27 states have adopted smoke-free laws but the restrictions vary.
Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper, chairman of the Labor, Health and Social Services Committee, has said he only intends to introduce the bill in next year's budget session if a majority of the committee members supports it.
Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, sponsored a similar bill in the last session, but it failed to make it to the House floor for a first-reading vote. Lawmakers anticipate a tough fight in the coming session if the bill moves forward.
Dan Hatanelas, manager of a bar in Cheyenne, opposed a citywide smoking ordinance that became law last year. He said he would also oppose statewide legislation.
However, Hatanelas said that a statewide ban might be more fair to businesses in Cheyenne that now must compete against nearby Laramie County businesses that are exempt from the local ban. He said his bar saw a 19-percent drop in revenue during the first 12 months of the local ban, which took effect in August 2006.
"I'd hate to see anything happen, but maybe on a statewide basis it would be less traumatic for us," Hatanelas said.
In addition to Cheyenne, the cities of Laramie and Evanston have adopted their own smoke-free ordinances. The Rock Springs City Council is considering a similar ordinance. Voters in Casper rejected a proposed ban in 2000.
Information from: Star-Tribune, http://www.casperstartribune.net
Absolutely. The owner has a right to make a business decision. I do find it intersting that the non-smokers have organized and imposed their views on smokers, but I have not heard of any widespread movement among smokers to force all bars and restaurants to allow smoking.
DoughtyOne, I appreciate this writing back and forth, you indeed understand the slippery slope, most antis on here don’t: oh, and I don’t think you are an anti...
OSHA was asked to regulate smoking by ASH, but when OSHA responded that they would set a standard of a permissible level, ASH withdrew their request and asked OSHA not to do anything.
There is no safe level of smoke according to ASH, just like there is no safe level of Man-Made global warming to Gore.
If you are interested, this recent article in Skeptic Magazine is a good historical run-down of what’s been going on with these bans:
http://www.nycclash.com/Zion-Skeptic-Science_And_SHS.html
It’s accessed from a Pro-Smokers website, with permission from the author [click the ‘Article link]
And, if the free market had gone it’s course, I would accept it. When the car came into being, horse buggy manufacturers were upset, but lost customers because people gravitated to autos. One can still buy a horse buggy, but they are few and far between.
The trend is now, less people are smoking, that’s fine - but to Ban an activity to a private business owner who still wants to cater to a smoking society is against a free market.
To bar people from enjoying an activity they once loved is Nanny-State.
To ban buggies and force everyone to drive cars would have been ludicrous.
A Ban is a Ban, it’s not progress, it’s restrictive.
Thanks for the response. I appreciate your views. I’m going to refrain from making another arguement that you will need to respond to, so I can involve myself in other things now. Take care.
Unbelievable!
What’s the difference between second hand smoke and grilling hamburgers, or fish on “a fire of coals” as Jesus did in John 21:9.
This is an important issue for smokers. That’s why I think it is nice of you to be so generous considering the situation that exists today. IMO that is the beauty of this forum, the fact that we can meet and talk and disagree yet still keep it somewhat civil. It isn’t always easy, as evidenced on this thread and others. And believe me, I’m no saint to be sure.
When the bans first came about in California, it had been my perception that it was probably a pretty good thing for owners. Some of them had wanted to become non-smoking establishments, but they were afraid to.
We had city councils making new laws which found some establishments not able to allow smoking and others right across the street or nearby that did. This was causing all sorts of problems.
When the state steped in, it leveled the playing field. It was to the smokers detriment, I agree.
Well, it has been nice to talk about this. I do find some of the inequities in this situation to be lamentable.
Take care.
Remember, I don’t smoke...
Thanks for the thoughtful reply though...
It stands to reason that they’d be for “a law” because they couldn’t hold their own in the free market if forced to compete against people who opted to allow smoking in their restaurants.
If you look at most any industry, there’s going to be groups that are willing to prohibit X because if there was a choice of offering only Y, or Y and X, the people who offer the latter are going to do better than those that offer Y alone. If X is smoking, even if the people who offer Y and X were to invest in two separate buildings connected by an airlocked hallway but served by a common kitchen the X alone people are going to insist that their right to do so be restricted because they (at the least) perceive that Y and X proprietors are going to have a leg up on them...
So if some group that represented a majority decides some other type of rights need be eliminted or restricted (like say gun ownership), you’re cool with that?
The mere fact that a lot of people support something is hardly and arguement that supports any given position. There’s argueably a majority of people in this country who are freakin’ morons, just look at how many democrats and RINOs get elected...
“I for one always use an ash tray I’ve put in my car and always field strip my cigarette to find a trash can later.”
Just as an FYI, I find that an empty Altoids container works great when trash cans or ash trays are hard to find.
With regards to Kelo, just do a search on FR and you will find MANY threads explaining it. It is the ultimate goal of those that disrespect private property.
You obviously did not read the linked article written by Walter Williams, as a result I can see that you are not interested in any opposing point of view to yours.
“When two people walk into a restaurant they are equal.”
Neither are as equal as the owner of the property, while on that property. Your supposition assumes that both have equal claim to that private property without making any investment with hard work or money for that property.
Your argument is the perfect tool for anti private property actions everywhere.
“Those choices involved staying at home or putting up with the smoke, or spending a considerable amount of money to be placed in a closet.”
Of course, the choice you fail to recognize is that you were free to risk your own investment of time and money to open your own venue and cater to other like minded folks. Something you support the government in preventing folks like me from doing.
Because you were to lazy or weak to “go out and kill your own food,” you celebrate the government using its force to ensure someone else is forced to cater to you.
“I don’t like the idea of the government getting involved and telling folks what they can and can’t do. They have and in this instance I will admit to being glad they did.”
So, you admit that you support Conservatism, except when it is convenient to support socialism. We call that convenient conservatism around here. Or to put it more succinctly, the current Republican party.
Despite the rhetoric you read here, conservatives regularly go to the voting booth and freely vote to ban smoking.
So if the majority is in favor of something, that makes it right, Wheenie? Your level of mental retardation grows worse daily.
You could have just as easily wrote..."Despite the rhetoric you read here, conservatives in red states like South Dakota regularly go to the voting booth and freely vote to slaughter babies."
2006 South Dakota Abortion Ban Ballot Measure Fails 55-45%
I'm here to help to help you truman and provide a public service for a fee. I am a fully trained psychologist specializing in Nanny State Behavior Syndrome (NSBS). This liberal, left wing, social engineering disease is horrible and can strike anyone at anytime. It can even strike Conservatives like you who believe in free markets and limited government.
Thankfully, Dr. Feel (a wholly owned subsiduary of Dr. Phil) is here to help you work through your problems.
Please answer the questionaire below, so I know how best to treat you. And please have your insurance card ready for the wallet biopsy. This is a Capitalist country and I don't work for free.
I discriminate against smokers because:
A. The smell of smoke is icky and yucky, it makes my hair and clothes stink and I hate walking into a bar/restaurant where people are smoking. So rather than take advantage of the free market and go somewhere that is voluntarily smoke free, I would rather use the power of the state to impose my personal preference on my fellow citizens.
A1. My __________ (choose one: Dad, Mom, Uncle, Aunt, Grandfather, Grandmother, older sister, brother, babysitter, next door neighbor, mailman) abused me by smoking ________(choose one: Marlboro, Merit, Kool, crack, Camel, Kent, marijuana) in the __________ (choose one: house, car, bar, juvenile detention center) when I was a kid.
B. My beloved ___________ (choose one: husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, maid, dog, cat, goldfish, gay lover) died from _________(choose one: cancer, heart disease, emphysema, car crash, train wreck, terrorist attack, sting ray) because of their smoking.
C. I smoked for _____ (years) and now I am ________ (choose one: missing it, sick, dead, born again, enlightened, ashamed of myself, if I can't do it, nobody can) and want to share my experience with others.
D. The Big Tobacco companies are lying scumbags and must pay! (you're not coming down off the mountain with the tablets there)
E. I represent Big Pharmaceutical interests that benefit from the anti-smoking movement because it increases the sales of our Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products.
F. I am a deeply caring individual in the mold of Mother Theresa and I am speaking out due to my benevolent, philanthropic, altruistic concern about the health of my fellow man.
G. I am a research scientist and grant junky, and if I don't tow the party line my grant money will disappear.
H. I'm just a garden variety Fascist and Totalitarian and get a ______ (choose one: cheap thrill, natural high, erection, orgasm) by imposing my will on other people.
I. I am a retard who believes in bogus studies, junk science, the Easter Bunny and the Toothfairy. I fear that because I walked into a bar on Spring Break in 1987, and was exposed to Second Hand Smoke I now suffer from ______(choose one: AIDS, Herpes, Athletes Foot, Jock Itch, male pattern baldness, or genital warts)
J. I am a disgruntled, prissy and angry employee of a ______(choose one: bar, restaurant, club, casino) who can't leave the job because I am a _______(choose one: slave, indentured servant, sweatshop laborer, illegal immigrant) and had no idea there was smoking going on in the place before I took the job.
K. An elected public serpent, serving as a _____ (choose one: State Assemblywoman, Senator, Freeholder, city councilman, mayor) and I have failed miserably in my job and trying to tackle really tough problems like _____ (choose one: gang violence, income taxes, property taxes, crime, corruption), so I will support a smoking ban based on the talking points and literature that "M" has given me and claim that I have actually accomplished something to help my constituents.
L. A Socialist liberal Democrat who is desperate for Universal Healthcare so the proletariet will continue to keep me in power. But if I don't do something about the "demand side" health care costs caused by such global health menaces as _________ (choose one: Marlboro, Merit, Kool, Big Macs, Whoppers, Chicken McNuggets, Budweiser, Coors, Jack Daniels) my health care entitlement program will go ________ (choose your adjective: broke, belly up, bankrupt, insolvent).
M. A professional anti-tobacco activist who makes $450,000 per year. MY GOAL IS TO REDUCE SMOKING RATES FROM 25% TO BELOW 10%. KICKING THEM OUT OF THEIR FAVORITE BAR AND RESTAURANT IS JUST A SMALL STEP TO COERCE THEM TO QUIT. I DON'T EVEN BELIEVE THE SHS NONSENSE MYSELF! Don't you dare try to ban cigarettes, if you do I will have to go back to my previous job ______(choose one: prostitute, drug dealer, pimp, state assemblyman, mayor) where I won't make nearly as much money and the bank will foreclose on my seaside villa and repo my _______(choose one: Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Hummer, Infiniti, Acura,Jaguar, Volvo, Bentley). I take advantage of the prejudices of categories A-L above to accomplish my goal.
N. I am a Religious Fundamentalist who believes that smoking is strictly forbidden in the ______(choose one: Qu'ran, Bible, Torah, Old Testament, New Testament, David Wells' autobiography "Perfect I'm Not", Hustler Magazine)
O. I don't fit any of the above categories, I just like to argue with people.
I’ll try to remember...
Thank you.
LMAO... ah take a deep breath fella.
Well that’s your take on it and you’re welcome to it. Thanks for the comments.
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