Texas: New smoking ordinance passed

News8Austin ^ | 11-1-03

[SheLion]

The Austin City Council passed a new smoking ordinance effective Feb. 2.

The ordinance allows smoking in public places as long as the owner gets an annual $300 permit.

Some bars, such as the Fox and the Hound, said the ordinance goes too far, while health advocates like the American Cancer Society said it's actually a step back.

"I don't think anyone can contest the dangers of second hand smoking. It's all been said. It's all been done. I think today was purely an example of a shift between public health and politics," Rodney Ahart of the American Cancer Society said.

The city is also trying what it calls "First Monday." No smoking will be allowed in bars and music venues on the first Monday of the month beginning Feb. 2. The East Sixth Street Community Association said it is willing to participate and see how "First Monday" works.

"Everyone has to give in this deal and certainly we gave more than anyone because we're giving up some of our rights. We're also climbing onto bigger costs to make our locations where they can have smoking," said Bob Woody of the East Sixth Street Community Association.

[Ramius]

The Surgeon General is a Vice Admiral in the Public Health Service, which is a uniformed service.

[SheLion]

Again, a high exposure to second hand smoke and no ill physical affects.

When the anti's saw their war on the smokers didn't work, they then turned to the non-smoking general public, telling them that SECOND HAND SMOKE IS KILLING THEM.

It's all a bunch of hooey. I, too, was brought up in a family of smokers. I started smoking when I was 16, and hung out in nightclubs that didn't have smoke eaters at that time. I have not suffered from any second hand smoke frauds.

Second Hand Smoke Frauds

And I know of NO one that has either!

Plus, I worked at a race track in the PITS around all that dust and fumes, and I never suffered from that enviroment, either.

[winker]

You cannot link all problems of smoking and make it apply across every possible situation. My Dad was a chain smoker when he died at age 58. I am now age 59 and my mother is 83. My Dad was the smoker in my family and started when he was 13; my mother and I were just breathers. When he died he averaged 5 packs a day+ ,7days a week and had burned holes in all his clothes and we lost count of how many car seats and furniture & carpets he destroyed. It is a wonder we all were not killed in a fire. When I was 18 months old he burned my leg because of a dropped cigarette while he was holding me; the burn was visible for several years until it gradually faded away.

As I said earlier smoking is not the same for everyone some are more sensitive than others. My mother never smoked her entire life but now has chronic bronchial Asthma and emphysema,and is on oxygen and has to be medicated with a nebulizer. I am seeing increased bronchitis bouts and cannot tolerate smoke of any tobacco products. The fire place smoke even causes me to cough.

My dad was the best provider me and mom could have hoped for but he was the most dangerous person I was ever around and he just never cared to reduce or quit his smoking. Nobody will ever convince me of the addictive nature of nicotine. If he started to run low on supply he would harangue my mom to go and get more when she went into town to shop. Since the time he burned me accidentally I cannot remember a time in my conscious memory when he did not have a cigarette in his hand or burning in an ashtray. The house stank of stale cigarette smoke and many times I was accused of smoking because of it being in my clothes and hair. Smokers are among the most inconsiderate people I know and they really don't care if it offends you or not. I am ashamed of the fact that I did not try harder once I was grown to convince him to lay them down but it wouldn't have done any good. He was hopelessly hooked and could not sit through a Church service without having to get up and go outside and smoke...pitiful! But hey! he was my dad ....sure wish he had listened! I am prepared to say that secondhand smoke of tobacco is dangerous and in some cases may acclerate an early death. I know personally it has destroyed the quality of me and my mother's life. By the way my dad did not die of smoking a cigarette he died of a Heart Attack I'll leave the rest up to you; go figure!

[LibKill]

Austin is our "token liberal" city here in Texas.

Even so, I'm getting tired of their tune.

[SheLion]

Smokers are among the most inconsiderate people I know and they really don't care if it offends you or not.

Excuse me, but I am offended that you lump me into that lot! For your information, I do not hang around with non smokers that have your attitude, nor do I frequent any place that does not accomodate smokers. So, do NOT lump me in with the people YOU hang out with!

[cherinfl]

Give me a break!!! You remember when you were 18 months old that your father dropped a cigarette on you!! You need to get a life and stop whinning!! You are a perfect example of what our society has come to. "Blame all my problems on someone else!"

Instead of whinning about how tough your life is, you should be researching the actual facts (junk science) of the secondhand smoke hoax.

[unixfox]

And that $300 relates to smoking... how?

It doesn't, and it seems to me this is TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION to the nth degree.

I hope to hell the bar owners file a lawsuit against these frikkin socialists.

[winker]

First of all if you had bothered to read carefully I did not say( I )remembered getting the burn I got so get it right! I said it (MAY) be a contributing factor in early death for some people who are not supermen and women like yourselves.

[winker]

I never intended to lump you into anything that even remotely resembled something I would be involved with!Second hand smoke Nazis are not my kind of crowd! Lets make a deal Ok? you don't smoke and I won't FART!

[cherinfl]

I think it is pretty sad after all these years you bring up about your father burning you!!

Also, the statement you made about your father being the most dangerous man you were ever around makes me sick.
You did say he was a good provider for you and your mother, is that all you can say good about the man , after all he was your father!!!

[deport]

I hope to hell the bar owners file a lawsuit against these frikkin socialists.

---

I suspect the bar owners were happy to get this as it is a total reversal/repeal of a smoking ban ordinance passed five months ago that hadn't gone into effect.

[winker]

Second of all you need to know why I said that. Something you would never know if I had chosen not to tell you about him is this. He was a lifelong employee who worked for a Natural Gas Company! He was a supervisor and was always being called out for one thing or another and I can relate on at least two occasions when If I had not gone out with him that in the rush and confusion and the stress of the moment he nearly walked into a Engine Room with a lighted cigarette in his hand. This is why I was so concerned with his smoking. He was a good and careing man alright but very careless at times. Instances such as this cannot be minimized. Working under stress can cause even the most dedicated and well trained people to make mistakes. The good Lord was with him and so was I on those occasions! Now as Paul Harvey says now you know the rest of the story!

[SheLion]

I never intended to lump you into anything that even remotely resembled something I would be involved with!Second hand smoke Nazis are not my kind of crowd! Lets make a deal Ok? you don't smoke and I won't FART!

Get a life! You fart all you want to buddy, cause I will never ever have to be in YOUR presence!

[SheLion]

I never intended to lump you into anything that even remotely resembled something I would be involved with!Second hand smoke Nazis are not my kind of crowd! Lets make a deal Ok? you don't smoke and I won't FART!

Get a life! You fart all you want to buddy, cause I will never ever have to be in YOUR presence!

[SheLion]

I never intended to lump you into anything that even remotely resembled something I would be involved with!Second hand smoke Nazis are not my kind of crowd! Lets make a deal Ok? you don't smoke and I won't FART!

Get a life! You fart all you want to buddy, cause I will never ever have to be in YOUR presence!

[winker]

I don't get many tripple posts better go take a smoke break and calm your nerves dudette!

[SheLion]

I don't get many tripple posts better go take a smoke break and calm your nerves dudette!

Get lost!

[winker]

Sorry I was saved years ago; cain't get lost again; just be patient I'll be gone on the Rapture soon enough and then you can remake the world like you think it should be!

[unixfox]

Two wrongs don't make a right.

[mtbopfuyn]

Yeah, that's what I thought too when it was first announced. The tax, um pay off, um permit is to go to yet more studies on smoking. Whatever.