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GA: Senate Passes Public Smoking Ban ~Barf Alert
WXIA-TV ATLANTA ^
| 3/4/2004
| Denis O'Hayer
Posted on 03/04/2004 2:20:04 PM PST by SheLion
The Georgia Senate overwhelmingly approved a statewide ban of smoking inside public places Thursday. As a majority of senators co-signed the bill, it was expected to pass.
Backers of the measure brought children into the Capitol to promote their point that second-hand smoke is dangerous to non-smokers.
While the bill would ban smoking in places such as restaurants, an amendment granted an exemption for free-standing bars that get at least 80 percent of their business from drink sales.
Some lawmakers argued that the Legislature is behind the times, but backers said it is never too late to save lives.
"There are so many deaths and disabilities associated with second-hand smoke. We teach our children not to smoke and 80 percent of them work in high school and are working in smoke-filled restaurants that's equivalent to smoking a pack-and-a-half of cigarettes a day," said Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton.
Violators would face up to a $100 fine for the first offense, up to $200 for the second offense, and so on. The bill now moves to the House, where it faces an uncertain future.
Lawmakers in the House approved a separate anti-smoking measure Thursday. The bill bans smoking inside a car that contains a child. Smokers would be forced to roll down the car windows if they light up with a child present. The fine for a violation would cost $15.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: antismokers; bans; butts; cigarettes; individualliberty; lawmakers; maine; niconazis; professional; prohibitionists; pufflist; smokingbans; taxes; tobacco
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To: Mears
I surely do! It was my Grandmother's and it holds one whole pack of regulars! I had to replace the elastic bands, but other than that it's intact!
21
posted on
03/04/2004 5:44:47 PM PST
by
annyokie
(There are two sides to every argument, but I'm too busy to listen to yours.)
To: SheLion
While the bill would ban smoking in places such as restaurants, an amendment granted an exemption for free-standing bars that get at least 80 percent of their business from drink sales.LOL, seems to me they are rewarding heavy drinking.
22
posted on
03/04/2004 6:58:45 PM PST
by
Great Dane
(You can smoke just about everywhere in Denmark.)
To: SheLion
There are so many deaths and disabilities associated with second-hand smoke. We teach our children not to smoke and 80 percent of them work in high school and are working in smoke-filled restaurants that's equivalent to smoking a pack-and-a-half of cigarettes a day," said Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton.And here are the same good old lies again.
23
posted on
03/04/2004 6:59:57 PM PST
by
Great Dane
(You can smoke just about everywhere in Denmark.)
To: at bay
My brother's asthma is now so bad he had to be put on steroids to breathe. Three of the five children in our family have asthma, the direct result of smoking parents.Asthma is not caused by smoking...... first or second hand, it can be agrivated by it.
Think about it, with a lot fewer smoking, how come cases of Asthma is on a sharp increase.
24
posted on
03/04/2004 7:03:45 PM PST
by
Great Dane
(You can smoke just about everywhere in Denmark.)
To: Mears
Do you really have a silver cigarette case? Neat! I still have a crystal cigarette box with my wedding invitation engraved on it,quite nice and 44 years old.(The cigarette box,not me)You all have such nice cigarette stuff, think I'll go and pout, wonder where you can pick up a nice case these days, you don't suppose they are outlawed.............. do you. :-{
25
posted on
03/04/2004 7:11:11 PM PST
by
Great Dane
(You can smoke just about everywhere in Denmark.)
To: SheLion
Someone should remind these control-freaks that Georgia is not Calf and they we have concealed weapons.
To: metesky
This week there's been an add running on Bangor TV stations claiming that 50,000 deaths a year are caused by second hand smoke. Are you KIDDING ME??!! I don't get the hard copy, so my blood pressure has been protected from that. But boy oh boy! And they actually think that we sheeple out here will believe that chit. I can't believe no one has taken them to task about this. Makes me sick to my stomach!
27
posted on
03/04/2004 7:27:56 PM PST
by
SheLion
(Curiosity killed the cat BUT satisfaction brought her back!!!)
To: Great Dane
You all have such nice cigarette stuff, think I'll go and pout, wonder where you can pick up a nice case these days, you don't suppose they are outlawed.............. do you. :-{ Go to Ebay under tobacco products. :)
28
posted on
03/04/2004 7:29:40 PM PST
by
SheLion
(Curiosity killed the cat BUT satisfaction brought her back!!!)
To: SheLion
Why are they afraid to extend the ban to stand-alone bars? Don't they care about the college children?
29
posted on
03/04/2004 8:24:35 PM PST
by
dar29oh
(I taught my cat to smoke!)
To: SheLion
Mee too please.
30
posted on
03/04/2004 8:50:09 PM PST
by
Iberian
To: Iberian
Mee too please. Got you added! Thanks!!!
31
posted on
03/05/2004 4:14:01 AM PST
by
SheLion
(Curiosity killed the cat BUT satisfaction brought her back!!!)
To: dar29oh
Don't they care about the college children? Personally, I don't consider college students to be children. They are young adults. We have military in Iraq younger then a lot of college students.
But I know what your saying.........it's like the anti's say that smokers die a premature death, even when the smoker was "90" when he passed on. heh!
32
posted on
03/05/2004 4:16:34 AM PST
by
SheLion
(Curiosity killed the cat BUT satisfaction brought her back!!!)
To: SheLion
Private property no longer exists!
Vote Kerry, let's take the plunge and just declare the Republic dead. Let's just admit that we are a socialist country!
33
posted on
03/05/2004 5:13:14 AM PST
by
CSM
(Looking for a stay at home mom for my future offspring!)
To: at bay
Liar!
We all know that only smokers get cancer and asthma! It is impossible for a non smoker to contract any detrimental disease!
Pass me more kool-aide please!
34
posted on
03/05/2004 5:15:03 AM PST
by
CSM
(Looking for a stay at home mom for my future offspring!)
To: Mears
"If smoking causes asthma how did the many thousands of kids who live in non-smoking homes get it?"
Add to that the fact that the rate of children contracting asthma has risen while the rate of smoking has decreased. If correlation equals causation, I say that smoking decreases the childs chances of getting asthma!
35
posted on
03/05/2004 5:18:15 AM PST
by
CSM
(Looking for a stay at home mom for my future offspring!)
To: SheLion; metesky
From 3,000 to 50,000 overnight. No proof required by the "truth" folks. They are changing the meaning of the word!
36
posted on
03/05/2004 5:20:22 AM PST
by
CSM
(Looking for a stay at home mom for my future offspring!)
To: CSM
You said: Private property no longer exists!
Vote Kerry, let's take the plunge and just declare the Republic dead. Let's just admit that we are a socialist country!
I agree on the private property issue, but I am not sure these smoking bans constitute socialism. For the record, I am a non-smoker in a tobacco town (Winston-Salem, NC). My mother died at 43 as a result of her smoking habit, but she enjoyed it, and it was her call. She knew the risks, and took them. I am sorry she is gone, but we make choices in life. All that being said, I am split on the issue of smoking bans, at least in places where one almost has to go from time to time: banks, malls, post offices, etc. Restaurants are different, the market should control. I don't really care for the smell of smoking (although I occasionally find it somewhat pleasant, but usually not). I do enjoy observing smoking habits though, from an olfactorily safe distance, especially the smoking techniques of attractive women. I guess I am a whacko. My sister smokes, and I found it noteworthy that on her grocery lists cigarettes were ALWAYS at the top, before bread and milk even. I think this suggests the grip that smoking has on many people's lives. I wonder what the breakdown is of smokers as between those who smoke because they enjoy it and those who smoke because they can't quit. Either way, they should be accommodated, but not at the expense (and I don't buy the second hand smoke scare for a minute, I just find it unpleasant to be around) of those who prefer not to have to smell the stuff. Sorry for the rant....
37
posted on
03/05/2004 5:28:59 AM PST
by
NCLaw441
To: NCLaw441
I appreciate you post as a whole, however some of it shows that the propoganda machine has been successful. I won't bother addressing those points, due to the fact that as a whole we are on the same side.
However, to address your specific question as to how the smoking issue constituting socialism I submit that anytime private property is removed from existence, socialism is the system that has prevailed. By eliminating the choice of the property owner to allow a legal activity to occur on his property, we have confiscated the use of that property. By this blatent disregard for private property, we have lost personal liberty. The great Walter Williams has a wonderful essay that shows that personal liberty and freedom is not possible without private property rights.
By taxing only half of the population to fund the "desires" of the other half of the population, we are socialistic. Currently, a percentage point shift in the wrong direction and we will be taxing less than half of the adult citizens.
Hence, vote Kerry! From each according to his ability, to each according to his need!
38
posted on
03/05/2004 5:49:56 AM PST
by
CSM
(Looking for a stay at home mom for my future offspring!)
To: CSM
From 3,000 to 50,000 overnight. No proof required by the "truth" folks. They are changing the meaning of the word! "They" used to say that smoking was killing 50,000 people ......was that a day, a month or a year? Now, they are saying that second hand SMOKE is killing 50,000! I just shake my head. "They" will stop at nothing to bend the truth and spew their lies.
39
posted on
03/05/2004 5:50:24 AM PST
by
SheLion
(Curiosity killed the cat BUT satisfaction brought her back!!!)
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