Vote to ease (Delaware)smoking ban likely close in House

Wilmington (DE) News Journal ^ | 03/16/03 | PATRICK JACKSON

[Gabz]

A close vote is expected Tuesday when the Delaware House considers a bill amending the state's 4-month-old indoor smoking ban by exempting bars, taprooms, casinos and some other places catering to adults.

A News Journal poll of House members last week found 19 in favor of allowing smoking in some places where it now is banned, nine opposed to easing restrictions and 11 undecided. Two could not be reached.

[speekinout]

And just wait to see what happens when beach season starts, and people decide whether to go to MD, NJ, or Del beaches.
It might already be too late, because group houses usually start planning in Mar.

[qam1]

There is something even worse coming this summer than lost buisness with all these smoking bans that happened during the past winter, Summer is not only beach season it's also mosquitoe season.

This actually sounded funny when a friend of mine first said it as a joke but thinking about it I am betting it will be a major issue and that is with the West Nile Virus. Every year there are more & more cases of it and we have been lucky so far since there as been a drought around the country the last couple of years which has kept the mosquitoe population down but this year so far has been pretty wet in the Northeast where all these smoking bans have gone into effect during the past winter so come spring there will most likely be an explosion in the mosquito population and we could have a big outbreak.

So by forcing people outside to smoke will be a big danger especially in more rural parts. WNV is much more dangerous than the fake danger of secondhand smoke because unlike secondhand smoke I can show you death certificates that show that WNV does in fact kill. This is especially true at bars when people hang out at night when mosquitoes are most active.

It will be pretty sad and ironic if a bartender or waitress or even a non-smoker following their friends outside comes down and dies because of WNV because they had to go outside to smoke because of a stupid law that was supposed to be there to protect them.

Unintended consequences are a B^@#ch

[Gabz]

The beaches in Delaware are going to be hurting.

If the legislature thinks they've gotten grief now - wait until they hear what happens this summer and hear from that angle of the tourism and revenue segment of the state!!!

[Gabz]

Good Grief - I never thought about WNV.

We joke in Delaware about the mosquito being the state bird. But there were 2 confirmed cases of it here last year.

With the amount of precipitation (snow and rain) we've had in the past months we are prime target for major mosquito problem this summer. we always have a major problem, but this is going to be worse than before.

[oursacredhonor]

We are dealing with anti-smoking legislation here in the Great State of Oklahoma. It is amazing to me how easily people can be duped into surrendering their property rights. "I don't own a restaurant and I don't smoke so this doesn't affect me" they say. However, the politicians WILL get to something that does affect them and the groundwork has already been laid. The precedent has already been established. They either can't or won't connect the dots.

[Gabz]

They either can't or won't connect the dots.

You are correct!!!

[JesusSaves]

Stay the course Delaware. Don't give in to the pressure of addicts, or bow to their non sensical 'wisdom'.

I further hope the great state of Oklahoma also prevails, and eliminates all public smoking. Hang tough legislators, and do the right thing, for the (right) people.

[Gabz]

So sorry - the House of representatives in Delaware has taken a step in the right direction with the passage last night of the first step in the repeal of the anti-business smoking ban.