[FairOpinion]

This is REAL invasion of privacy.

I never could understand that people scream about the sensible measures needed to catch terrorists and protect us and don't revolt over such total invasions of privacy for absolutely no reason, except because the government wants to do it.

[ctonious]

I never could understand that people scream about the sensible measures needed to catch terrorists and protect us and don't revolt over such total invasions of privacy for absolutely no reason, except because the government wants to do it.

I understand why...as an ex-smoker. Smokers are the most masochistic lot when it comes to their rights. They almost encourage being stepped on. They pay outrageous taxes on tobacco, get shunned and lectured by everybody, and stand outside in sub-zero weather in designated smoking areas - often purposely unsheltered and without any creature comforts.

But they acquiesce to all this because they think "Well...I need to quit anyway...and all this stuff...will make me wanna quit."

[Alberta's Child]

I never could understand that people scream about the sensible measures needed to catch terrorists and protect us and don't revolt over such total invasions of privacy for absolutely no reason, except because the government wants to do it.

Good point. In fact, I said back in 2002 that as far as I was concerned, this so-called "war on terror" was officially over when the New York City council passed its smoking ban. For the life of me, I could not understand why "second-hand smoke" in bars and restaurants was such a pressing concern in a city that had lost 2,500+ people in terror attacks only a few months earlier.

[af_vet_rr]

I never could understand that people scream about the sensible measures needed to catch terrorists and protect us and don't revolt over such total invasions of privacy for absolutely no reason, except because the government wants to do it.

You think it's bad now, just imagine if they got these banned, would they get unnanounced home searches, etc. to make sure they didn't smuggle them in. I can imagine a police raid at two in the morning going after cigs and cigars.

[DannyTN]

It sounds to me like the smokers are crying "the sky is falling".

The article uses a lot of "may do this" and never actually quotes legislation to demonstrate that the threat is real.