Posted on 01/31/2003 7:38:52 AM PST by chance33_98
Bill Would Ban Smoking In Car With Kids
Georgia Democrat Proposes Bill To State House
POSTED: 9:47 a.m. EST January 31, 2003
ATLANTA -- Smoking in a car carrying a child would be illegal under a bill proposed Thursday in the Georgia House of Representatives.
Democrat Paul Smith proposed the bill to make it a misdemeanor to smoke in a vehicle where a child is restrained in a car seat. The misdemeanor would carry a fine and include cigars, cigarettes and pipes.
"This is just protecting the kids from secondhand smoke," Smith said. "It's damaging to adults and it's even more dangerous to children."
Smith said he knew of no other state with such a law but is optimistic the Legislature will consider the smoking bill.
"We've got to start somewhere," he said.
And how many taxpayers dollars does Mr. Smith think will be spent on enforcement of this "feel good" legislation?
Where does Mr. Smith think these dollars are going to be found in the state budget?
Oh it's for the children. Sorry, never mind. Spare no expense!!!
Their argument will become - well, it MIGHT have an affect on them, it has on some, so just in case we better make it a CRIMINAL offense. And while we are at it - we will regulate how often you eat out (it's bad for some kids too). Oh and that shopping card for the grocery store? We will make sure you buy things the government deems good for your kids - or else.
From studies I have seen posted here of late, kids eating bad is a much larger epidemic and has many worse affects (and is more widespread) then kids who have parents that smoke. So lets regulate some more!
Love,
The Dopers
You haven't been paying attention. That's not the way we do it here. If somebody engages in an activity we don't like, we lobby, legislate, and generally agitate to have it declared illegal. It's the American way, and its most certainly NOT relegated to the Left only.
Don't forget our friends in the gun group! As I said before, the left is out not only preaching their religion, they are forcing it on everyone else. Guess I am going to start thumping my bible at the state legislature - the logic in there is more sound then the crap they are spewing. I will just say 'it is for the eternal souls of the children, if we save just one soul....'.
Guess the only ones allowed to force beliefs upon people are the left - take down those 10 commandments, and put out that cigarette! ;)
First off, smoking around a person (child or otherwise) does not CAUSE asthma. it may exacerrbate a pre-existing condition, but it did not cause the problem to begin with.
Second, less and less kids are exposed to tobacco smoke than ever before, yet the rates of asthma and other respiratory illness in children is skyrocketing. If smoking were the root of the problem don't you think the numbers would be declining, instead of increasing? the World Health Organization (WHO) did the largest study ever on SHS exposure and lyng cancer and found no statistically significant increase of lung cancer in non-smokers forom exposure both at home and in the work place.
Incidentally, the only statistically significant fact that did come out of the study was a lower risk of lung cancer in kids exposed than in those not exposed.
It'll start with police stops. A cop will have you roll down your window and if the inside of your car smells like butts and you've got a kid in there, if he doesn't see a butt in the ashtray he'll ask you to step out of your car and he'll frisk you for cigs. Later, when this brilliant piece of legislation is accepted by the public, but hasn't yet solved the problem of "kids being hurt by tobacco," the law will be extended to your home---guaranteed. Then the cops will have to rely upon "informants" to bust you.This is a well-worn path, my tobacco smoking friends!
Me, I'm a multiple threat: a doper, a pipe smoker, a pick-up truck driver, a married white male homeowner with no children . . . I feel like Trotsky sometimes.
I agree.
Why doesn't he start in hell and if he climbs out of it, then we can talk.
I disagree with you. I see your point perfectly and it is consitent and thoughtful and makes complete sense.
The point for most on this thread is that legislating common sense is going too far.
it is of great dispute as to whether 2'nd hand smoke harms children or others who are exposed. Some studies conclude that it causes harm, some conclude that there's no evidence of this. But once I read in National Review that somebody doing a study for federal government on this complained to journalists that they were pressured to find health problems with 2'nd hand smoke. I don't think the studies showing health problems with 2'nd hand smoke are honest. It is ridiculous to tell smokers they can't smoke in presence of their children. The proponents of these bills have a great desire for evil IMHO.
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