# Another smoking ban. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 12, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470 "2003-06-12T23:16:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/1 "2003-06-12T23:16:24Z")
In [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=189164&highlight=smoking) thread **John Mace** wonders what law might prevent one from smoking in one’s own home in the presence of children. No one answered _that_, but it made me wonder. Should there be such a law? I remember reading of attempts to hold parents accountable for health damage to their children caused by smoking in the home, but should smoking, in the presence of kids, be banned? How about in cars, as John also notes? I say yes, an outright ban on smoking in the presence of children, even in the home, is called for. I don’t think it’s neccessary to pull up cites for the negative health effects of second-hand smoke on children. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/2 "2003-06-13T01:47:50Z")
I think you’re full of it, but then I don’t really want a part of this… Anyway check out what those crazy Germans are up to - [http://www.news24.com/News24/Backpage/Offbeat/0,5583,2-1343-1347\_1372697,00.html](http://www.news24.com/News24/Backpage/Offbeat/0,5583,2-1343-1347_1372697,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/3 "2003-06-13T02:04:45Z")
No no, **Azael**. That’s the _free market_ at work. I want a governmemt ban. And anybody who disagrees with me probably hates children. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/4 "2003-06-13T02:43:13Z")
Why not just make it a scheduled narcotic? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/5 "2003-06-13T02:52:29Z")
Just to clarify slightly, I was not so much asking what “law” would prevent it, but what “legal reasoning” could be used to enact such a law. And how, if at all, that legal reasoning would differ from the reasoning used to ban smoking in the workplace. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/6 "2003-06-13T03:42:39Z")
Didn’t you just quit smoking recently, **mangeorge?** I think you may be climbing on top of that high horse a bit prematurely. Your comment about anyone disagreeing with you hating children is ridiculous. Why is it that X smokers are always among the most obnoxious of all anti-smokers? How eager you are to bash a group you so recently were a part of. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/7 "2003-06-13T04:05:11Z")
Assuming you’re serious, mangeorge, what’s next? A law forbidding parents to buy their kids Big Macs and Whoppers (if you think second-hand smoke is bad, you ought to look at the health effects of obesity)? A law forbidding parents to drink in front of kids? A law giving the government permission to regulate romance? Frankly, I think we have too many damn laws already. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/8 "2003-06-13T04:22:42Z")
If you aren’t for banning cleaning products, bleach, stairs, pets with teeth, bikes, skateboards, paint, and power tools in homes with children,. then you must hate children. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/9 "2003-06-13T05:33:15Z")
I oppose any ban on smoking, and coincidentally, I also hate children. I guess you’re right about at least one person. ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/10 "2003-06-13T20:17:51Z")
I’m going to assume **mangeorge** is just having a bit of fun but let me run with this. Is it illegal to expose your kids, on purpose, to something like…asbestos? Causes cancer, generally regarded as dangerous and is fairly natural (I just read all this just now so I’m not an expert). Would this be illegal? I figure most parents would have a problem with this. So why is this any different from smoking? ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/11 "2003-06-13T21:28:23Z")
I believe asbestos has been outlawed, hasn’t it? Last time I checked, smoking is still legal. ---
**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/12 "2003-06-13T21:40:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*And anybody who disagrees with me probably hates children. \*\* That’s fine… but then everyone who disagrees with me is a pedophile. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/13 "2003-06-13T22:22:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lezlers \* > \*\*Didn’t you just quit smoking recently, **mangeorge?** > > I think you may be climbing on top of that high horse a bit prematurely. > > Your comment about anyone disagreeing with you hating children is ridiculous. Why is it that X smokers are always among the most obnoxious of all anti-smokers? How eager you are to bash a group you so recently were a part of. > > :rolleyes: \*\* I watch too much Fox tv. I took my inspiration from Hannity. And O’reilly. Ever have a sore that hurts when you pick at it, but you keep picking at it anyway? Paraphrasing; “If you don’t love the Bush Doctrine, and agree with ennerything He says, you must hate our country and be a traitor”. Something like that, anyway. 😉 :rolleyes:, indeed. :dubious: November, last year. What, you haven’t summoned up the stones yet? Smokers shouldn’t throw stones. 'Cause they have so few. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/14 "2003-06-13T22:25:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Peyote Coyote \* > \*\*Assuming you’re serious, mangeorge, what’s next? > > A law forbidding parents to buy their kids Big Macs and Whoppers (if you think second-hand smoke is bad, you ought to look at the health effects of obesity)? A law forbidding parents to drink in front of kids? A law giving the government permission to regulate romance? Frankly, I think we have too many damn laws already. \*\* Omigod, the “fat” arguement again. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/15 "2003-06-13T22:34:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Azael \* > > * * * > > That’s fine… but then everyone who disagrees with me is a pedophile. 😃 \*\* Check your post count on that evil reply, **Azael**. Coincidence??? I Don’t Think So… ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/16 "2003-06-13T22:40:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*Omigod, the “fat” arguement again. \*\* The point Peyote is making, is that your argument is just as ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/17 "2003-06-13T23:21:36Z")
What are you talking about **Mangeorge?** The only one throwing stones here is you. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/18 "2003-06-13T23:48:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lezlers \* > \*\*What are you talking about **Mangeorge?** > > The only one throwing stones here is you. \*\* The only one _not_ throwing stones here is me. But; Okay, I don’t really support bans of that type. I do support bans in bars, elevators, and airplanes etc, but I don’t support bans on smoking in general. Mostly because they’re ineffective. People just compare the smoking to romance, or Big Macs, and go on smoking around (in the faces of) kids. So; Is there any excuse for the continued practice of smoking in the presence of children, and adding to the already heavy burden on their health imposed by romance, Big Macs, and asbestos? Will any smokers admit to smoking near kids, and defend doing so? Holding your smoke up high, and blowing it away, etc, doesn’t cut it. I promise I really _would not_ vote in favor of a ban on smoking in the home. Never would have. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/19 "2003-06-14T14:42:23Z")
No takers? ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470/20 "2003-06-14T17:01:47Z")
**Mangeorge** , no one is going to defend smoking in the faces of children, to think so is just silly. OTOH, it is possible to smoke near children (outside) without blowing smoke in their little faces. For example, my brother and his wife smoke. They take their son outside with them (he’s too young to leave him in the house) when they smoke (occasionally, usually they take “turns” and one of them stays inside with him) they put him in his walker upwind from them and blow smoke away. I’ve been there and trust me, the kid isn’t inhaling any more smoke than he would be if they took him to an outdoor mall or something. You can’t keep kids in plastic bubbles, you know. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-smoking-ban/181470.md?page=2)