People who wish to defend smoking in public places are resorting to all kinds of irrelevant arguments and comparisons. In another email on this list, a 'bartending lawyer', "MATTHEW J. GOLLINGER" makes the argument that the smoking ban is being promoted because of "The stink of smoke in clothing, the haze obscuring the stage and sore throats induced by second-hand smoke" He claims these "... explain the popularity of the proposal, yet they do not justify it." He claims that the ban is motivated by our desire to be "free from inconvenience and offense", and goes on to say that it is "patently un-American" (Ouch!).
I am sure Matthew must know that those are only peripheral benefits of the ban. He can't make his argument without falsely representing the argument of the clean-air advocates. He leaves out the one thing that DOES justify the smoke ban. Second hand smoke kills people. Is smoking in public similar to carrying a gun in public? No. Carrying a gun is similar to CARRYING cigarettes. Harmless. Taking your gun out and shooting it is analogous to taking your cigarettes out and smoking them. Gunplay is against the law. Filling the air with smoke should be too. I don't care if you carry them. Is smoking in public similar to a "homosexual couple kissing"? No, it is not. Unless, of course you force me into a three-way. That would be similar, and that would be illegal. Do employees have a right to work in an environment that doesn't cause them serious health damage, injury and death? I thought we settled this years ago when we set up workplace safety laws. If Matthew wants to advocate doing away with those laws, then he should argue for that. There is no reason to ban exposure to asbestos but accept exposure to smoke. -- Bob Treumann, Saint Paul Please Note: Replies to this email address all go to the trash except where the subject line contains a recognized mailing list identifier, such as [TCMETRO] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
