Illinois Smoking Ban

[Kevin]

Even to a libertarian these laws make sense.

Your right to swing your fist begins at my nose.

Similarly, your right to smoke ends where it affects my right to breath smoke free air. You have no right to cause me harm. I have a right to go anywhere public and not have you cause me harm.

I've never seen a smoking ban I didn't like.

[ZTAngel]

These bans are going to get more common over the next couple of years as more and more states move to ban smoking in public places. Even many of the European countries have begun to ban smoking in restaurants and bars which I never thought would happen since smoking seems to be more common there than in the U.S.

Personally, I love the bans. You have a right to smoke but I have a right not to have to breathe it in.

Hawaii's smoking laws went into effect November 16, 2006. From reading jmagnus' post, it's pretty much the same as Illinois', except one has to be 20 feet from a public entrance. The fines, I believe, are the same as well.

A lot of bar and restaurant owners did lose money and they even tried to fight it, but they eventually lost. People made a big stink about having to go outside bars to smoke, but you know what? They eventually got used to it and some even enjoy being outside. Of course I live in Hawaii where it doesn't get cold, so....

[Munchkin03]

As a lifelong asthmatic, I support any and every public smoking ban.

[amycat412]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

As a lifelong asthmatic, I support any and every public smoking ban.

ME TOO!

CA has had it for YEARS and it is WONDERFUL!! I was in Salt Lake City last week and after an hour in a smoke filled bar, my wheezing self needed to be outside in the 20 degree weather gulping fresh air.

Didn't Dana Reeves die of lung cancer due to second hand smoke? I feel like I remember reading she was never a smoker...