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“The Smoke-Free Debate Is Not Over,” Waco Coalition Says
Disappointed by the Waco City Council’s decision not to ban smoking entirely from bars, restaurants and workplaces, the Smoke-Free Waco coalition vowed Wednesday to continue to fight for a comprehensive smoking ordinance.
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I read your comments, agree with some, disagree with others. But I'm also getting tired of all the do-gooders(on their Band-Wagons/Soap-Boxes picking on smokers. Go pick up trash at Cameron Park, Lake Waco, on the Streets and in the Alleys, on the Highways, etc. If you non-smokers do not like smokers, then stay away from us. Because We certainly do not like you. Alcohol is a more 'prevalant cause' of people dying/getting killed/robbed/injured. Go pick on them!! I personally do not smoke around you, anywhere,and if you are invited into my home, I don't smoke in front of you. But you non-smokers enjoy 'all' the Federal/State/Local taxes We pay(which is millions of dollars). So you people can eat beans, fire up your fire places, not take a shower/bath, wear stinking perfume, and go drink your alcohol. But stay away from Smokers and any place we frequent that allows smoking. If you walk into a place and smell smoke, then go home! PERIOD!!
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All smokers volunteered to be smokers. Nobody forced you to start. SMOKING IS A VOLUNTARY HABIT. When you are smoking in a room, you are forcing everyone in the room to smoke right along with you. I've been in restaurants with smoking and non-smoking areas, but the smoke fills THE ENTIRE BUILDING. There is no invisible wall keeping the smoke in the smoking area. Yes, diners can choose to go to a non-smoking restaurant if they wish. But, what if EVERY RESTAURANT has a smoking area that allows the smoke to go through the whole building? Why should non-smokers be forced to choose between a smoking and non-smoking establishment when we CHOSE not to start this nasty habit??? I love to bowl, but I can't go bowling because every bowling alley smells like a full ash tray. I can't go to a bar to have a drink because EVERY BAR is full of smoke. You want to know how your smoking intrudes on my life? THAT'S HOW!
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To the "Smoke-Free Waco coalition": Why are you people so determined to RULE over people who have the right to smoke? Just HOW does the smoking of others interfere with your life? What ever happened the the old "LIVE AND LET LIVE"?
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The by far, most common thing that keeps comming up in this discussion from the non-smokers has been that they are annoyed by the smell of smoke. How many times have you held the elevator for someone that was wearing enough perfume to cause a gag reflex. That was more than anoying but you held the elevator anyway. Or what about the times that you stood in line at the grocery store behind someone with bad enough BO that you WISHED would have on too much perfume. In those cases you were simply annoyed but you went on your way without another thought. What makes being around someone smoking different? Is it because smokers and the only folks that it is PC to discriminate against without being called a racist or some kind or "phobe"? Are smokers some kind of vent therapy for you guys? Logic dictates that it can't be the second hand smoke BS.
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Katy, when you walk into a public building and you have to go through the designated smoking area to get in. All the people trying to get there last puff before they go back to work. The only stupid thing about this whole mess is your comments.
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AGAIN, I ask, JERRY, where were you that someone actually turned to you and blew smoke straight into your face? Because even smokers, disgusting primates that they are, would probably avoid places where such rudeness takes place. Or were you simply referring to your dislike of the smell of smoke in general? Honestly, I cannot understand why people who hate cigarette smoke so much continue to frequent bars and smoking sections of restaurants. Are you just stupid, or do you really, really enjoy whining?
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If you don't like smokers, don't go where thaere are smokers. If you don't like certain shows, change the channel. If you don't like nudity, stay out of strip joints. If you don't like alcohol, stay out of bars. Geezus you freakin idiots. Worry about your own lives instead of dwelling on controlling others.
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I am a smoker. I guess I really don't see what everyone is gripping about. You all go out to the restuarants, you all breath the smoke from the grills cooking the food. I guess that is okay. How many of you have fireplaces in your home? You all breath the smoke from that when you light fires. When you barbecue you have smoke from that. Don't you all barbecue any more? Most of the places you go to eat have good ventilation or areas where they are closed off from the "non-smokers" so what is your deal? I guess the smokers have to bow down and cater to the non-smokers. I guess that when I smoke, I don't drive down the road and kill someone. You all need to go to CA and live. They don't allow you to even have a gas lawn mower because it pollutes the air. It is all politics. Some states are trying to ban smoking in the car if you have children in your car. I thought that that the U.S. was a free place to live. Almost seems like a dictartership to me. You all need to get a life.
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To those of you out there that smoke around others in public places blowing smoke on others not smoking yes it does stink. How about those of us who dont smoke just pass gas in your face and see if you like the smell!!!!
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Give it up. I'm tried of hearing about second-hand smoke, etc. Why doesn't the City Council do something about the dogs that run lose in the City and hurt people. I think if a business wants to allow smoking, they should be able to. I've had enough of government telling us what to do.
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http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/content/ped_10_2x_secondhand_smoke-clean_indoor_air.asp
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Oliver....you are clueless!! What rock have you been under??? Sure there are smokers that smoke all their life and it seems like it doesn't bother them. But 2nd hand smoke is a hazard whether you are smart enough to believe it or not! It doesn't matter to me either way, but I know I'd rather be in a place where there wasn't any smoke. ALL of my family used to smoke and I hated being around them, but I was growing up. Just put them in a seperate area and if others choose to go in there, its their problem!!!! BTW, read the facts Oliver!
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I recently quit smoking after 14 years. I still believe smokers have rights, just like non-smokers. If you don't like smoking at an establishment, don't go there. It is very simple.
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"In voting for this weak compromise, the Waco City Council is saying that some of our citizens are more valuable and deserve more protection than others. That's not right." What the heck is he talking about? which citizens are considered less valuable? That doesn't make any sense. Either it was taken out of context or it's more nonsense propaganda. Every single restaurant in town has non-smoking areas. You have to make a clear, conscious choice to eat/drink in a smoking AREA, or even go to one of the few places that has a (separately ventilated) smoking section. How does anyone need "protection" from this? In what situation are you anti-smoking fanatics forcibly subjected to second-hand smoke? I am so sick of this nanny state BS. These whiners need to live their own lives and stop trying to control all aspects of other peoples'.
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Since the front door does not work, this is a back door method in use now by this group and the Texas legislature to make tobacco illegal in Texas. That is their ultimate goal. Yes, the city council may visit this issue again, but for once I think they made a very common sense move for now. Bellmead, I do not know about your smoking ordinance, but I assume that you still allow smoking in bars. If that is the case, then baby, we're coming home to all those new bars that will be opening in your town.
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