I'm a smoker. I knoow it canbe offensive to others.
I have been to restaurants and lounges that are TOTALLY closed off from the nonsmoking area. (In an enclosed area) In that area, they have a "purification system" that cycles smokey area through them, then returns the cleansed air back into that area. (It's funny, but that would actually protect us smokers from "secondary smoker". I'm sure it's expensive, but in the long run, it draws larger diners to these sites.

 The none smokers are just winey crybabies there are non smoking sections!!! At least there was! It has to be all there way or not at all. Like spoiled punks!!!!

 First of all, it is a complete infringement on the peoples' constitutional rights as American citizens. Secondly, if the non-smokers don't like it, they can go to a club or whatever that caters to thier needs, while us smokers can live in peace how we choose at our designated places of buisiness that cater to smokers. Do that and let's see what buisinesses stay open, and which ones get snuffed-out. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 I am not a smoker infact i have never smoked in my life!! I tell no lies im 17 and i have always thought that smoking wasnt for me. S M O K I N G K I L L S but you cant simply ban it because of that in that case you would have to ban all the other harmful things around us such as drinking!!! Would all you people ban drinking???? No i wouldnt have thought so. Smoking not only kills you but other people but i am against this debate as its picking up on banning smoking not the bigger issue!! Why do we have all these harmful things around us!!! Why dont we simply ban them. If you ban them people will stil have it. People still have weed!! And why ban it because its dangerous anyway everthing in life is dangerous. When you step outside look on the roads!! Danger is everywhere!! You cant avoid it. Banning it will not solve the problem it will just silence the problem. Smoking used to advertise on tv, which is now banned as they say that the advertisment pressures young people to smoke. But what about the advertisments for drinking!! Where is the morals in banning one thing and not banning the other???? Sorry for going on ahaha :P lol wb ema xxx

 What happened to freedom? Is it not a Americans right to do with or to as they wish with their own body?I am a non smoker but still believe in everyone's rights if I am around and don't like it fine I can leave just as fast as I came.If their teeth get yellow with bad breath don't kiss them,if you think they smell stand further away ( you should be 3 feet anyway to give everyone a bubble )they get cancer don't worry about it your not taking care of them when they are sick unless your in the medical profession and if that's the case you get paid for it so do your job and keep your opinions to yourselves as the rest of us do when you enter our work places and we would like to voice our opinions about you. Now I think its good family establishments have banned it we all feel better taking our children to these places as far as bars and taverns your kids should not be there anyway ...what does that say about the people who do that?What about the parents who have a alcoholic drink with dinner in a restaurant then drive their kids home intoxicated...who do you endanger on your way home ? Everyone on this earth does their share of damage in one way or another.It all boils down to common sense and respect you either have it or you don't!

 I am a smoker and i will probably never stop and it is no ones business but mine and no one has the right to tell me different. The morons that make the comments that we stink and make messes need to mind their own business and but their mouths to better use like the people that drink and drive and could hurt or even kill people because they are to stupid to know the difference, or take time to catch to home wrecking women that sleep with spouses and kill the life of the kids. Smoking is my choice not yours so those that do not like it mind your own business!!!!

 I am a smoker and for one why are we smokers not getting the same rights as the non smokers. If we chose to kill ourselfs that is our business and if a non smoker does not like it then they can chose to go somewhere else!

 I really do not like smoking and I cannot stand the smell, but I would only ban smoking from the public places. I know it is damaging to the health of the smoker, but so are other things. So, it is his/her choice.

 The debate question asks if the ban is fair (gives equal consideration) to smokers, not how we feel about smoking. But since we can't seem to stay quite with the original question, for the record, I'm all for allowing private restaurant, club, and tavern owners to determine for themselves whether or not the business that they established and own will be a smoking establshment The nonsmokers don't own his/her business, the smokers don't own it, and the government certainly doesn't own it.

I think as regards enclosed public places--where people have no choice about going elsewhere to do whatever it is they are doing, the most fair policy is to disallow smoking.

And one more point about the word "fairness"... Fair would be giving the business owner the right to choose. Fair would allow non smokers and smokers a the choice about what establishments they eat and drink at. Fair means nonsmokers can and should be held responsible for making whatever choice about whether not to patronize private smoking establishments and head on down the road to the non-smoking restaurant or club where they ar emore comfortable. (I have done that and not minded doing it.) No harm/no foul. Everybody wins then; the business owner regains control of his own business tand he right to run it in the best way s/he sees fit---- nonsmokers don't have to eat or drink there. And smokers and nonsmokers choose where they want to hang.

The right and responsibility to choose should be protected and remain as close to individuals as possible in all matters, rather than looking to a governmental body for mandates or creating yet another law. It reminds me of a spoiled child who doesn't want to be responsible and instead runs crying and complaining to its mother...

 I think that we should be able to smoke wherever we choose for the simple fact that every time a tax is raised it's for either gas or cigarettes so we by now have paid for free smoking ya know

 I say no i used to be a smoker before i got pregnant and i hated it when people i didn't even know came up to me and said u know that's bad for u....well lemme tell u something its no ones business if some one decides to smoke, its not harming your body so why do u care. They already banned smoking out of restaurants and some parks and apartment buildings there's no need to go to the extreme of banning it all together that's just people hating on other people for real tho

 I think it is a load of bull. Giving the fact yes smoking is bad for you. You are inhaling smoke not oxygen like your lungs were intended to be used for but why should smokers the real tax payers the ones that are taxed higher than any other purchasers in the country be shoved out saying they no longer have rights. You don't like second hand smoke don't go where the smoke is have smoking and non smoking establishments according to the owner of the establishment not our swollen headed politicians that think they have the power to dictate life for the people by the people that what government was originally now its all about power you want a smoke free environment fine i will go with that tomorrow morning don't even think about starting that 12mpg polluting machine you call a car that puts out a lot more cancer causing agents than my cigarette

 I think it's ridiculous, I should be able to smoke where ever I want, it's a free country right?

 I am a Smoker! And I respect others who don't like it. I am the only one at my house who smokes(wife and 4 kids), I never smoke in my house nor do I let anyone smoke in my house. I take it outside or in garage. If you take away smoking you may as well take away drinking. Have you ever seen a heavy smokers actions effect anyone, mmm no not really ! Have you ever seen a heavy drinkers actions effect anyone... Hmmmm oh HECK YA!! Enough said!!!

 No. It should not.. If its banned then income for doctors will be less... Right? :)

 According to statistics, smoking kills 1/3 of the people who are actually smoking as well as 1/3 from second hand smoke. They honestly want me to believe that if I am in the exact same room as the person getting the second hand smoke that I don't get the second hand smoke. There is no possible way for me to be in the same room as someone smoking as well as smoking and the odds do not increase to 2/3 of the people who smoke die from it.

 I'm against it - if non-smokers don't like it - go elsewhere. If you're going to have totally non-smoking establishments, why not have smokers only offices/pubs/cafes etc? The reason is this is just dictatorship in the guise of some one else knows what's best for you, and if you can't be sensible, then we'll make you do it (and secretly enjoy the thrill of bullying as well).

 Public smoking ban should be banned! I'm a non-smoker but understand that smoking, although highly nocive is a social habit and there should be smoking areas for people who want to smoke and drink and talk in public places. The ban is not going to make people stop smoking, they will smoke double at home, silly governors!

 People who smoke are stupid...why do you do it.....why don't you just stab yourself now instead of getting cancer later

 I am against banning smoking. If you don't want people smoking. Ban cigarettes.

 I don't think it should be. People that smoke work and pay taxes just like a nonsmoker. I do smoke and I wouldn't blow it in your face. But if I go out to eat I paid for my meal and want to smoke. My husband and son don't smoke but they understand I enjoy my cig.

 Just another example of government governing things that should be left to the discretion of small/large business owners and free citizens. If a business chooses to be all smoking and you choose to be there-who is to blame? I mean does some guy who just got off a 12 hour shift at a lousy plant job deserve to be denied his right to sit at a huddlehouse, waffle house, or other such establishment to enjoy a cigarette, a cup of coffee, the news, and some fried eggs? I think everyone wants to be hall monitors at the expense of our freedoms as citizens. I mean really! I think smoking and nonsmoking sections/establishments should be sufficient. Next thing you know hamburgers will be outlawed b/c they make you fat. If we start down that road where will it end?

 Im against banning smokinsg laws but i think that there will be a more higher crime rate if all smokers are ban to go outside. I think that if this happens the resturaunts we eat at will have alot more loiters outside hanging out talking and having a smoke. Eventually it will lead to high crime rate.

 I'm a smoker. I see it this way God gave us free will. We have the right to do as we please right? Well then why take away the right of us? People say it is bad and all of this crap well think about it littering is bad for not only us but animals, the environment etc but people still do it. And for people with astma they have inhalers for a reason and if they cant be around it there is ways to get away from it. And they say it causes cancer for the smoker and non smokers. Well let me tell you what that is BULL! Do the RIGHT research and you will know this.

 I understand non smokers, but non smokers should understand smokers:)

 We are so stupid! We want to pass a law about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING! It's got to stop or the government will control everything! Are you blind?

 As a smoker myself, it's easy to say I'm against the ban however; I think having an excluded yet inside part of the bar/club would of done the trick. When winter comes, it's bye bye frequent pub/club visits and hello to stay at home with beer and smoke.

 Smoking shouldn't be banned and yes i am a smoker but i don't mind a little regulation on its use i mean you aren't supposed to drink and drive.But come on its getting ridiculous now we can't smoke in bars are you serious! Yeah smoking is bad for you but so is alcohol and its alive and well.

 No it should not be banned what a selfish thing to debate as it is peoples vote to say if they want to smoke or not the law stopped people smoking in clubs, pubs and shops witch i do agree on but look what it is doing to the business and trade now. People liked to go to pubs and have a drink and a smoke and if you didn't like it you wouldn't go in what about that choice. The smokers are now staying at home with a few cans and having a cigarette without been told what to do

 I'm not a smoker at all. I've never touched a cigarette, but saying it should be banned is ridiculous! If you want to ban smoking. A choice we have in this "free" country. Then why don't we ban Christianity? Another free choice of the people. We'll ban it because people kill in the name of God.

You selfish swine.. You make me sick..

 The smoking laws are starting to get ridiculous. I live in austin, texas. We have CIGAR bars that you are not allowed to smoke in. People can walk up to me in the street and tell me that smoking is bad for me, but I can't walk up to an obese person in McDonalds and tell them that their eating habits are bad for them? Interesting. My smoking makes you disgusted, right? Seeing a 350 lb 14 year old disgusts me. Maybe we should make a weight limit on shorts and swimming wear. We, after all, have an age limit on smoking and drinking. Oh, I got it. How about this, you must pass a body percent fat test to buy sweets, greesy food, fast food, and anything with excessive carbs. OH WAIT!!! It is illegal for anyone over the weight of 250 lbs to spend more time on the computer or sofa watching TV then working out. No, no. You may not get on an elevator if you weigh a certain amount. You may not park within 50 yards of a store if you are obese. After all, I may not smoke within 15 feet of an entrance. Deal? I can quit smoking for that gratification.

Oh yeah, smoking causes harm to others? Link me the results of how many people GARUNTEED died due to second hand smoke. Obese people may not cause harm to me, but they sure are ruining the process of evolution. The people that die from smoking are helping the world with the Death:Birth Ratio. If we keep breeding at this rate with more people coming into the world than going out we will rape mother earth of all natural resources. And besides, it's my choice if I wish to die at 60 rather than 90 in a nursing home with someone else wiping my butt. And yes, my grandmother died of COPD, grandfather died of lung cancer. You know what? They still died happy.

You think if we don't have all of these people dieing from cigarettes the government won't release another deadly virus like AIDS? (OH!! He didn't just go there, did he?) Yes, I did. Funny how things like that always end up going to the people looked down upon by society (Gays and Heroin users at the time... Interesting.)

And trust me guys, the second hand smoke from my cig that you MIGHT inhale, is much safer than the smoke that blows up from Mexico, the carcinogens from your vehicles, and not to mention all of the pollution AND HOLES IN OUR O-ZONE caused each time we launch something into space. Kudos to all of you that look at the greater picture, if it weren't to you we'd all be like arkansas, where it's illegal to masturbate inside your own home. I believe that's also the state that says it's illegal to do certain sexual positions. Hell, why don't we just burn the constitution and start from scratch. I know, lets get advice from Russia! They have the same idea of freedom as you.

 If we allow the government to ban smoking what else will be next?This free country of ours is becoming more and more like a dictatorship.......they are going to tell what when where and how we can do anything anymore.

 No smoking should not be banned. I am a firm belief in the idea that if you are not harming anybody else with whatever you do, than it's fine. Smokers do need to use common sense though, such as not smoking around a toddler.

 There are know benefits in smoking most people who smoke have many health problems, all cigarettes do is destroy your lungs and put you at a higher risk for cancer. That's why I feel that smoking should be banned

 No smoking should not be banned. We make the money so why should other people tell us how to spend it. Do we tell the drug users not to use?this is suppose to be a free country,$#!+ there ant nothing in this d@mn country free, not even are rights.