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Despite what I know you will claim, I have not seen incontrovertible evidence about secondhand smoke.
Straight from Rush Limbaugh. That's just total crap. So the smoke of cigarettes is only inhaled by the smoker? You want incontrovertible evidence then look at the list of chemicals that are in cigarettes. Third hand smoke is the smell you smokers leave behind on your coats, couches, car, chairs, etc. Since the smell is made up of burnt chemicals (like arsenic, cadmium, formaldehyde, and benzene) I would say the likelihood of it being carcinogenic is high.
I think it has been pretty well proven that being struck by a car is dangerous.
Do you say it's the gun's fault too?
Smoker's have rights, but if you're in my yard, house, or car you don't. And if you sit on a bench next to me and light up, don't expect me to be quiet. If you feel I am violating your right to smoke in a public place, then call the cops. I'd rather have a $50 fine/black eye/assault charge than lung cancer.
So essentially both you guys believe that smokers have less rights than non-smokers? Just trying to be sure where you are coming from on this.
Not really. From here it looks like you're then one that thinks smokers have more rights, or maybe the better word is privileges, then none smokers. We are asking you to refrain from doing something that - I believe - has been proven to be harmful to us. As long as I don't limit your ability to smoke away from me I'm not infringing on your rights. You on the other hand are asking us to put up with something that - I believe - has been proven to be harmful to us. So as soon as you do smoke near me you're infringing upon mine. This would not even be an issue if the consequences could be seen by the naked eye.
I am not trying to change your mind, just trying to point out that smokers see the issue from a different angle. I dont know too many people that smoke that would not move if a non-smoker asked them to but then it also depends on the manner in which they are asked. I have in fact been in a couple of fist-fights because of @#$%oles that don't know how to be polite. Luckily, the combatives skills I learned at the Army Combatives School have stood me in good stead. I have never argued that smokers should not be considerate, just the this is not an area where the government should get involved. The anti-smoking people sound like democrats talking about “it's for the children.” As I said, I am completely libertarian when it comes to government social engineering, anti-smoking ordinances are nothing if not social engineering. I like to think I would feel the same even if I were a non-smoker, I cant guarantee that that would be so though. The fact is, I am a smoker and will admit to bias here.
