Smoking Banned in Va

[n2advnture]

Va. Senate Committee Approves Smoking Ban


Associated Press
Thursday, January 29, 2009; 1:10 PM


A Senate committee has passed legislation that would ban smoking in restaurants and most public buildings.


If those bills hit a snag, the Senate Education and Health Committee also passed bills to allow localities to enact their own smoking bans. All the bills passed by 11-3 votes Thursday.


Gov. Tim Kaine has advocated for a ban on smoking in all restaurants, saying that the government must protect residents from unhealthy secondhand smoke. Opponents say the government has no right to make decisions for private businesses and that a smoking ban could further damage businesses already crippled from a crumbling economy.


Similar bills have passed the Senate before but were killed in subcommittee in the Republican-controlled House.

[buttah]

He has to be the worst Governor we have ever had. This moron continues to push through anti-business legislation in a down economy, while our state has its greatest deficit EVER!

[sneakyb757]

I dont think they realized that passing those bills is unconstitutional. A small privately owned restaurant such as winstons cafe will not only lose business like he did the last time he said no smoking but it also infringes on his rights to govern over his own business. They have taken away a mans right to do what he wishes with his business and the government is wrong in doing so. As for the second hand smoking. The people who complain about cigar and pipe smoke in restaurants 90% of the time are cigarette smokers. Thats ****ing wrong. If you say smoking is allowed then Im smoking and you can kiss my ass.

[CptGutz]

Another State down... WI will hopefully hold out a bit longer, I was able to smoke a cigar while enjoying a good burger a couple weeks ago at a local sports bar... it's a nice luxury to have.

[buttah]

Originally Posted by sneakyb757

I dont think they realized that passing those bills is unconstitutional. A small privately owned restaurant such as winstons cafe will not only lose business like he did the last time he said no smoking but it also infringes on his rights to govern over his own business. They have taken away a mans right to do what he wishes with his business and the government is wrong in doing so. As for the second hand smoking. The people who complain about cigar and pipe smoke in restaurants 90% of the time are cigarette smokers. Thats ****ing wrong. If you say smoking is allowed then Im smoking and you can kiss my ass.

It would hurt Winston's pretty bad.

[smokering10]

Originally Posted by buttah

He has to be the worst Governor we have ever had. This moron continues to push through anti-business legislation in a down economy, while our state has its greatest deficit EVER!

agree that man is a putz along with aligning himself with obama

[buttah]

We've gone from our biggest surplus to our biggest deficit under this guy. Ridiculous.

[sneakyb757]

but i do know a way around that ban. Private club.

[buttah]

ANyone know if this one excluded tobacconists? I know the first one he introduced did not.

[sneakyb757]

no a B&M is not a part of that. Thank the sweet and merciful god.

[jledou]

Originally Posted by n2advnture

saying that the government must protect residents from unhealthy secondhand smoke.

OK so make smoking illegal, oh wait that would cut into his pocket book .... same story every time.

[sboyajian]

To my knowledge these did pass the VA Senate.. but they have not yet made it through the House. They have been introduced and passed and made it to the house many times and the house kills it every time.

but I could be wrong.. I don't believe this actually went into effect though.

The bill however will not change that you can smoke in designated lounges or clubs. (your B&M is still open for you to smoke). Also, any resturant that has a seperate ventilation system for their smoking areas, may also continue to allow smoking.

[orca99usa]

Nevada passed a similar law and several restaurants have folded since because it put such a dent in their business.

[Arnie]

This happened in Colorado a few years back. First it was city by city banning smoking then the whole state got involved. It took out some businesses but really didn't affect too many, in part because it came on gradually. Sucks all the way around though.

I read an article once that had a study paid for by GASP and the study said that 2nd hand smoke was MORE dangerous than first hand smoke. So we all had to start smoking to save ourselves. That study was not quoted for too long because it was so absurd. The anti smoking Nazi's will never stop until we are not allowed to buy the stuff anymore. They don't care about the taxes. They never tell you about the study that found that cigar smoking can be GOOD for you because of the de-stressing, peace-of-mind effect.

[Chuckie]

Originally Posted by sneakyb757

but i do know a way around that ban. Private club.

I have been thinking of this as well since hearing of this one the radio. I think if I had a place, I would not open it to the public. It would be a private club, members only club. To become a member of the club, you will be required to walk through the door. The food is free, however, with each meal you eat there, you will be required to pay your "membership dues". There would be a membership committee (me) that would reserve the right to revoke your membership should you violate the rules of the club. Such as complaining about smoking.


The thing that really burns me a new one with this whole thing is the anti-smoking group is taking a privilege (the privilege to eat out at a restaurant) and making it a "right". If you want to eat in a smoke free environment, eat at home or patronize restaurants that do not allow smoking in them. Why is that so hard to understand?