Do we really have a right to smoke?

[sboyajian]

Originally Posted by brianwalden

Ok, I'll bite. Let's say you have an inalienable right to smoke cigars. Then why don't you have an inalienable right to use alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc? Or do you believe we have an inalienable right to those things and laws passed against them are objectively evil?

Does someone else have an inalienable right to not breathe cigar smoke?

Cigars don't alter your mental state. If I smoke a cigar in my car on the way to work, by the time I get to work, I'm the same mental state as I was when I left the house.

If I decided to do a line of coke at a stop light, smoke a j, shot up some black tar heroine and drink a bottle of scotch.. not only am I probably going to kill someone on the way, but if I did make it to my destination, there is no way I'd be any good to anyone.

[Ashbrook]

"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

We, as Americans, understand the "pursuit of happiness" to mean property. For a decent piece on this clarification, see George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights (I believe that is the correct document). The right to property has several aspects, among them the ability to acquire, own, use, and dispose of property. The answer to your question, then, is that we have a right - a natural right - to use tobacco products for our own benefit or detriment.

The issue is whether an activity is harmful to another person. Secondhand smoke is an issue that could be well argued as a means for restricting the activity to an individual's property. Businesses should be able to allow smoking inside their establishments, and there is rarely a case to be made for restricting the use of tobacco within one's home.

Harder drugs are another issue... and somewhat more difficult. That is another discussion.

[Yellowfever]

Originally Posted by danmcmartin

Right! The Government doesn't have any rights, it has powers. Those powers are derived from the constitution and exercised by the will of the people. Honestly, we are the ones that have messed up. We the people have sat by while our government has wielded powers not granted to it by the constitution. We need to exercise our rights to free speech, peaceable assembly, etc. and demand the government back off.

To paraphrase Ben Franklin, those who give up a little liberty to achieve security, deserve neither liberty or security.

So true. I like that line from the Movie V for Vendetta. "People shouldn't fear it's government, the government should fear the people"

[danmcmartin]

Originally Posted by Yellowfever

So true. I like that line from the Movie V for Vendetta. "People shouldn't fear it's government, the government should fear the people"

I love that movie!!! You heare what's going on over there and its not far off. I've heard they have discussed inventorying your pantry to see what you eat. The next step is deciding what care you get based on that assessment. Puhlease!

[orca99usa]

If I have the right to smoke, does that mean the person next to me has the right to breath clean air?

I had a civics teacher in high school who was fond of saying "Your rights end where mine begin". What he was basically saying is that one person's rights don't supersede another's. This is one big problem I have with people who push for total smoking bans (indeed, anyone who tries to impose their will on everyone else) while they breathe in worse stuff just stepping outside if they live in a major metropolitan area. If you ban everything that is potentially harmful. there won't be anything left. Even drinking too much water can be harmful to you.

[Stinkdyr]

I agree. Vote out all incumbents every chance you get.
Kennedy for life????

Originally Posted by bigtattoo79

Yes I feel I have the right to smoke.



I think its time we talk about the governments rights.
I already know what my rights are.
The government is the one that got it scr$w$d up.

The government is payed by and works for us!!

Thanks Lance

[Hermit]

Yes, dammit, we do have a right to smoke!

[danmcmartin]

Originally Posted by Hermit

Yes, dammit, we do have a right to smoke!

Sure, we could have said it like that, but then we don't get to show off our blabbing skills.



Just remember that is not about saving you from yourself, that's just the reason they give. Its about controlling you and keeping you from engaging in activities they find offensive. Some people just can't wrap there heads around the idea of live and let live.

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by danmcmartin

Some people just can't wrap there heads around the idea of live and let live.

[Stinkdyr]

Freedom.......what a radical concept.


>> Just remember that is not about saving you from yourself, that's just the reason they give. Its about controlling you and keeping you from engaging in activities they find offensive. Some people just can't wrap there heads around the idea of live and let live.[/QUOTE] >>

[golfermd]

Remember when liberalism and Democrat meant standing up for individual freedoms? Not anymore. Today it stands for Socialism. As said below, it's all about regulations and control.

[danmcmartin]

Originally Posted by madurolover

Clever!!!

[Jack Straw]

I'd say I do have some form of a right to smoke, because even if they try to take it away the internet will bring me tobacco from overseas anyway.

[danmcmartin]

Originally Posted by brianwalden

Ok, I'll bite. Let's say you have an inalienable right to smoke cigars. Then why don't you have an inalienable right to use alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc? Or do you believe we have an inalienable right to those things and laws passed against them are objectively evil?

Does someone else have an inalienable right to not breathe cigar smoke?

You miss the point. You have an inalienable right to use those things. The government can't take away your right. You could go down to the corner, buy some pot and smoke in your basement right now. But they have criminalized it. The Government's power to do so is questionable. Personally, I think any argument for criminalizing those things is constitutionally weak. But you still have the right. But like all rights, you must be willing to face the consequences of exercising the right, in these cases, possibly prison.

And ya, darn right you have an inalienable right to not breathe cigar smoke. But you can't exercise that right at the smoker's expense. If you don't like it go elsewhere. The smoker has no obligation to insure your rights are exercised, that's your responsibility if you don't like the smoke.

That is the problem. Too many people don't want to take responsibility for their own happiness. They expect others to change their behaviors to suit them.

[GJProductions]

If a country says enjoying a cigar isn't a right, well, I wont be in that country.
I love freedom, thank you American soldiers old and young for your contribution!