Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on September 13, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well said, Mr. Hensley, and so true. Thank you for being a voice of reason.

Posted by eiggohp (anonymous) on September 13, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. Hensley......I am not forced to breathe your smoke, but there are places I would like to go that I can not because of people like you who infringe on MY benefit to breathe clean air in my lungs! + my severe allergy to your smoke!

Posted by justaflushaway (anonymous) on September 13, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

eggi,,,,, just where is it that you are not able to go?? seems like none will answer that question. Many times posters have ask that simple question without a answer. This last week as this subject has come up, everywhere that I have went I have had that question in mind. Yes I actually walked past a person by the courthouse that was smoking, but I was still at least 8 foot from him as I walked by and no, I didn't smell it or felt like he was killing me. I was sitting at 6th and Commercial waiting for the light to change and a woman was smoking in her car, still I don't feel she was killing me either. I ate at 4 different restaurant's this week and did NOT see anyone smoking, I am sure there were smokers there eating, but they PROBABLY were responsible enough not to light up in the restaurant's. Yep, they do smoke in most all bars and I know that, but I do NOT really need to go to them, and those of you who go to bars know that someone will be smoking while you are their. GET OVER IT , IF YOU GOTTEM-SMOKEM

ps; I don't smoke and have enough damn sense to avoid it if I need to,

sauder, take some of your money and get a damn HOBBY! and quit screwing with peoples lives and rights

Posted by Midwestern_girl (anonymous) on September 13, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

eiggohp, I AGREE! There are a ton of places where I would like to go and take my family and not have to worry about secondhand smoke. We are not forced to go places that allow smoking...and we don't. All I am saying is that it would be nice to go places like bowling and to restaurants that do NOT allow smoking. Emporians can complain all they want, but this is a big issue (for health reasons) and the trend of cities becoming smoke-free is only going to progress. Go Clean Air Emporia!

Posted by emporian (anonymous) on September 13, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

eiggohp
I noticed you said places you would LIKE to go not places you HAD to go. What if there are places the smokers want to go but cant cause of some rediculous ordinance? Oh, I forgot non smokers are all that matters.

PS I am a non smoker, I have never even tried a cigarette. I just dont support trampling businesses and people's rights to make a group of people happy.

Posted by rbow (anonymous) on September 13, 2008 at 7:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I know Mr. Hesley, and he does not smoke. He does know however, that this ban is bull.

Posted by josiesbar (anonymous) on September 13, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Midwestern Girl-

You want to go to places like that? Open one. There are a LOT of empty buildings downtown (if the ban passes, there are going to be a lot more).

Posted by josiesbar (anonymous) on September 13, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

On a different note...

I started a facebook event for the smoking ban townhall meeting on Sept. 29th.

http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/ev...

If you are against this smoking ban, and use facebook, pass this on to all your friends and invite them too. In order to combat Saubere Luft Emporia, which has all the grant money, we must have the numbers, and we must force this thing to a vote.

Posted by dpope (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 2:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The one thing I understand is the non-smoking thing in a restaurant. I'm a smoker and I would say I wouldn't want to smell smoke while I'm eating. This ban though is far fetched as far as public places. Make it to where no one can smoke in a bar? Thats not right, the "non-smokers" turn into smokers when they start drinking. Bars will lose some money though for the everyday smokers. Everyones complaining of the clean air act. So there is a punishment for us smokers. What about more strict punishment against you drinkers. A lot of you non-smokers have your drinks and get stupid so I have to put up with your stupidity when I'm in a public bar. Its a choice to smoke just like it is for anyone to have a drink. I say if your going to change smoking then we should close down bars for purposes of people getting hurt from drinking and driving and killing themselves from alcohol poisoning, and the long term effects of your guys liver.

Posted by ratdog (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Make no mistake. None of this about anyone really caring about anyone's health. It's all about political correctness and some people being so horrified that someone from Lawrence will stop by and find out that no one in Emporia has taken it upon themselves to "save" everyone from themselves.

The question these folks will eventually have to answer is: "Who's going to save us from the continual erotion of our freedom and personal choice?"

When any one of the proponents of this ban can name one place in this town where anyone is exposed to a significant risk from secondhand smoke and they do not have the choice to avoid it, we all should listen. The fact that they can't, should be a pretty big clue that none of this is about anyone's concern for anybody's health.

Posted by LifeGoesOn (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

if I have an allergy to flowers I dont go to Flower shops, I won't expect then to stop selling flowers,
loud noise causing severe headaches affects me, I dont want to outlaw car racing or monster truck events just because I want to go there.
I may be an alcoholic but want to go to bars with my friends, I dont expect them to close down all bars.
The point is, there are many places I may WANT to go but dont because it may affect me or my health in a negitive way.

Those who are trying to pass this ban sound like a bunch of little children stomping thier feet and crying because they are not getting thier way, I want it ,I want it! I want it!

Sorry to say folks, you didnt always get your way as kids, you sure are not always going to get what you want as adults.

Dont like the smoke, stay out of the fire

Posted by create (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Absolutely right on the money, ratdog. This is not about concern for health; this is about one group grabbing control of another, period. This is Big Brother worming her way into the lives of an entire community one proposal at a time.

I am not a smoker, but I believe that my individual rights as a member of this community are being threatened by this group of dictators.

Posted by Pingeon (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I was talking to a friend up there the other day and we could only think of 3 places that people would like to do business and can smoke (minus bars). Bruff's, Coach's and the Bowling Alley. Is there really any other place? I don't get the chance to get back to town as much as I would like, so I am kind of out of the loop on that one.

Posted by rbow (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

S&S CAFE &TRUCK STOP FLYING J TRUCK STOP, WAGON WHEEL STEAK HOUSE THAT IS ABOUT ALL OF THEM

Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Our anti-smoking, anti-rights friends state "There are a ton of places where I would like to go and take my family and not have to worry about secondhand smoke. We are not forced to go places that allow smoking...and we don't." Huh? Since S & S, Bruff's, Coach's, the bowling alley, Flying J, and The Wagon Wheel seem to be the only businesses in town, other than bars, that allow smoking, I am to assume the Country Club Crusaders, Nicotine Narcs, and Walters' Warriors spend a great deal of time hanging out or chowing down at S & S, Bruff's, the truck stop, and Wagon Wheel. I had NO idea those places were so popular with the privileged social elite of our city! How does the country club stay in business? This attack on smokers, smoking, and individual rights just gets "curiouser & curiouser" every day!

Posted by orlando (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Is the country club included in this ordinance? Or because it is "private", is it going to be one of the excepted places? I am a nonsmoker, but am also against laws like this. it would make more sense to be against drinking and drugs instead. Look at all of the problems caused by too much alcohol; I would bet that over 75% of the crimes are due to alcohol and/or drugs, not to smoking. The effects of these crimes usually affect more persons than any second hand smoke.
Exactly what constitutes a "public" place? If I have a small insurance office, or barber shop, can I not allow smoking there? What if I am the only person working there, are you telling me that I can't smoke in my own business? or if I am in the park, and there is a party of smokers nearby, can I turn them in? Where does this end?

Posted by sail (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is great to see people interested in protecting their freedom from the NANNY WARRIORS.

Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Orlando: You asked:

Is the country club included in this ordinance? YES.
because it is "private", is it going to be one of the excepted places? NO EXEMTIONS.
Exactly what constitutes a "public" place? ANYPLACE BUT YOUR HOME
If I have a small insurance office, or barber shop, can I not allow smoking there? ABSOLUTELY NOT
What if I am the only person working there, are you telling me that I can't smoke in my own business? YES
if I am in the park, and there is a party of smokers nearby, can I turn them in? YES, IF INDOORS
Where does this end? WHEN THE CRUSADERS SAY SO

This is an absolute affront to liberty and freedom, Orlando. We must stop this ridiculous campaign by a small group of self-appointed social reformers.

Posted by alanemporia (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would not know...but is there a law that would keep the not smoking in public buildings thing from effecting national or international businesses in Emporia. Flying J National Truck Stops, Etc.

Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bjnemp, et. al: You have made excellent points, all well reasoned and persuasive to reasonable people. Of course, the proponents of this ban have become so wrapped up in it that they are no longer reasonable. My question now is how to best defeat this outrageous proposal? What strategy can we use? I suppose that for now, the target audience consists of only 5 people (the City Commissioners) since they have the authority to either adopt it, reject it or submit it to a public vote. I strongly recommend that we all contact our commissioners and make this case. If the commission chooses to put it to a vote, you can bet that the "Clean Air Committee" will be well organized, with money, fully prepared to present a campaign. We are unorganized with no money and not even close to being able to present a campaign. Posting on these blogs is helpful, but reaches only a tiny fraction of the community. Let's hope that by individually contacting the commissioners that we find that they are reasonable people who will put an end to this Big Brother idea; however, if they don't and submit it to a vote, somebody is going to have to take charge of getting our point of view in front of the voters. It is an unfortunate fact that if the "Clean Air Committee" is all that the voters hear from, this will pass. Even though reason is clearly on our side, it will still require a lot of work and money to defeat this insidious, elitist, politically correct proposal. I'm way too old and used up, so it will have to be someone other than me. Is there an ambitious and smart young person out there? Whomever it is, the rest of us need to support him or her with our money and our time. If we don't, Big Brother will be here to stay.

Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

well, now that we know who to avoid in this town...

Posted by Pingeon (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is amazing to me. 6 places other than bars that allow smoking. 2 of these are truck stops too. If you ban smoking, these places will be hit hard. It is nothing for a trucker to go down the road to the next town to eat if he can't enjoy his/her smoke after eating. So far, I have read that Bruff's and 1 other place (sorry, but I can't remember who at the moment) are trying to fight this ban. Is S&S or Flying J trying to fight it too?

Another interesting thing would be to find out how many times a month Walters or Sauder visit any of these 6 places. I would be you could count the number on one hand. I would also bet that that number would not change if the ban was passed.

6 places....... Find something more productive to do with your time. People do not need or want your "protection".

Posted by rbow (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The Country Club would be covered by this ban but they are non-smoking now. Indoors anyway. Wait ------is that Steve Sauder and Chuck Grimwood rolling down the golf cart path with a big ol cigar in their mouths?

Posted by rbow (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

dhcc66: Your comment above
well,now that we know who to avoid in this town...
Really shows your true colors. It took this blog to point out which places in town allow smoking and now you can stay away from them. Now we don't need the ban, because you are informed.

Posted by Maximus (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I've got a another idea. Force all of the smokers to smoke only high tar, high nicotine, unfiltered cigarettes. That way, we can be rid of all of them in about 20 years when they all kick the bucket from lung cancer and emphysema. Give them the right to kill themselves. That's what I call freedom!

Posted by create (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I vote for Bj to take our case before the commissioners.

Ahhhh, that's right. The golf course will also have to be smoke free. Ha!!!

What about the sidewalks outside of the courthouse. If I was a smoker and had to sit on jury duty all day long without having an opportunity to have a cigarette, I'm afraid there will be some real problems. After all, jurors are not in court at their own behest.

Posted by josiesbar (anonymous) on September 14, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Maximus,

It's all about force, isn't it? That is what this ban is truly about is force. A group of people want to FORCE people to live by their rules, and they won't have it any other way. Why not let people live the way they want, instead of FORCING your way down their throats. No one is FORCING you to go to any establishment that allows smoking, so why would you want to (and I quote) "Force all of the smokers to smoke only high tar, high nicotine, unfiltered cigarettes."

Why not just round up all of the smokers by FORCE and FORCE them into specially equipped "showers" and eliminate them all that way. I say we FORCE all of the smokers to wear an emblem stitched on their shirts.

Killing everyone that doesn't live the lifestyle that you do? Come on now! I have said it before and I will say it again, this ban has absolutely NOT ONE THING TO DO WITH SECOND HAND SMOKE! This ban has been created by a bunch of holier-than-thou fascists!

I say don't FORCE anyone to do anything, let the PRIVATE owners decide!

I say we FORCE everyone who agrees to this smoking ban to permanently move to Russia! Since we are FORCING people to do things now, might as well!

Posted by ratdog (anonymous) on September 15, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why doesn't the Gazette have an "Online Chat" featuring someone from Clean Air Emporia? That would be an easy way for some of the very valid questions being raised to be addressed.

Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on September 15, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They had Walters on here when they first announced their intention to campaign for the ordinance.

She didn't answer the questions typed in, she promoted "whats best for all".

Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on September 15, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

emporia has bigger things to worry about than rather or not theres smoking in bars and restaurants.