I live in Ohio. It is one of the states being effected by the "Smoking Ban". There is NO smoking in publically owned buildings or within so many yards of the building. There are signs everywhere that include a 1800 number to call if you witness an establishment violating the rules. You will be rewarded for reporting violations.
I am a non-smoking who grew up in a smoking household. My whole life I was subjected to 2nd Hand Smoke. When I left the house and went to school, I was easily identified as you could smell the smoke on my clothes and hair. I never noticed. As a reached high school, I decided it would be cool to give it a tryl Yea.. I didn't like it, found it pointless.. or maybe I wasn't doing it right?! Regardless, I never pursued it.
When I was in 11th grade my grandma, who raised me, passed away due to lung cancer. She spent years battling emphysema. Funny thing, she never smoked. Her husband smoked his entire life. When he passed she lived with her daughter, who was a chain smoker. All of my aunts friends smoked, as did nearly all members of our family. I realized that I would not allow my children to be subjected to this.
I married a man who did not smoke. His family does not smoke. I could now identify random people who were smokers. In my college classes random people would step out every 30 minutes or so to have a few hits. Everywhere I went smoke filled the air. I literally wanted to buy a mask for my infant daughter. Then, the ban passed! No more smoke in public areas.
I was reading the news last week when I saw a Ban in California that prevents parents from smoking in a car that minors are in! Seriously! That is awesome. In a way though, it kind of takes me back to parents making choices for their children. I am a little torn on where this is taking away the rights of parents and our personal freedoms. Smoking is a choice, and not every parent subjects their child to this..
Feedback from anyone in California?! I didn't really dive into the subject as heavily as I probably should, but I figure while I'm here.. I'm sure I'll get some info!
I'm not from California, I'm from NY. I celebrated when they banned smoking in bars and restaurants here...
Anyways... I support the new law in California because children can't speak up for themselves, so somebody has to speak for them. I'm glad that legislation finally went through to protect the thousands, maybe even millions, of people in this country who suffer from emphysema and asthma (especially children) due to second-hand smoke.
I live in NY too! lol I used to live in New York City before my family moved to Long Island. I am glad that smoking is now banned in many public spaces. The air in New York City is already dirty...we do not need any more toxics to breathe in. But I wonder how effective this ban is. Where do these smokers smoke now? Perhaps at home when their kids are around? Also, how would this affect the tobacco industry? Maybe it wouldn't affect them at all since they can always import their goods. Ahhh, pollutions!
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I'm from Illinois and I think that California is right for passing the smoking ban because people should be aware of the consequences that their bodies can pose from smoking because it can lead to lung disease, emphysema, and asthma; also, smoking can cause you to cough, even though you're not ill because my mother used to smoke and sometimes she would start coughing for no reason.
Agree with the ban on smoking in a car with children.. but I feel like kind of a hypocrite.. cause I say that in terms of abortion <-- just a random example that 1st came to my head I say that a parent MAY make that choice in the best interest of her child. Although some people may not feel it is a good decision.. it is one that a parent makes. I feel that this is a similar thing.. although some people find smoking in front of a child a not okay parental decision, some do!
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It is my opinion that a person who has an abortion is not yet a parent, which makes this a completely separate argument.
I feel that a person is a parent at the time of conception because everything they do to their body effects the embryo.. therefor making smart decisions is essential.
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I don't really want to get into an abortion argument....
But my point was similar to yours: clearly a person who does not take responsibility for their actions is not a "parent".
However, I am pro-choice. Although I would never have an abortion, I believe that women should have the right to choose.
Unfortunately.. a person is not classified a parent because of the choices they make. Having sole responsibility of a young life makes you are parent.. even if you chose to make bad decisions.
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In the eyes of the law, a person is not a parent until the child is born (unless in the case of murder, where it's been tried successfully as early as the first trimester). You and I may not choose to take advantage of this, but it's the way it is.
about our government! We are full of double standards! You are not a parent until your child is born.. but if you murder it.. you are responsible for the death of a child?! What?!
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That's what happens when morality gets mixed into government...
The abortion laws were (arguably) changed because many women were dying or being permanently injured from "back-alley abortions" and the stigma attached to them turned it around. It was a cultural "updating" that allowed them to be reenacted.
The ability to charge a criminal for the murder of a fetus are clearly there because it's despicable to murder a pregnant woman, and the law allows us to charge such criminals with two murders instead of one. The public pushed for these on moral grounds as well.
It's interesting how society, morality, ethics, and the government all interact with one another... and the result aren't always what you'd expect.