KC residents - How are you voting on the smoking ban in April?
 

Let's get a definitive look on how the Planet feels about this. Poll on the way.

I believe that if the ban is passed, it will eliminate smoking in all restaurants and bars, plus both stadiums will be smoke free, including the concourses. The only public place that smoking will be allowed will be on the casino floors, iirc.

If you don't mind reading several pages this will give you a pretty good idea.
http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=178532

I voted Ye.

I don't live in KCMO so I can't vote. I don't care if others smoke unless it's at a restaurant where I'm eating or in my workplace.

Sorry, RR. I forgot about your thread.

I'll go ahead and put this in the "yes" category.

No need for a sorry! you are asking about a local vote, my thread was a overall viewpoint. I posted the link because I thought you may have missed it and may be interested :)

I've said this before, and I will say it again. If you vote yes to people losing their civil liberties because it makes life more convenient for you, don't cry when it's your civil liberties that you lose on the next election. You have nothing to complain about, because you contribute to the problem.

I voted yes. People have no right to endanger me or my family's heath

Here's an idea, stay home. Or go to one of the many many non smoking establishments already available. Don't give me any bullshit about endangering your health. Cars produce 100 times the toxins that smoke creates, let's ban those too.

While we're at it, let's ban waste plants, nuclear plants, and all toxic factories. They're endangering your health much more than 2nd hand smoke is. CRUSADERS, MOUNT UP!!!!!

I'm obviously not voting being here in Lincoln but we do have the ban in effect and it is the greatest thing ever. I love it.

The way I see it, nobody is saying you can't smoke. They're just saying you can't smoke inside establishments and harm other people with your even more dangerous 2nd hand smoke.

They simply can go outside.

And technology is advancing more and more to clean those up also.

I love going through all the security points in the airport. The terrorists are all around us, we could die.

Your point? They're more dangerous than cigerettes, let's ban em.

I'm done with these threads. LMAO It's been made obvious how I feel, no point in continuing to raise my blood pressure over other the pussification of others. Just know in your heart of hearts that I will be sincerely pointing and laughing at you when it's YOUR civil liberties being lost, and not just someone else's.

Smoke triggers my Asthma so I am voting yes.

Again I'd say go to one of the many non smoking establishments already available. However Demon, I don't blame you for voting yes. Smoke affects you ten times more than the average person.

Well it's not realistic to ban cars right now is it? But they're trying to improve them.

And the ban if it's anything like it is here (I'm assuming so) is just indoors. You still can smoke.

I'm sorry I posted in this thread earlier. Apparently Mr. Flopnuts can't distinguish between farting in public and the gestapo busting down your door.

I don't see it like that. It really is a health issue, when you get down to it. For me, it's like this - you as a person have every right to splash hydrochloric acid all over your face. Just please don't do it in a crowded public environment where the acid could get all over somebody else (yes, over the top, I know). The sad part is that we actually have to have laws enforced to make sure what is collectively best for people health wise is enforced.

LMAO

I'm not trying to be an ass, but I am. So I'm done discussing it. I respect everyone's opinions, even if it does infuriate me. We'll agree to disagree. America is great because at least we have the option of voting on screwing ourselves over, instead of it being forced upon us.

Why should I go somewhere else. I am not choosing to harm other people. I also don't see this as pussification either. The real pussies are the one's who couldn't say no to smoking in the first place even though there are a million reasons not too. Talk to those pussies before you bitch to me. I'M A MAN. I'M 40! I WANT TO EAT Gdamnit!

That's reeruned. You know better, I am positive you do. No one is really this dumb. Right?

Why should I have to listen to your whiny, messy kids when I'm trying to enjoy a meal. At least you can sit in the non smoking section, I can't find a restaurant that has a no rugrat section.

my rugrats don't kill an estimated 10 million people a year.

Is smoking actually a civil liberty? Besides, nobody is taking anybody's right to smoke. They're putting up boundaries. I have no issue with it.

Doesn't affect me but even if it did, I wouldn't care. I wouldn't smoke in a restaurant even if I did smoke.

Its already been done where i live. My dad is a smoker has been for years, he's ok with it. He says it doesnt bother him, because he likes to have his smoke outside anyways.

they're young, give em some time

I think what he is saying is that if a person wants to open a cigar bar and to keep it simple the owner is the only employee, that person should be able to. A posted sign warning smoking allowed gives you the right not to enter. Why shouldn't the owner have the right to operate his bussiness? I agree with limited bans just not city wide bans. It is a rights issue.

Same, out of respect for other people. Thats the way i have always been. Even when i did smoke years and years ago.

I see your point and think that is a good idea, but under the ban, these places couldn't serve food (I think). There's nothing wrong woth a cigar bar, as that you are not going to find families or children there. Hell, it might come down to having cigarrette bars, too. I'd be fine with that, as well.

That is my point while working in Arkansas they passed a limited ban. It only allows smoking in a bussiness that is 21 to enter. I am ok with that type of a ban.

I'm an ex-smoker who quit a few years ago. I think it should be left to the business owners, and the public should decide for themselves by voting with their dollars.

As for Employees, they are equally free to decide if they want to work at a business that allows smoking or not.

Obviously, I'll be voting against this ban.

I don't live in KCMO so I don't know the details. Where I live, things like smoking in bars is OK. There's a threshold on % of food served that defines a restaurant.

Good for you to stand by what you believe. Props.


As I've said before - if smoking bans can be successful in places like New York, Chicago, and LA, I see no reason to why one couldn't work here. And last I checked, there was no civil uprising in these places over this issue.

You need an "I don't live in KC but want to see the results" option.

As for the question, I don't smoke, and I generally think it's a pretty disgusting habit. However, if I go somewhere that smoking is allowed, and I don't like it, I have the right to leave. I'm not a big fan of government regulating things like that.

Yeah. You'd think they'd have a feature called "View Results" or something like that.

Jesus H. Christ on a crutch. Once again:

Your exercising of your rights cannot infringe on other's abilities to exercise theirs. Since everyone has a right to life, unless and until you can keep that smoke entirely to yourself your right to the pursuit of happiness does not outweigh everyone else's right to life.

Yeah, but that requires that I click it every time I revisit the thread, and I'm a lazy bastard.

My kids behave. Do you have smokeless cigarettes?

That's why I live out in Gainesville, no liberal bullshit like that around here.

You also have the right to choose a place that doesn't allow smoking. You have the right to sit in the non-smoking section of places that do allow smoking.

KCMO voting on a smoking ban? It's about time. Wecome to the 21st Century.

Yeah!! :huh: :huh:

I went to dinner tonight with 4 other couples. Our total bill was $1,600.00, or about $300 per couple. If I had to smell smoke of ANY kind, it would have totally, completely and utterly ruined an otherwise outstanding meal.

Fortunately, I live in a state where smoking in restaurants and bars has not been allowed in 11 YEARS. Same goes for NY city, Chicago, SF and other US cities, let alone countries like England, Scotland, France and Italy.

Tell me: What makes Missouri so special? How will Missourians lose their "civil rights"?

Are you implying that hundreds of millions of people across the globe have "lost" civil liberties?

How has this affected the economies of those states and countries?

Is US economy in peril because Missouri is about to outlaw smoking in bars and restaurants?

This goes through and it will hurt and even close a lot of businesses. Just what the economy needs..........

Prove that.

Please provide examples of this, nationwide. It's been effect for as long as 11 years in MUCH larger metro areas. Where's the data to support your statement?

I say again, prove it.

Personally I cannot imagine going out to the bars and not being able to smoke. And I don't even buy cigarettes. But nothing like tipping a few back and buming one from your buddy. I can tell you that is the only time I don't mind the smoke.

If it's a restaurant in the evening or the day I am all for it, but to ban smoking in bars completely like I hear they did in Overland Park just sucks. This coming from someone who probably smokes 3 cigarettes a month.

At least here, most bars have a decent area outside that makes the whole thing is no big deal. It is quite nice to not have your jackets reek of smoke from going out to the bars.

This thread is hilarious.

LMAO
You're always looking for data to "prove" something. Then when someone provides you with said data, like many of us have when discussing various subjects, you simply ignore it and go on with your take. Sometimes data is useless. For example - I don't need any to know you're an idiot.

I think most of those people voting "Yes" in the poll don't live in KC so their vote doesn't count.:p

I read this the other day in the Kansas City Star... seriously, what the hell? LMAO

If you had known it was an establishment that allowed smoking you wouldn't have gone there in the first place.

Even though I don't agree with a smoking ban in private businesses, it isn't going to cause a single business to close.

Proof? How about this, I own a bar and know most of the owners around the area that have bars. This went through in Kirksville last year. It killed business. Three have had to close and have not sold. One sold but couldn't get near what it was worth before the ban. Two are hanging in by a thread. One of the best bars in town has dropped dramatically. I talked to him about it Sat. night, he is just ready to hang it up if something doesn't change.

Whats funny is most that voted yes on this don't frequent the bar scene anyhow, one bar put on his front marque, "Were are you non-smokers?".

I have talked to the owner of Cody's in Columbia. He told me that it is unbelievable how drastically it has affected him and the other bars. As I could tell also by the crowds that were not their on the weekends.

I don't need data to support my answer, I have got to watch it, and it isn't pretty. Our economy around here is horrible at the moment, and losing a bunch of more employment opportunities is not what this area needs right now, if ever.

The only thing that it may have helped was memberships to private clubs (Moose Lodge, Shrine, ext.) as being a private club, they still can smoke at these establishments.

My take on it is, I could understand in Restaurants. Bar and grills could have a non-smoking section. Bars should have the right to make the decision on their own. It is not YOUR livelihood, it is theirs. If it doesn't hurt these businesses, then why is it always bar owners getting together to fight it?

And yes I have seen statements from the beer and liquor vendors, and it is amazing how much sales has dropped.

On another note, as a bar owner, I can tell you that it is not like we want a bar filled with smoke (like some of you act like). We spend thousands to try and please both parties. Expensive smoke eaters, special filters, attic fans, or any other way we can try and get it out. I currently have a set up that seems to please both.

If they are going to pass stuff like this, I think that places already established should be grandfathered in. A new establishment or if a person sells his place would have to go by the new ordinance. The new place or new buyer knows what he is buying and what laws he has to abide by. The already owned places did not have this pleasure. If the city would like to make up the difference in the selling price then so be it. That would never happen though.

Most all business owners are trying to fight this right now around here. A lot of them being non-smokers. I mean really when does it stop, or whats next? That is how they feel and do not want to let them get started on telling them how they can and can't conduct THEIR business.

Just so you know, I feel very strongly on this, and this will be my last post on the subject. I have watched it happen with my own eyes. I will not argue with the fact that friends are now unable to support their families with the business that they built and at one time prospered. It pisses me off thinking about it.

Agree to disagree, but I stated my reasons, and am done with it.

Edit: as you can tell, not a resident, my vote would be no.

Not a KCMO resident, but I would vote No if I were.

I've said I'm Ok with an "opt out" type policy. If you want to declare your establishment a smoking place then that's fine. I just don't want it the other way around.

I don't have any "proof" in the form of quantitative data, but I do know that a number of one-man-owner bars around here have shut down in the past couple years since the ban went through, and they frequently mention the ban as one of the causes. Whether that's the truth or whether they're just looking for someone to blame, I don't know.

Same here.

I was a smoker for 13 years. Worked as a Respiratory Therapist for 9 years. I know a little about smoking and its effects on the human body. You want to die a slow and painful death its your choice But...............

I don't want to see personal freedom curtailed. Let the free market decide. If you want to run a no smoking establishment then do so. You want to set up smoking and non-smoking areas then do so. Let the public decide with their patronage.

I won't go to a smoke filled bar. I won't eat by smokers. But thats my decision. I don't want to force my beliefs or prefrences on others.

Ditto.

You need to flip that 180 degrees. As long as allowing smoking is the norm a huge percentage of business owners won't take the step to tell them no. If the law is no smoking they'll be more comfortable telling people to put it out. If an owner wants to proactively say "I'm going to allow smoking" then so be it.

Also, don't bullshit me with this "non-smoking section" crap. It doesn't work. Ever. The rest of us can still smell it. I can't count the number of times I've been on the other side of a 3.5 ft wall from the smoking section, no more than 4 feet from a guy smoking like a damned chimney.

Get take out, or eat somewhere else.

So 82% of the population should just get out so 18% can offend freely? Sadly (for the 18%) it doesn't work that way.

Why should one's rights trample on someone else's rights?

Regardless of which side of the fence you are on.

I for one are on the side of non-smoking, but.... Since it is a legal item and is often used as it is designed... It should be legal to smoke at a said establishment.

If a owner wants to make it a non-smoking establishment, he should have that right. He is the one taking the chance of losing customers or not.

If the smoking population is about 20%, they shouldn't be able to dictate what an establishment does. :banghead:


I saw my grandpa die a slow death from smoking for years. It wasn't very appealing.

I can honestly say that I have never, ever smoked a cigarette.

Impact of a smoking ban on restuarant and bar revenues

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5307a2.htm

In El Paso Texas bar and restuarant revenues were not effected by the smoking ban.

this isn't Texas, and city's try to skew the numbers

Neither does second hand smoke.

I know its not fair. It sucks. There is no "fair" option. But you have a choice. Go to an establishment that doesn't allow smoking.

At a Planet get together last year we all went to a Pizzeria in Lee's Summit. Most were not aware that you couldn't smoke in the pizzeria. So Bob Dole and others spent a lot of time outside smoking and decided to move the party to BBW where they could smoke.

And I don't need "data" to know that you're a complete Neanderthal.

Go ahead - smoke your freakin' brains out and enjoy your last days in a hospital gasping for air through a 1/4" tube.

Enjoy! :shake:

I would have to imagine that suffocating would suck. Doing it over several years probably sucks even worse. Having that happen because of a foolish and stupid habit you paid a fortune to keep would make that 100 times worse.

That's absolutely correct. And considering there we 10 people (one of the women was pregnant), the owners of that establishment would have lost out on a $1500 table.

Fortunately, that wasn't the case for us and hasn't been in California for over 10 years. NYC's ban has been intact for almost that long and the last time I was in Manhattan, it certainly had not affected its restaurant or bar scene (and the restaurants in Manhattan, IMO, are unparalled across the globe).

And considering previous "FACTS" stated in the other thread that only 18% of Americans smoke, it sure appears to me that the correct choice is to NOT alienate the non-smokers, regardless of the "scare tactics" used by the other side (Oh, we're losing our "Personal Liberties!").

B.F.S.

My great grandfather died of emphysema at age 70 when I was a child. I hardly knew him. My great grandmother died shortly thereafter of the same thing. Both had long hospital stays and I clearly remember walking in when he had tubes out of his nose and needles all in his back (acupuncture).

Neither died a pleasant death.

My father was president of a few health insurance companies throughout his life. My SIL is a nurse and my wife works in a health care related field. I'm more than aware of the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke, even if most smokers aren't.

Dying from smoking-related illness is NOT the way I want to go out.

KS area has the ban but some of the places make you pay a small fee for a membership making it a private club where you can smoke O'shay's does this on 119th and strangline

I watched a great aunt and her husband light one cigarette from one match in the morning and then spend the day lighting one cig from another. The last years of her life were hell. He quit smoking and got quite a bit better until he had an accident in some machinery at his workplace. I'd rather go his way than hers.

I really like it when some old wrinkly ass leather skinned lady or guy is smoking and eating at the same time. Especially with breakfast.

Actually most resign their fate pretty quickly. They saw it coming.

But their biggest regret and most painful for them is the burden that they have placed on their family. That their family has to watch them suffer a slow and painful death. That their family has to deal with the physical limitations and financial hardships.