Smokers are fighting an uphill battle to maintain even a little of their freedom of rights, from West Virginia to the West Coast, and seems that officials might be listening. Some smoking bans have even been rescinded of postponed. In some cases, this occurs more often than officials actually declining to implement a ban.
Those against smoking feel that these so-called set backs are only a result of the struggling economy. They feel that local government are afraid to impose new costs and are wary of burdening bars or restaurants which might already be struggling.
U.S. regional director of the Citizens Freedom Alliance, Gary Nolan says, "The economy is in a slump, and these bans almost always hurt the shot-and-beer-type bars and some restaurants." He added, "If times are trying now in the hospitality industry, you're compounding that by telling bar owners they can't cater to their own crowd."
But even with these worries on the detrimental aspect of smoking bans, they are still going forward in most parts of the country and now they are even moving outdoors, to parks and beaches, which is awkward to say the least.
As associate director of Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights Bronson Frick says, "For opponents, it's never a good time to do this, whether the economy is bad or good, the smoke-free initiative is continuing, though."
[Via: seattlepi.com]
