Indiana Smoking Ban?

[ArcadiaGP]

Seeing how they're trying to rush a smoking ban before the Super Bowl gets here... could someone explain what it entails and means?

Surely there are smokers here more educated on it than I am

 

[spearheadersarge]

Many counties already have a ban. I believe the push is for the reduced health care costs related to smoking ilnesses. That is the idea behind it and the rationale for going statewide. In time for the superbowl? Don't know about that.

 

[J_Wales]

Could someone explain what it means?

Sure, I can tell you what it means.


So often sheeple cry" The government should be doing this in this field" or they cry "the government should be doing that in this field" when they should be screaming "What the Hell is the government doing out of its cage and getting into any of these fields?"

What the ban means is that our republic is filled with blind, bleating sheep and a republic of sheep begets a government of wolves.

 

[Compatriot G]

I believe the rush to ban smoking in public before the Super Bowl is so that we won't appear like a "hick" or "redneck" state to all of the out-of-state visitors. Personally, I would rather be a state that appears to protect the rights of property owners, no matter how "redneck" that appears to "outsiders".

 

[ArcadiaGP]

I'm not in support of banning anything, especially smoking. Just wondering how it will affect me IF they get it through.

 

[gunowner930]

Many counties already have a ban. I believe the push is for the reduced health care costs related to smoking ilnesses. That is the idea behind it and the rationale for going statewide. In time for the superbowl? Don't know about that.

Yeah that's the excuse that the control freaks use. Screw property rights and the free market.

 

[J_Wales]

Yeah that's the excuse that the control freaks use. Screw property rights and the free market.

Yep.... and I'm not a smoker.

 

[Bummer]

.. appear like a "hick" or "redneck" state ...

Political penis envy.

 

[GoDawgs]

It's an interesting concept because obviously you have personal and property rights being limited by the government for the argument that a personal behavior negatively impacts the rights of those around you. A similar argument could be made if I wanted to ban the spraying of toxic chemicals on your lawn that got into the ground water supply or ban driving under the influence and crash into an innocent. I mean, you can always move away from a bad neighbor or just not drive ever, but we all know that to be unrealistic so rules are put in place.

What makes things interesting is that like any government imposed mandate, it winds up doing lots of stupid things - look at the 'casino exception' that the casino groups keep on putting on. Why does it appear in the bill? Because they have money and donate it to campaigns and their taxes are great for Indiana. On the other hand, places like hookah bars and cigar bars, which are explicitly setup to facilitate smoking by their patrons, didn't get the 'casino exemption' simply because they weren't as organized and don't have money (although I believe a recent iteration of the bill gave them an exemption via grandfathering).

While I not enjoy cigarette smoke, i know that a law like this will never be properly designed or implemented to make everybody happy. However, look at what has happened recently in some bars in Broad Ripple - they became voluntarily non-smoking! And look, a miracle, those that did volunteer to be non-smoking drew huge crowds and now even the dive bars that always had huge plumes of smoke in the air are starting to implement bans on their own property as well. I say let the invisible hand deal with this.

 

[Homebrew]

It's an interesting concept because obviously you have personal and property rights being limited by the government for the argument that a personal behavior negatively impacts the rights of those around you. A similar argument could be made if I wanted to ban the spraying of toxic chemicals on your lawn that got into the ground water supply or ban driving under the influence and crash into an innocent. I mean, you can always move away from a bad neighbor or just not drive ever, but we all know that to be unrealistic so rules are put in place.

What makes things interesting is that like any government imposed mandate, it winds up doing lots of stupid things - look at the 'casino exception' that the casino groups keep on putting on. Why does it appear in the bill? Because they have money and donate it to campaigns and their taxes are great for Indiana. On the other hand, places like hookah bars and cigar bars, which are explicitly setup to facilitate smoking by their patrons, didn't get the 'casino exemption' simply because they weren't as organized and don't have money (although I believe a recent iteration of the bill gave them an exemption via grandfathering).

While I not enjoy cigarette smoke, i know that a law like this will never be properly designed or implemented to make everybody happy. However, look at what has happened recently in some bars in Broad Ripple - they became voluntarily non-smoking! And look, a miracle, those that did volunteer to be non-smoking drew huge crowds and now even the dive bars that always had huge plumes of smoke in the air are starting to implement bans on their own property as well. I say let the invisible hand deal with this.

Well said. My sentiments exactly!

 

[red_zr24x4]

What I want to know is-
If the state institutes a smoking ban does that mean they will also lift all the extra taxes they've placed on cigarettes to "curb" smoking in the last couple of years?
If they are banning it everywhere, no-one will be smoking right? so they can cut the taxes because no-one will be buying them right?
And using this tax money to pay for people's health care won't be needed because there is a ban, right?

 

[armedindy]

there is also a provision in the bill that would impose the regular excise tobacco tax on all of the Roll your own cigarette shops in town....the provision is being backed by phillip morris (they may have changed their name though) i hope this bill does not pass...my job and the jobs of other young people is at risk.

 

[armedindy]

What I want to know is-
If the state institutes a smoking ban does that mean they will also lift all the extra taxes they've placed on cigarettes to "curb" smoking in the last couple of years?
If they are banning it everywhere, no-one will be smoking right? so they can cut the taxes because no-one will be buying them right?
And using this tax money to pay for people's health care won't be needed because there is a ban, right?

sorry to say no

 

[red_zr24x4]

sorry to say no

I know, it should have been in purple.

 

[Kagnew]

Could someone explain what it means?

Sure, I can tell you what it means.


So often sheeple cry" The government should be doing this in this field" or they cry "the government should be doing that in this field" when they should be screaming "What the Hell is the government doing out of its cage and getting into any of these fields?"

What the ban means is that our republic is filled with blind, bleating sheep and a republic of sheep begets a government of wolves.

Well said.

 

[Kagnew]

What I want to know is-
If the state institutes a smoking ban does that mean they will also lift all the extra taxes they've placed on cigarettes to "curb" smoking in the last couple of years?
If they are banning it everywhere, no-one will be smoking right? so they can cut the taxes because no-one will be buying them right?
And using this tax money to pay for people's health care won't be needed because there is a ban, right?

If everyone quit smoking, the government would increase other taxes in order to offset the revenue that they had been harvesting off of tobacco.

As a smoker, I think that I deserve a thank-you for being willing to take one for the team!

 

[$mooth]

Many counties already have a ban. I believe the push is for the reduced health care costs related to smoking ilnesses. That is the idea behind it and the rationale for going statewide. In time for the superbowl? Don't know about that.

I've seen a few studies that actually prove the opposite. Canada showed that smoking actually reduces the overall health care costs to the state, as the smokers generally die earlier and do not incur the large care costs of old age.

 

[spartan933]

I understand the healthcare costs associated with smoking concept. However,, no smokng in a bar? Get some freakin' balls man. It's a bar. I get the restaurant thing, yeah, kids can go in there, fine, no smokng. But, a bar? C'mon man, when did these guys give up their man card? God forbid these senators and reps go into a bar one night a week for an hour!!! Lord knows their lungs will be permanently damaged! The sad part is that most of the people that want to completely ban smoking in bars, probably don't go into bars more than a few times a year.

Sorry folks, call me old fashioned or whatever you like, but a bar is a sacred place that you go to relax and have a drink, and a smoke, and a bite to eat. Exclude bars and casinos, and go after the restaurants. But, bars? Don't be such a ****y.

 

[euby]

Its should be up to the property owner if he wants to allow smoking or not. Period!

 

[Stschil]

Does the latest iteration of this bill close the smoking room in the State House?
Or does it, like the money flush casino lobby, get an exemption too?