What do you think of the smoking ban?

The next step is to make it illegal within city limits. It's coming. Just a couple more years.

It's about time. You can finally go out to eat, or go have a drink without having all your clothes smelling of smoke.

I guess I'm not really aware of many restaurants in town that allow smoking and I'm a smoker...I just don't smoke while people are eating out of courtesy. But as for going out for a drink, really? You're going to a BAR. I'm sure alot of people will end up quitting soon, tell me non-smokers where the tax money will come from then? Now you'll get to go have a drink in a smoke free bar, but will you be able to afford the drink anymore? And from there what will be next? I'm guessing you nonsmokers don't want to be taxed to death for everything, well... why not? We smokers have been!!

TO: Jane Choker

Are you serious? If I have to pay higher taxes for clean air then bring it on! Besides the lower health care costs will more than offset the tax loss. You people need a reality check.

According to the article I read in the Telegram it's individuals who will be fined if they smoke inside. Not the establishment. So who's going to stop the person from lighting up? If the establishment won't be fined you can bet that no one working there will stop them!

@Jane Smoker

I just wanted to say that I'm fine with paying slightly higher taxes because they aren't being derived from cigarettes. When I don't have to pay higher health premiums for you to have chemo because you smoked your whole life, I'm sure my wallet will appreciate it.

Just another goverment intrusion into our lives. Private business owners loosing their say on how they run their business. If the impedious was so strong for non-smoking establishments the economics of running a business would have dictated non-smoking. So for all of you that like the government dictating to you how to run your private life, this is a good thing. But for those of us that enjoy personal freedom this is just one less freedom we have. Forgot, I don't smoke!

Oh man it is the greatest thing to hit Nebraska sine the 94, 95 & 97 National Championships ! Wow I can now take my family out to any place for food & drinks with out the awful bar smell. Give it time places will just as busy or in the case of Pawnee & Maximus more busy then what they were before. I agree there should be a minimum of 10 feet they should of to be from the door.

Let's say the railroads still used coal fired trains and the many that pass through your town left a cloud of smoke throughout. Everyone in town, including smokers, would applaud government regulation to eliminate the hazard. Now replace "train" with "smoker" and you get the point of a smoking ban. I have lived in a smoke free state for years and it is great to have the right to be "free" of second hand smoke. A smokers right to smoke shouldn't infringe on another's right to good health. Smokers...your arguments have gone up in smoke. You no longer have the right to be so intrusive. A true loss of rights would be if the government took away your cigs.

best thing since sliced bread

I think it will be bad for the small towns and I am thinking 700 or less in population. I believe it will hurt the bars business because it takes all smokers and non-smokers to help make a profit for them. I think the bars should have been exempted from this law. If a business wants to go non-smoking great but if not that is that owner's business not our business or goverment's business. Frankly, I am tired of hearing about how great it will be from the non-smoker's. There is more in the air that is bad for you besides smoking. The fumes coming off that new car you drive--that so called new car smell--that computer you are sitting at right now is giving off toxic fumes--that new furniture or carpeting is giving off toxic fumes and if you live out in the country well, you got stinking hog confinements and huge cattle yards giving off methane and sulfur and let us not forget the farmers and their toxic chemicals and even you town people with the chemicals you put on your nice lawns to keep it green. It is not just smokers anymore, there is a lot of crap out there in the air.

What's to think about? How can anyone view this as a bad thing? Those that haven't evolved to the point of understanding the huge health risks involved in smoking and second hand smoke will be weeded out. Survival of the fittest. The very traits of the smokers that allow them to be self-destructive will eventually do what nature intended. In the future, smoking will be seen in the same context as cave drawings, a very primitive activity of the distant past.

As long as they don't ban alcohol. It's not bad for you or it would have been banned years ago. Has alcohol ever hurt anyone?????

Everyone has a right to smoke, but not when it infringes on the rights of everyone else to breath clean air. I have never smoked but I have many friends that do. No one is saying you can not smoke, only that you not smoke in public areas. Have you ever noticed signs in front of some retail stores that say, No Food or Drink. Isn't that infringing upon your right to eat or drink----wait-----maybe that isn't the same thing. Generally speaking eating and drinking isn't an addiction. Perhaps the smokers should wake up and realize what they are complaining about is not being able to use the drug they are addicted to in public anymore. boo-fricking-hoo. Grow up and buy the patch, then we will all breath easier.

"Has alcohol ever hurt anyone?" Are you kidding? I like a drink now and then, but yeah, excessive alcohol is also a killer. Are you that xxxxx? Reminds me of the lady I worked with that said there is no proof that smoking is bad for you. O.K., let's go to the hospital and talk to some people, jeeeezzz. Pretty funny, in a stupid way. By the way, smokers, don't be throwing your butts all over outside, either, please. Keep America Beautiful!!!

I don't think (wheeze) that it's fair (hack, hack) to us smokers (cough) to have to stand (cough, cough)outside like there's (hack, hack, cough) something wrong with us. I need to (wheeze) sit down.

The smoking ban is great!!!

If smokers are so dumb then how come were always thinkin bout stuff?

I'm sorry but the non-smokers that have been replying to all the smoking articles are just embarrassing human beings! What a bunch of rude, classless, arrogant people! I really have not seen any smokers on here being rude or indignant about the situation, but the non-smokers sure have something to say! Talk about a bunch of poor sports! You won your case! You don't make your point by being childish towards the people who have already lost the argument! Grow up and stop needling these people, maybe you'll get a result you want out of it, instead of just making people bitter!! Congrats on your clean air, too bad you are wasting it!!!!

Oh baby, besides not hacking up a lung after a few hours of socializing in a bar, besides not smelling, well like a cheap cigar, besides not seeing the deposits of unattrictive cigerette butts on the ground whats not to like(strike that) LOVE

I have had asthma my entire life. if i even get near smoke i cannot breathe.
i think its wonderful about the smoking ban... I know smoking is an enjoyment to alot of people. and i don't think they realize the effects it has one alot of people like myself.... i wouldn'tr think of doing something for my own enjoyment if i knew i could be hurting others in an y way......

never say I quit smoking. I just haven't smoked in a year and a half! So maybe the state will legalize medicial pot. We can all go to our Dr. get a Rx. and then we'll all forget about crying in our beer over not being able to smoke in a bar! P.S. Now I won't have to get all dolled up to go out with my honey, go have a couple drinks, come home and throw the clean clothes I put on a few hours ago in the wash, and shampoo & shower again. Oh yah! More time for the important stuff, coochie poo!

im sure the smokers will realize that they will survive.Frankly i wish they would ban tobacco products,but make it so that you would be able too grow your own.

TO: Should be ashamed of yourselves

“What a bunch of rude, classless, arrogant people!” This is what we have been saying about the smokers for years. They are the most inconsiderate group of people there is! It’s not just the bars and restaurants that are an issue it’s everywhere. Why should I have to run into a face full of smoke wherever I go? I can stay out of bars and restaurants that having smoking but what about when I’m sitting at my sons ball game, walking thru the park ,entering a store, sitting at a red light, watching a parade, walking down the street, waiting at a crosswalk, enjoying any outdoor activity, etc. there always seems to be a smoker nearby. Why can't smokers step more than two feet away from a doorway? What do they think or do they? I can’t even open the windows in my house on certain days because my neighbor is out smoking every ten minutes. He goes outside because he doesn’t want smoke in his house but it blows into mine. They never consider where that smoke is going when they exhale. What if I walked around with a squirt gun and shot smokers in the face with it? It would be very annoying but at least the water is harmless. I bet they wouldn’t put up with it. Why should I have to put up with their smoke when I’m in public and especially in my own home? The non-smokers are finally seeing justice. I hope it doesn’t end here, I hope smoking gets banned altogether!

Had enough...

I agree with you 100%. This has been frustrating non-smokers all of their lives.
Smokers: Try to be more considerate, please.

It's still going to be years before the smoke residue clears out.

Sure is nice of Robby to be taking his family out to the bars, oh they are so worried about 2nd hand smoke and smelling like smoke but isn't worried about that drive home with your kids in the car after those few drinks. Smart thinking.I was brought up with parents that both smoke and still do, I just never chose to smoke but still go to they're house and I chose to, just like a bar you could chose which bar you wanted to take your kids to (father of the Year Award there.

So what your saying is that the smoke outside is so bad. Do you drive a car? The fumes that come out of that 100 times worse than cigarette smoke.

So are you saying I should park my car on top of a smoker and stop driving it?

To "Should be ashamed of yourselves"

I think you are shaking your finger at the wrong group of people here. Just like "Had enough" said, we nonsmokers have had to deal with smokers disrespectful attitudes for years.

The ones whining here are the smokers so again you are telling the wrong group to grow up.

So please smokers be more respectful and grow up. The smoking ban is in place and you can complain about it all you want, but the rights of the nonsmokers that want to breathe clean air finally came through.

Be more considerate of those like Betty Bender.

Did alcohol ever hurt anyone?

It takes a certain level of intelligence to pick up on statements using sarcasm and irony to make a point. Evidently you are not at that level.

Smokers should have to shower before they come in the bar.

I'm going to eat pickled eggs, pork-n-beans and drink red beer so I will still be able to run the non-smokers out. I'm not giving up without a fright!

The smoking ban is the smartest thing politicians have done in years. Now they need to proceed with their proposed tax increase on alcohol. Raise that tax way up there. Alcohol makes people stupid and does far more damage to society than any other drug. The people who drag their children to a bar so they can get drunk and have fun should be charged with child abuse.

Hack, Hack, Where's your hairball?

All these people waiting for years. Yea right. If it was such a good idea, why didn’t one of these “brilliant” non-smokers open up a smoke-free bar or restaurant years ago?
Um, uh, uh, um, uh…. Free enterprise? Not anymore.

I suspect that if they started making “private” smoke clubs that require membership dues, they could have a really nice place to smoke it up. But, then some non-smoker would want to go there to and they would mess it up for everyone again.

To all you non smokers... I can't wait for them to come after you because your 10 pounds over weight! I'll be the thin one in the corner laughing. And before you get on a roll, Diabetes and Heart Problems FROM FAT! WILL more then off set my one smoking habit so don't even go there with me Thank you!

Finally I can go to a bar without a bunch of non-smokers whining about the smoke.

I am a non smoker, but it scares me to death every time they take another right away from us. The owner of an establishment should have the right to do what they want with in the laws. Make them purchase a smoking license then you will have the choice to go in there or not. The Governor deciding we can still have cigar bars??? What is with that? Have you ever been in a room with a person smoking a cigar? Perfumes and colognes can make some people very sick. Is the government going to stop everyone from wearing those too. When you sit next to someone in church that is covered with cologne and it makes you sick, are those people also considered inconsiderate. Why does our government get to pick and choose who they steal rights away from?

My name is: ********
I'm a smoker.
I'm dirty and disgusting and I stink. I have trouble breathing. I hack up disgusting stuff every morning. I have a chronic cough. I get sick easily. I’m looked upon like a leper. I buy packs of cigarettes with money I can't afford to spend. I can't sleep. Every year I worry more and more about getting lung cancer or emphysema. I don't want to drag an oxygen bottle everywhere I go. My health is deteriorating. I'm addicted and can't quit. I need help!

Kevin
I wish the government would force me to lose weight. I need to and I would be better off.

I realize that right now its smokers vs. nonsmokers but i have to agree with "confused". Its a matter of rights that are being taken away a little at a time. Holy Crap people we can't even say "Merry Christmas" in public anymore. Is God threatening anyone's lives? NO!!! How bright does the future look really? They are going to legalize firearms and make smoking and praying illegal. Maybe soon enough they will tell you exactly what to watch on tv or what music you can and cannot listen to. Land of the free??? What a joke!!!

Thank God!

well, i feel sorry for bar owners in small towns cuz yeah, the business will definitely go down. and i think that if everyone is so worried about people smoking and think they should all quit, MAKE THE QUIT SMOKING STUFF FREE! i say BAN ALCOHOL IN BARS. i'd rather avoid cigarette smoke (my poor child has asthma, don't want her around it, but it's easy to avoid) but unfortunately i can't always avoid driving on the road where there is always the risk of a driver under the influence!!

If this only affects public places, I think that places like the Eagles should be going on a serious membership drive. Here are the lemons, make a big batch of lemonaide. Some people will say it is unethical, but those will be the same people who think it was ok to impose their will upon society without any remorse whatsoever.

Well its about time i can enjoy fresh air when i walk into a bar. Its time for us non smokers to have a chance at fresh air for once.

has any one been in a bar since the ban? does it smell better or worse? in my opion it smells worse than some one smoking and i am not a smoker. the bars have all this second hand somke in the walls and the floor and carpets and it is going to take years to get it out.

I decided to go out to a couple of bars I could never go to because of the smoke last night. It was refreshing and enjoyable and to Just Here it smells better.

I am an Eagle's member and I just wanted you and everyone else to be aware. The Eagle's is also now a Smoke Free Enviroment. But a membership drive is not a bad idea. The Eagle's are about people helping people. You don't have to be a vetran, just someone who wants to help. Last year our members and others helped raise money for "Make-A-Wish". This year we are raising money for Special Olympics. Its a great club, you should come check it out.

To Finally,

If you could never go to those bars, how can you tell if they smell better? Wouldn't you have actually had to have been there once before to claim it is better? You wouldn't be blowing smoke now, would you?

Some years ago sitting in a crowd at a Sale Barn I asked the man next to me not to smoke as I was allergic. He lit up and turned and blew a cloud of smoke in to my face. I was so mad I grabbed it out of his month and threw it as far as I could. He then said he wanted to punch me in the mouth. It was not possible for me to move from where I was sitting. I am sure he was just a jerk and most people would not have done what he did. I was a young mother with and infant at the time.

This won't last long, several bars will become private clubs. Any joe can get membership in five seconds. With in a year all the popular bars will be private clubs. At this point nothing will have changed, nonsmokers will have a choice to make. Go to a bar with smoke or without? Sounds just like before the law!!!

Are you smokers still whining about the ban? Take a deep breath (if you can) and get over it already!