Smoking Ban

The recent uproar over the smoking ban leaves some businesses to smolder into ashes. This is not a civil debate; this is simply a one-sided argument that does not take into consideration the harm it could do to small businesses and their employees. The idea of legislatures trying to force individuals to take an action that they have established a right to is illogical.
The solution here is clear, cigar bars and pool halls bring in over 50% or more of their revenue from tobacco products. These venues are popular because they allow individuals to sit down, sit back, and enjoy a cigar or cigarette without getting dirty looks from the family of five at the next table. Basically, this is why establishes such as this are opened. It is obvious that slapping on a ban that would outlaw what this company was created to do would force them out of business.
Governor Dave Heineman signed into law a smoking ban that would outlaw smoking of tobacco in all public places. According to Heineman the reason was the concern of public health in the interests of business owners. He states that, “the public has a right to clean indoor air and this is a public health concern that is critical.” However, it is uncertain that Heineman took into consideration small business owner’s right to operate their businesses and also the public’s right to privacy. Heineman explains that he weighed the interests between the businesses and public health deeming that public health is more important. Individuals who have taken on this habit are knowledgeable about it. They are aware of its effects and know its harmful, but that is meaningless in this case. The fact is that people have a right as a citizen to smoke and they should choose how they want to proceed with their lives.
The last thing our state needs is another reason to support the downfall of the economy. According to John Larkin, co-owner of cigar bars in Lincoln and Omaha, since the Omaha ban has gone into effect he has gone from 12 employees to 3. His income has decreased $168,000 over 6 months. When Omaha’s first smoking ban went into effect, the Legislature made an exception for retail tobacco stores, but as of June 1, currently there are no plans for exemptions. With vast number of businesses that will no longer allow smoking, profits will decrease; therefore employees will be laid off only to again increase the national unemployment rate. Smoking in bars has been a trend that has stuck around for hundreds of years, why the sudden change now? Today’s economy already makes times challenging for all Americans. There is no sense in putting more jobs and businesses at risk.
Banning smoking in local family restaurants seem very reasonable but, banning smoking in a bar where most individuals expect it seems absurd, especially for businesses whose niche is smoking, such as most cigar bars. Banning smoking in cigar bars could be compared to banning the consumption of alcohol in bars. If individuals do not want to be around smoke they should simply not put themselves into positions in which they are. If people are entitled to “clean indoor air” they should stay put in their own homes instead of adding more exhaustion to small businesses that are already in tough positions.
In conclusion, Governor Dave Heineman must rethink the decision or be prepared for far worse results. We live in a free society and that is how it should stay. Most individuals know the harmful effects of smoking, but whether 18 or 25 years old, it is their prerogative. This sort of legislation is just another way for the government to take away our rights. This ban has two sides and legislatures must do what is best for the state as a whole. One guarantee is that individuals are not going to quit their habits, only become more and more frustrated with the people who they have voted to reflect their opinions and represent their state as a whole. This is not the right decision nor the right time to put businesses in jeopardy.