Illinois to target smokers.....

[Cellar Dweller]

Back to the original point

One of the most far-reaching ideas would be to allow municipalities to make their own laws regarding smoking in public places

Other than excluding smokers as being members of the public...their money is welcome but their presence is not...Once again, a goodly portion of the state budget is BUILT on tobacco settlement money (being spent on non-tobacco related ventures) and tobacco tax revenue. I'll concede (for now) the "risk" to non-smokers and continue.

their organizations support bills that would tighten smoking and tobacco restrictions, including: raising the age to buy tobacco to 19 from 18 unless the person has a military identification card

Magic age limits that accomplish nothing other than the appearance of "doing something," just as teenagers find ways to get alcohol and cigarettes and firearms and drugs now.

forcing tobacco sellers to be licensed by the state

Revenue generation only. There are already local and/or county licenses required so adding another layer of bureaucracy adds nothing of practical use.

banning smoking from all stadiums, health facilities and restaurants in the state.

All stadiums are open to the public; not all are government-owned. Other than restaurants in government buildings the rest are in PRIVATE-owned locations. Healthcare facilities may get gov't money subject to being controlled by the gov't leash.

Nonsmokers cry about nonsmoking restaurants and bars but resort to the government to create them because the free market won't. If there is such a huge market surely SOMEONE would cater to it...I have no compassion for smokers who light up in the nonsmoking section, nor do I have compassion for nonsmokers sitting in the smoking section.

Health-care costs and insurance? Very simple: no freebies, no subsidies, no handouts, no entitlements. YOU get what YOU pay for from YOUR own pocket. If you can't afford a lung transplant or a liver transplant or $3000/month for your old age pharmacy bag, you do without. I see no government guarantee that one is entitled to live at least 100 years in any document.

 

[jimpeel]

And then there's this little discussion we had here on THR on the current effort on the part of the governor of Colorado to sell the state's tobacco settlement money for a lump sum. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51349

The governor wants to use 80 million dollars to restore programs that have been cut, and put the rest in a rainy-day fund; but we all know when it comes to politicians, there are always clouds on the horizon.

 

[jimpeel]

During prohibition people couldn't afford cigarettes so they smoked cornsilk. What will the smoking Nazis do when people rediscover cornsilk; ban the number one cash crop in America? Will they disallow the sale or possession of unshucked corn? Ban cultivation for private use?

Nothing is beyond contemplation for those with a mission.

 

[jimpeel]

This story ought to get the antis up in arms. Maybe there's a small town in Illinois ...

Do ya think that smoking Roesmary is legal in Illinois?

SOURCE

Light-up time leaves some Italians fuming

By Suzanne Bush
SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

CAPENA, Italy — Yesterday was light-up time in Capena, a medieval town where everybody smokes on St. Anthony's Day. Nobody remembers why, but nearly everybody does it — even children as young as 2 years old.

For years, the event has gone unnoticed by public-health advocates, who just this month succeeded in getting the Italian government to order bars and restaurants to ban smoking or to allow it only in well-ventilated smoking areas.

Hundreds gathered under gray skies to light cigarettes from the trunk of an olive tree set ablaze in the town square.

One mother, who gave her name only as Rosalba, said she has been participating in the festival for 11 years and has taken photos of her children posing with cigarettes since they were 1. Her eldest, Giulia, is 9.

"They don't smoke properly," Rosalba said, chuckling. "Then again, Giulia did just try inhaling and started choking. ... It's a lovely thing. I'm not worried about them taking up smoking. It's only for one day, and they know it's bad for them."

Rosalba's friend, Katia, encouraged her son, Augustino, to take his first puff, but the 2-year-old seemed unenthusiastic.

Although the youngest children were accompanied by parents, many older children smoked all day without supervision.

"I like smoking," said 10-year-old Tancredi. "I help out with Mass, then I come here, and my parents think it's OK because it's only one day a year."

The festival of St. Anthony usually is celebrated across Italy with the traditional blessing of animals to bring prosperity in the year ahead. Capena's unusual custom began centuries ago with the smoking of rosemary.

Some remain faithful to that habit, but the majority now opt for cigarettes instead.

The tradition is awkward for Mayor Riccardo Benigni, who also is the town doctor.

"It's not a good thing. This I can say as a doctor and a nonsmoker. It's not that I like this new tradition. Of course, it's not a good example for anyone, but the origins were completely different."

Mr. Benigni says he has tried to discourage children from taking part and, for the first time this year, there was a sign suggesting parents give their children sweets instead. But only a few of the smaller children chose candy cigarettes over the coffin nails.

Raffaele Luise of the Italian Cancer League was appalled by the practice.

"I'm convinced that when children associate the souvenir of their first cigarette with having fun in a happy situation with the whole village and all their mates, these memories can lead a kid to repeat that behavior."

Most Italian adults seem oblivious to the effects of smoking on their children. Despite a 30-year-old ban, it's not unusual to see Italians smoking in schools and hospitals.