Omaha pool hall defies public smoking ban

now now boys

you know big brother is only doing whats best for you, and you know the goverment will tell you what you need. i think it should be up to the customer if he wants to go inside or not, not the customer telling the owner i am comming into your place and i do not want smoke. that is stupid. its like the old seat belt thing, the goverment tells you whats best for you. soon they will be telling us what time to go to bed, what time to get up, what to eat, soon we will not have to think at all it will be taken care of it by the goverment, just do as told and go along with the rest of the sheep.
i want less goverment not more
 
this has been going on in chicago since day-one of the ban.
just like when they banned alcohol, it didnt sit well with certain people.
the "smoke-easy" was born.
 
Here are facts.

Smoking is bad for you
If you smoke, there is a very good chance you're going to have a smoking related death.
If something is illegal, the business owner doesn't get to decide if they comply with the law.


True, but not relevant. This is not about a business owner deciding it's ok to sell blow over the counter. Smoking is not illegal. It's a gross over-reach of power for any level of government to ban a legal activity on private property.
 
True, but not relevant. This is not about a business owner deciding it's ok to sell blow over the counter. Smoking is not illegal. It's a gross over-reach of power for any level of government to ban a legal activity on private property.

Do they have to apply for a business license? How about a license to sell alcohol?

If this private property argument was valid, why apply for these licenses also set in place by the government/state? Why comply to any laws at all? You can't pick and choose what you do and do not agree with.
 
I still smoke (hoping to quit by the end of the year) but I think it is inconsiderate to smoke around nonsmokers in an enclosed space.
 
Make it a Private club therefore it is no longer a public building... offer membership for one time due of $5.00... if non smokers want to join it's their decision. I myself am a non smoker but understand how it looks to the smoker as well.
 
Make it a Private club therefore it is no longer a public building... offer membership for one time due of $5.00... if non smokers want to join it's their decision. I myself am a non smoker but understand how it looks to the smoker as well.


In Washington that doesn't work. I am a member of the Eagles and they looked into that since it is a private club. Unfortunately, at least in WA, private clubs are not exempt.
 
I think this is a well-written and thought provoking piece...

However...

The business was already setup and in operation PRIOR to the ban being put into law...

.

Except, law is ever evolving, and the basis of the "warning" is that laws, regulations and ordinances can change from year to year. So, buyer beware that you are doing business in a metropolis area that has such "things"

Heck, someone could open up shop in Montana somewhere, and I'm pretty sure they could do whatever the heck they wanted... but don't expect a large crowd anytime soon.

And if you proposed ordinance, regulation or law is NOT to your specific liking, then you have the opportunity to voice your concerns through testimony, written means, and/or personal contact with your elected officials.

I've said this before, we've had the smoking thing going on for over 200 years, so now we try it "our" way for the next two hundred years and then the smokers can have it back.... I promise :)
 
Here in Kansas

2 of the mainrooms in Wichita, Stix and Shooters, made part of their room a 'Cigar bar' where smoking is permitted and part of the room is non-smoking. In both, the smoking room part is segregated from the non-smoking part, so partrons can choose where they want to be.

At Stix, at least, all the 'action' takes place in the smoking section, there is usually 2-3 times as many people in the smoking section as in the non-smoking part.

At Shooters, it is different, only 3 tables in the smoking room, so most people just play in the non smoking room with 7 tables, and run back to the smoking room to smoke inbetween things.

The point is: These rooms have provided a choice for their patrons, and the patrons are free to chose where they want to be.
 
Do they have to apply for a business license? How about a license to sell alcohol?

Sure they do. I'm not questioning that laws exist and that citizens/businesses must follow them as such. I'm questioning the basis for the law itself.

If this private property argument was valid, why apply for these licenses also set in place by the government/state? Why comply to any laws at all? You can't pick and choose what you do and do not agree with.

It's not an argument at all. We simply have a difference of opinion about the relationship between private citizens and government. That's ok. I'm not interested in an NPR debate.

For what it's worth, I hate smoke and wouldn't patronize a pool room that allowed other patrons to smoke. I do however support this guy's efforts and hope he gains some traction in that community.
 
Except, law is ever evolving, and the basis of the "warning" is that laws, regulations and ordinances can change from year to year. So, buyer beware that you are doing business in a metropolis area that has such "things"

Heck, someone could open up shop in Montana somewhere, and I'm pretty sure they could do whatever the heck they wanted... but don't expect a large crowd anytime soon.

And if you proposed ordinance, regulation or law is NOT to your specific liking, then you have the opportunity to voice your concerns through testimony, written means, and/or personal contact with your elected officials.

I've said this before, we've had the smoking thing going on for over 200 years, so now we try it "our" way for the next two hundred years and then the smokers can have it back.... I promise :)

If a business has to carry a grade "A" rating from the health dept to open to the public.
then the public needs to carry a grade "A" health certificate to enter the business to keep from causing hazard and contamination.


bill
 
The question is this. Do we know in this day an age that cigarette smoke is bad. Yes. Was this coming to be a requirement for all public business's a surprise. No. If you had any brains at all you know this was coming it's not a new subject.

A business open to the public has freedom but limited freedoms and that is known as well. You need a business license, proper fire maintenance, if you serve food there is safety inspector, disable accessible, etc. Your not telling me that the safety of your air is not as important as the safety of your food.

I remember when business had to become disable accessible we heard the same argument about business freedoms because owner where not willing to put the money for wheelchair access. :rolleyes:

The real reason the owner are mad is smokers are generally the big drinkers and buy the most amount of booze. Generally non-smokers are not big drinkers. They made easy money with alcohol sales with the smokers they didn't need to have a good food menu or focus advertising. The money was easily made. Now it's different. Place that will survive now will have to be more savvy in how they are managed. They will have to work much harder for their money.
 
Do they have to apply for a business license? How about a license to sell alcohol?

If this private property argument was valid, why apply for these licenses also set in place by the government/state? Why comply to any laws at all? You can't pick and choose what you do and do not agree with.

Licensing is for what, exactly?

Power, money, and control....nothing else. The biggest gangs require compliance and force through threats of violence that business owners pay the extortion fees....or else. This keeps the competition in check and keeps those with the biggest guns in power. Licensing is a cruel, fraudulent gimmick.

Yes, anyone CAN pick and choose what mandates they follow. EVERYONE makes those decisions EVERYDAY. In fact, the average American commits 3 Felonies a DAY and who knows how many lessor "laws."

Private property argument is ALWAYS valid or else the mighty own the meek....as in Omaha.

Jeff Livingston
 
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I just called City Hall to file a complaint. Told them the air was very arid and thick full of smoke. I really wanted to bring in my son to teach him but I thought it would be extremely harmful to his health and well being!! Shame on you Big Boys!!!!!!




















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Every smoking thread ever:

Dude 1: smoke sucks to breathe and makes my clothes stink and I'm glad some places are sane enough to outlaw it.
(optional: "I'm an ex-smoker and I feel that...")

Dude 2: oh stop being such a baby, it's not so bad.

Dude 3: the business should be able to decide, the government should not be able to control us and infringe on the business owner's rights

Dude 4: I'm a smoker but I know it's shitty for non-smokers so I don't do it around them and prefer nonsmoking halls.

Nevermind the rhetoric, it ultimately boils down to: do you give a shit about bothering other people or are you hellbent to make yourself comfortable at the expense of others?
 
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I am a social smoker and I really don't feel inconvenienced at all to have to walk outside. Besides, it'll probably help you smoke less. When you smoke, you really don't notice the smell that much, but when you're a non-smoker, it stinks!

I think if the owner wants to make both parties happy, he could build an outdoor sort of smoker's lounge heated and air conditioned with ventilation. A 5 minute smoke break between a few games really shouldn't be that difficult.
 
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