California considers smoking ban at all state parks

[The Straight Story]

California considers smoking ban at all state parks


SACRAMENTO, CA (AP) -- California lawmakers are considering what is believed to be the nation's most far-reaching smoking ban in state parks.

Under a bill being considered Thursday, smoking would be prohibited at state beaches and all other state parks.

Maine banned smoking at its state beaches last year. But groups that track such legislation say no state prohibits lighting up throughout its entire park system, as the California bill proposes.

The bill's author, Democratic state Sen. Jenny Oropeza of Long Beach, wants to get unsightly cigarette butts off the beach, eliminate second-hand smoke and reduce the threat of wildfires.

Campsites and parking areas would be exempted from the ban, which is opposed by the tobacco industry.

http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=77494&catid=2

[TwilightGardener]

1. Wildfires--yeah, I can understand this.

[SteveM]

2. Prohibition is such a pretty siren. At first. nt

[joeybee12]

4. Prohibition is outlawing it everywhere...this is simply common sense...n/t

[SteveM]

6. Prohibition always starts with the "easy stuff"...

usually referred to as "common sense." You have an arc of prohibition developing with tobacco: first public places, next NEAR public places, next outdoors on public streets (at least 2 cities in Cali), next will be (in my estimation) bans in private residences in which children live (child protective bureaucracies are quite malleable in these matters), next outright bans and the corrupt smuggling which follows -- and is already increasing dramatically with cigarettes.

In a few years, we will be back here discussing the wisdom of this newest of prohibitions -- and it will be most "everywhere."

[Winterblues]

8. Is there absolutely nothing that should be prohibited?

Can I shit on your hamburger or piss in your drinking water? Should those acts be prohibited? The human being needs three things to sustain life. Food, water, and air. To you it is just fine to pollute my air but if I want to pollute your drinking water or your food...boy howdy..

[Maru Kitteh]

3. I'm all in favor of anything that removes smoking from public areas - indoor and out

How nice to walk through parks without stupid ciggy butts all over the place or human beings spewing toxic cloouds in your face. The cars are bad enough, but having a lungful of concentrated blue chemical fog vented at you at face level is enough to make a person choke.

There are bigger problems in the world, but seeing this pass wouldn't hurt my feelings. It would probably save a few dollars on picking up the ciggy butts too.

[Lex]

5. I see those cigarette butts at State Parks too

and so I have no problem with them banning smoking there. It's a fire hazard and an eyesore.

[hobbit709]

7. If you live in L.A., secondhand smoke is the least of your worries.