http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2006/11/8406/
Belmont is set to make history by becoming the first city in the nation to ban smoking on its streets and almost everywhere else.
The Belmont City Council voted unanimously last night to pursue a strict law that will prohibit smoking anywhere in the city except for single-family detached residences. Smoking on the street, in a park and even in one’s car will become illegal and police would have the option of handing out tickets if they catch someone.
There are many, many people – all of whom are smokers – who will take issue with this decision and claim it an attack on their civil liberties. Many others will claim it will lead to alcohol regulations. Well, nuts to them and their self-centred concerns. If a smoker decides to pollute the air around me, I get no say in the matter. And as much as alcohol-fuelled family incidents have caused me some emotional pain, having a friend or family member get hammered has never resulted in my becoming physically incapacitated with a blinding migraine, or having to see a doctor for a bad case of hives. Why should the rights of smokers take precedence over the health of non-smokers?