IPCPR Urges Courtesy, Not Ban, in Raleigh, NC Parks
The Raleigh, North Carolina City Council is considering a ban on smoking in parks or greenways owned or operated by the city but the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association says it has a better idea – post courtesy messages, instead. The matter is expected to come up for a vote at tonight’s meeting.
Raleigh, NC (Vocus/PRWEB) January 18, 2011
The Raleigh, North Carolina City Council is considering a ban on smoking in parks or greenways owned or operated by the city but the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association says it has a better idea – post courtesy messages, instead. The matter is expected to come up for a vote at tonight’s meeting.
“There are so many things wrong with legislated smoking bans,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR. “Such bans result in job losses, losses in revenue to local, state and federal coffers, and loss of constitutional rights given to citizens by the state and federal governments. Worst of all, claims regarding the alleged negative effects of secondhand smoke – especially in wide open spaces like parks – are more than inaccurate, they are downright misleading.”
McCalla says there is no need to ban smoking in such outdoors areas and, even if it were enacted, there would be virtually no practical way to enforce it.
“The oh-so-brief encounters of random whiffs of smoke will not harm anyone. After all, even the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor has established safe levels of secondhand smoke. Some people just don’t like the smell of smoke, but there’s no reason that the rights of smokers should be trumped by a few non-smokers. Besides, a good cigar or pipe usually emits quite an enjoyable odor.”
Some have argued that children are apt to pick up cigarette or cigar butts and put them in their mouths.
“I don’t believe that is a real concern as opposed to a manufactured one. And, even if it were real, there are littering laws that, if enforced, would eliminate that alleged problem,” McCalla said.
McCalla asked, “What if someone complained about the odor of cheap perfume or wet dogs? What if someone complained about seriously obese people taking up more than their share of seating space in the shelters and on buses?
“Imposing a smoking ban in public parks is just one more step on a slippery slope that could lead to even more ridiculous conclusions,” he said.
Instead, McCalla believes posting signs urging smokers to display courtesy to non-smokers with whom they share bus shelters is the civil way to manage the situation.
“This way, everybody wins.”
Contact:
Tony Tortorici
678-493-0313
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