http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...21408308819.txt

As I posted at Facebook, second-hand smoke kills people. This is a no brainer. Second hand smoke is basically a toxic gas. Of course it should be outlawed on the beach and any public place.

Tim, I agree, but people in this county don't seem to get it.

As a result, I patronize places that are non-smoking, or I travel to get to non-smoking places. All of Valpo and all of South Bend/St. Joseph county...non smoking.. and guess what? They're thriving communities that are growing and doing just fine. The world hasn't stopped turning there.

I have given up hope that LaPorte County or Indiana will pass non-smoking legislature. So, keep taxing the shit out of cigarettes, and give that money to people who can use it... I'll keep driving elsewhere for dinner.

I'm not sure who would regulate non-smoking at the beach, or even a non-smoking section/park with beach access. The patrons would have to police it, and many people are afraid to speak up to their peers.

I can understand non-smoking indoors, but good luck trying to keep it from outdoor places. If that were to happen, then cars shouldn't emit exhaust, houses shouldn't let smoke come out of their chimneys, and people/animals shouldn't pass gas....

I understand your outlook, Ang. I smoked for 30 years and having a cigarette on the beach was always great. But this is simply the wave of the future and smoking is already being banned in outdoor places all over America. Plus no one ever died from passed gas, no matter how much they may have wanted to.

Gotta love Indiana's take on no-smoking laws -

Indiana: We hereby ban smoking in all indoor public facilities

Opposition: But if you ban smoking in casinos Indiana will lose $170 million in tax revenue.

Indiana: Casinos are hereby exempt from the smoking ban!

How freaking stupid.

I think with all of the beautiful beaches we have, it would be easy to say "this beach area is non-smoking", or "this beach area is family-friendly" or whatever.

But again, it would have to be enforced by the patrons who are there, and respected by others. It would be nice, but I don't think that LP county is cohesive enough, or has enough of a community spirit to do that.

Enforced by patrons? No way. It's not up to me to enforce laws. Okay, so that might mean light/random enforcement. Which would mean someone who decides to smoke on the beach after a ban is in effect might have a chance of not being ticketed/fined - but how much of a chance?

Second hand smoke = bad thing.

I have never understood how this issue has been fought as a social issue, instead of a health issue. We regulate dangerous chemicals in places like the steel mills, but what about the bartenders and waitresses who are consuming large amounts of carcinogens at their workplace?

That's where I am. Had to love the bar owner in LaPorte who said his livelihood depends on people smoking in his bar. So - an excruciating death from lung cancer caused by second-hand smoke is okay.

Again, to be fair, I smoked for 30 years and loved it. But it is a fact that second hand smoke kills people. in that light it's simply unacceptable that smoking is not banned in every public place - outside or inside.

How about we just BAN EVERYTHING!!!!!!

AND NO I AM NOT A SMOKER, BEFORE YOU ALL START

Ban everything? Unnecessary.

Ban things that can potentially kill you? Smart move.

That guy is crazy.... literally. This I know first hand from his employees...