The op stated "People in WA state receiving housing assistance can no longer smoke within 25 feet of any building entrance in any of the state's subsidized housing programs."
I assumed that it is likely there is little choice of where that person lives.
The real killer is you are arguing about 12 or 14 steps. My point is simple it you are so lazy (I tried to find something less harsh but I can't) that 12 steps (9 for me) is too far to walk to protect the people in your building and community can you be entrusted with the responsibility of caring for anything at all.
I get that your issue isn't really a smoking one but of the government telling you what you can and can't do. But I just don't see it that way. You expect that same government to not allow dangerous products to enter your home and there is an out cry when toasters short out and cause fires for them to be pulled off the market what is the difference you admit second hand smoke can kill you. You recognize that in housing complexes people live on the ground floors and that they have a right to to not smoke. Do they also not have the freedom to live where they want to as well? Is it so much to expect a government to protect their rights by telling smokers to walk 12 steps. The considerate ones already do anyway.
25 feet, 12 paces. What would you do if somebody was smoking just out side your window just off your property line all summer long sell your house and move because it was their right to blow smoke into your home? You have a right to clean air and that right is everybody's right, smokers have the right to choose what they do to their own bodies as long as it does not affect anyone else's. By smoking in front of doors and windows other peoples homes that take that away all for the sake of 12 steps. The government isn't taking people rights away just making sure EVERYONE has free choice. You can still choose to smoke... over there 12 steps away.
I am not tying to antagonize you but to be honest I simply do not see the problem with asking smokers to walk a bit, if they banned the sale of the bloody things I grudging would defend the smokers rights but asking them to walk 25 feet doesn't seem like a big issue at all, I am a Canadian, and although the two countries are very similar this is one thing that is vastly different. This might just be a cultural difference and I'll simply not understand at all. It seems to me the government has acted in good faith with its responsibilities to protect everybody's rights the solution doesn't impinge on rights, it is just a minor inconvenience to some.
Reply With Quote