The City Council voted 9-2 on Tuesday to support state legislation that would ban smoking in restaurants.
Councilmen Harry Diezel and Bill DeSteph voted against the resolution. They said some restaurants should be allowed to welcome smokers.
The council supported a similar proposal last year. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine pushed for smoking bans in the 2007 and 2008 General Assembly sessions, but the legislation was defeated both times. Kaine plans to try again this year.
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what is being taken away?
i've seen commenters warning non-smokers will have something taken from them. i'm not sure what that means...is something being taken away from smokers? you can still buy tobacco products, you can still use tobacco products. i didn't see where they were banning smoking outright...just voting to support a potential state law is not the same a banning something outright. in any case, how hard is it to excuse yourself from the table to walk outside and enjoy your cigar/cigarette/pipe?
We also need to help out the
We also need to help out the small businesses who make money off of cigarette sales. They prob need people to smoke to help keep them in business.
I think it should be up to
I think it should be up to the restaurant owners.
I also think that at this point in our economic crisis, we should let people smoke. We need the $$$ to help keep our economy going, we need the taxes from cigarette sales. People are loosing their jobs, and if we continue to raise cigarette tax maybe well save a few jobs.
I dont smoke, but in this crisis this day and age, Im supporting cigarette sales. People need to spend money to help out our economy, and if this is the way they are going to spend $, then so be it!
Thank you..
Thank you VB council for supporting the smoking ban and for no longer pandering to the militia types out there who are worried about "losing their rights". Hopefully the Norfolk council will finally have the stones to support the majority too. It's about time.
True Representation
Rather than have smokers upset with the government imposing itself, put it to the voters? After all, our country is based on "majority rules". If the majority of Virginia is against smoking in restaurants, then that should be it.
Smoking Ban
If you let the businesses handle the smoking situation, it will end up as the Virginia Beach Town Center.....and no one cares!
Why do we need more laws?
I smoke. I go to resturants that allow it and some that don't. It should be the owners choice, not a law. I think people being overweight has beat smoking in healthcare costs. So is the next law about how much you can eat? Where does it stop? All the non-smokers will not care either way, but one day they will be taking something from you too.
Not Necessary
A complete smoking ban in all restaurants in Virginia is too much goverment. Let businesses decide smoking policies.
Who cares that citizens are
Who cares that citizens are free to dine at any restaurant they like - we must have politicians enforcing behavioral modification! Less freedom, more regulation - it's the wave of the future!