A public nuisance . . . or an individual right?

August 08, 2008 11:17 am

— Four members of the Laurel City Council gathered with several members of the public during a public forum to discuss the proposed public smoking ban. If anything was made clear during the meeting it’s there are two sides of the issue . . . and one side is just as passionate as the other.
The Rev. Jimmy Bunch spoke first. Displaying his mother’s old sewing machine, Bunch pointed out the nicotine stains on the device.
“I am a strong supporter to stop smoking inside,” Bunch said. “These brown spots are stains from nicotine inside her apartment. Here is proof as to what nicotine will do.”
Another audience member, whether being factious or not, said the City of Laurel should move beyond smoking and ban public cellphone use and obesity. He said the city should move past property rights and individual responsibility.
“It is high time the City of Laurel follows the example,” Matthew Moore said. “Americans have destroyed themselves with tobacco, alcohol, and junk food.”
Moore suggested a ban of obese people, saying anyone weighing more than 300 pounds should be required to visit a gym three times each week.
“Remember this is only in the best interest of the overweight individual,” he said.
Paula Watkins said public smoking ruins her meal while dining in a public restaurant. She also said second hand smoke impacts children more than anyone else.
Lillie Willis with the American Cancer Society played a recording of Laurel resident Dennis Crabtree. Crabtree, she said, is so impacted by second hand smoke that he can’t be anywhere near the scent.
“It starts my lungs shutting down,” Crabtree said on the recording. “I literally take my life in my hands every time I leave the house. This is utterly unfair.”
Mark Kneipp started his few minutes by noting the moderator in charge of the meeting was wearing a sticker in support of the smoking ban.
“I’d like to say how appalled I am so far,” he said. Kneipp questioned the city’s time spent on the issue, mentioning past discussions of a raise for the next mayor while cutting garbage pick-up service to save gasoline. He said the ban would be fine, saying he’d quit going to Applebees to eat and spend that time at home.
“The smoking ban is just part of the beginning for taking away our liberties,” he said. “Don’t tell me what I am to do.”
Paula McCloud, who said she works in a tobacco store, also said the ordinance would take away rights.
“That’s taking away a freedom of mine,” she said.
Four council members — Manuel Jones, Willie Evans, Felicia Breland, and Tony Thaxton — were at the meeting. Thaxton publicly stated that he is against the ordinance simply because, he said, the government already has too much control on the public.
Janet Staples said second hand smoke causes great harm to her health, even if she smells the smoke.
“You would cause me less harm to me if you’d slap me in the face than to smoke a cigarette around me,” she said.

Photos

The Rev. Jimmy Bunch, right, points out nicotine stains on his mother’s sewing machine. Bunch said his mother smoked for several decades.