Denver, CO: Statewide Smoking Ban Opponents Consider Lawsuit

TheDenverChannel.com ^ | April 5, 2006

[patton]

people keep telling me that. Sometimes, I am not even in handcuffs.

[Barrymore]

Smokers are a minority statewide. I recall smoking on airliners. We accommodated nonsmokers at every turn, but this is simply too far. The demographic of local taverns are largely smokers and will undoubtedly put many in a hurt.

Granting the casino exemption illustrates two points; 1} Casinos knew it would adversely affect revenue, ergo state gaming revenue and the State agreed. 2} If public health is the basis for HR-1175, than the "emperor has no clothes." By granting the exemption, they concede public health is for sale.

Smokers compromise substantially for the benefit of nonsmokers and simply ask similar consideration in venues that cater to us (not many left). Reclassifying licenses might be an option...or setting up monitors to measure air quality and establish minimum acceptable standards. Likely you're exposed to poorer quality air in daily traffic jams than taverns who installed appropriate equipment or partition their establishments.

Legislation that benefits one business to the substantial detriment of another in like trade is inherently unfair and arguably unconstitutional.

To nonsmokers we're just saying it's like opening a knitting store and banning yarn because someone hanged themselves with it. It's time to draw the line.