Bar Owner Blames Smoking Ban For Rape

The Denver Channel ^ | March 15, 2004 | The Associated Press.

[qam1]

PUEBLO, Colo. -- A Pueblo bar owner says the smoking ban that forced his female employee outside is directly responsible for her rape.

When the woman went outside the Irish Brew Pub for a cigarette break last month, a 33-year-old man attacked her, dragged her into an alley and raped her.

Owner Ted Calantino says people like his employee wouldn't be exposing themselves to dangerous situations if it weren't for the recent smoking ban.

City Councilman Bill Sova says it's inappropriate to blame the ban. He says it should be Calantino's responsibility to ensure his employees and patrons are safe.

That could mean hiring more security and putting up more outdoor lighting.

The two men have been butting heads over the smoking ban since it became an issue.

[qam1]

A sad PING

Way to go Pueblo voters!!!!

[microgood]

He says it should be Calantino's responsibility to ensure his employees and patrons are safe.

Gee, I thought it was the councilman's job to do that.

[Madame Dufarge]

Gee, I thought it was the councilman's job to do that.

I would have thought so, too. After all, he was apparently hell-bent on making everyone "safe" from cigarette smoke.

Now maybe he can devote more of his time to the minor issues, like rape.

[moondoggie]

And, now for the rest of the story.

Now the City Council is fighting back saying the bar owner is responsible for putting spotlights in the alley and providing a safe place for smokers to smoke. Never mind that most of the bar owners are going broke now for lack of business since the smoking ban was implimented:-(

Councilman Bill Sova who is VERY anti-smoking suggested that if the bar owner is "unhappy" then maybe the council should look into starting to close the bars!

What is wrong with this picture???

[GeronL]

OK. Smoking bans are stupid. But the rape is the fault of the rapist.

[Dan from Michigan]

He says it should be Calantino's responsibility to ensure his employees and patrons are safe

It was outside the bar, jackass.

[Drango]

Sob...another victim of those mean ol' smoking bans. Victims of the world unite! If we didn't have smoking bans, we wouldn't have rapes. Sob.

[qam1]

Sob...another victim of those mean ol' smoking bans. Victims of the world unite! If we didn't have smoking bans, we wouldn't have rapes. Sob.

Well this rape wouldn't have happened if there wasn't a smoking ban, But hey at least this employee was protected from secondhand smoke when she was outside smoking cigarette.

[Will_Zurmacht]

Agreed...
The whole smoking ban thing really gets me.
I don't smoke anymore, but If I recall correctly, we smoked in bars. We drank too. So, If I were against drinking and somking and folks who drink and smoke....I'd avoid bars.
But I am a simple man.

Also, when government types start worrying about somking in bars, I can rest easy, because surely they have solved every other problem that faces my community, and are now mopping up nusciances. Because they surely wouldn't be wasting time on this when other, more serious issues are troubling the citizenry.

As a final aside, have you ever noticed how the most do-good touchy feely towns/areas have the worst infrastructure for normal people?
Check any trendy town, college district, or alternative burg. They have co-op groceries, Body piercing studios, Homeless hang outs, vegan restaurants, hate free zones......and I'll be danged if I can find a decent steak or beer in the whole place.....

[lowbridge]

Councilman Bill Sova who is VERY anti-smoking suggested that if the bar owner is "unhappy" then maybe the council should look into starting to close the bars!

What is wrong with this picture???

bump

[Gabz]

WTF is wrong with this a$$hole city councilman???????

I can not imagine how the woman involved feels about the utter contempt this slimeball shows for a constituent, but I do have to say I felt a major gut punch when I read his reaction.

I need to calm down a little bit before I continue.

[Gabz]

Sob...another victim of those mean ol' smoking bans. Victims of the world unite! If we didn't have smoking bans, we wouldn't have rapes. Sob.

What a foul attitude to live with. Blame the victim for the crime - that is just so sick.

[Gabz]

Well this rape wouldn't have happened if there wasn't a smoking ban,...

You're right........and I know of numerous assauls that have occurred on people that have had to leave an establishment in Delaware.....they may not make the newspaper - but they sure as he!! have occurred.

[Will_Zurmacht]

Yep, it's your own fault if you get raped on the city streets....you were askin for it..SMOKER!

The audacity of this clown. And where's the NOW gang when you need 'em?...wait, lemme guess, this fool is a democrat.
Oh well, he won't protect her on the streets, but at least she can get an abortion, as long as there is no smoking in the O.R.

I'm getting tacky, better shut up

[Gabz]

They have co-op groceries, Body piercing studios, Homeless hang outs, vegan restaurants, hate free zones......and I'll be danged if I can find a decent steak or beer in the whole place.....

You just described the entire state of Delaware!!!!!!!! And people wonder why I left there :)

[Gabz]

You're not getting tacky - you're just stating the facts.

I was in Delaware last week - Tuesday night I was in an establishment that has beaten 2 citations for smoking ban violations. Wednesday night I enjoyed a very pleasant dinner and evening alone at my SIL's house (where I was staying) because I was not going somewhere where I would have to go outside if I chose to have a cigarette.....at least at my SIL's house her backyard is fenced in and therefore what I would consider safe.

My SIL, like you, is a former smoker - but not a fanatic about it. She hates the smoking ban in Delaware as much as I do. She sees it for what it is - an infringement on private property rights. Even though she has said it is OK - I will not light a cigarette inside of her home and no other of her smoking friends will do it either.

It's a simple thing called mutual respect.

[GeronL]

They have co-op groceries, Body piercing studios, Homeless hang outs, vegan restaurants, hate free zones......

I'd much rather have free enterprise.

[Ciexyz]

I agree with the bar owner on this one. It seems stupid to force an employee to step outside into a back alley where she/he risks being dragged away and raped.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Ugh... the woman works at a bar.