quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sinergy
On the one hand you have those who think that excessive criminal violence, shootings, etc., are a part of our society.
Then you have people who blame cigarettes for it.
Seems like a non sequiter to me, but I could be wrong.
Sinergy

It is social engineering logic at its finest. If you criminalize cigarette smoking, as is the current trend, soon only criminals will smoke cigarettes. For many, that goal is desirable. The NRA uses the same position as a defense with its; "If you criminalize gun ownership, only criminals will have guns."

It appears this event marks the resulting marriage of the two positions and makes the point for the NRA. In the UK gun ownership is prohibitory to the point of being, as philosophy points out, only granted under "stringent conditions".  Smoking in this pub was also "criminal". Providing proof, beyond a reasonable doubt, as smoking becomes more of a crime, smokers are more likely, as criminals anyway, to carry guns. Those in the US should beware of how when guns and smoking are both criminal acts - this is an example of what can happen.

In the US, where you are just as likely to be carrying a gun as the smoker, they may think twice before blowing you away, exhaling smoke over your body, and, as in this instance, finishing their glass of Chablis; when you tap them on the back and ask them to put out the cigarette.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SugarMyChurro

Okay, but where are you on the smoke and loud music comparison? Can I play my loud music in your face knowing that you have no option but to hear it? Wow, you better love some early Throbbing Gristle - try "Heathen Earth" at a 150 decibels...

Earplugs won't save you!

Muahahahahahahahahahahaha!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

quote:

ORIGINAL: SugarMyChurro

Well, how about just doing the STFU part only then?

NEVER! They'll have to rip my keyboard out of my dead hands!

BTW -

• I don't own a gun, and never shot one. 
  
• Because of my gender, my nipples aren't "obscene".
  
• I have no minor children which can be affected by fat food advertising propaganda.
  
• I wear a helmet when I ride a motorcycle. (I always felt the intention behind this law was to identify the body. Seatbelts in a plane serve the same purpose.)
  
• I use a seatbelt

However, I believe all legislation that doesn't provide citizens the opportunity to do exactly the opposite of what I do - are wrong. STFU when these opportunities of choice are threatened or taken away is irresponsible. No "good intent" has ever generated the intended result.

Stay tuned though - I'm sure we'll get to some liberty or freedom that you enjoy and perhaps then you'll appreciate me and others not complying with "STFU".

quote:

ORIGINAL: SugarMyChurro

I just don't see this as the fearsome slippery slope that you seem to see it as. These kinds of laws would seem to apply to public spaces and not to people's private dwellings.

Smoking is like loud music - you can't keep it just to yourself. Consequently, there is no absolute right to do it anywhere but where you alone are the boss of that place.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pulpsmack

Obviously this is nonsense.

1. there is a smoking ban that prohibits an individual from lighting up, and

2. there is active and prohibitive gun control in England so criminals can't access guns.

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

    As I'm sometimes forced to explain (usually while standing outdoors), the cigarette is there to keep my strangling hand busy.

quote:

ORIGINAL: spiral23

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pulpsmack

Obviously this is nonsense.

1. there is a smoking ban that prohibits an individual from lighting up, and

2. there is active and prohibitive gun control in England so criminals can't access guns.

2..someone had better tell the criminals...because our gun problem is exploding in this country...nothing compared to the american citys i grant you...but it has slowly become a regular feature of the news..youth shooting youth over some drug deal or imagined slight against their respect..which i imagine the shooting over the smoking was all about..some youth who was worried about losing face to a ex boxer bouncer...insanity i call it.. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pulpsmack

Obviously this is nonsense.

1. there is a smoking ban that prohibits an individual from lighting up, and

2. there is active and prohibitive gun control in England so criminals can't access guns.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Real0ne

Smokers have just as much as a right to smoke in public as non smokers do not to breathe their smoke.

That is why they have both smoking and non smoking establishments

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

Those in the US should beware of how when guns and smoking are both criminal acts - this is an example of what can happen.

quote:

It is social engineering logic at its finest. If you criminalize cigarette smoking, as is the current trend, soon only criminals will smoke cigarettes. For many, that goal is desirable. The NRA uses the same position as a defense with its; "If you criminalize gun ownership, only criminals will have guns."

It appears this event marks the resulting marriage of the two positions and makes the point for the NRA. In the UK gun ownership is prohibitory to the point of being, as philosophy points out, only granted under "stringent conditions".  Smoking in this pub was also "criminal". Providing proof, beyond a reasonable doubt, as smoking becomes more of a crime, smokers are more likely, as criminals anyway, to carry guns. Those in the US should beware of how when guns and smoking are both criminal acts - this is an example of what can happen.

In the US, where you are just as likely to be carrying a gun as the smoker, they may think twice before blowing you away, exhaling smoke over your body, and, as in this instance, finishing their glass of Chablis; when you tap them on the back and ask them to put out the cigarette.