Poll: Should Smoking Be Banned At Beaches?
State lawmakers are looking at banning smoking at the beach and other outdoor places. Do you agree with this?
It may still be winter, but local lawmakers are already taking a closer look at the health of beach-goers.
Lawmakers are reviewing a proposal by state Rep. Richard Morrison to extend the state's smoking ban outdoors, reports The Providence Journal.
If approved, the ban would prevent smoking at beaches, parks, playgrounds and other outdoor, recreational locations. A vote on Morrison's proposal has not been scheduled at this time.
We wanted to know what you thought about this state proposal. On Newport Patch's Facebook page Thursday, we asked users if smoking should be banned on beaches.
Comments on Facebook were short, but loud and clear:
YES... No more nasty butts on the beach - Erica Wood
Absolutely - Keri Beth LeClair
YES - Kim Norton-O'Brien
YES - Renae Raposo
What do you think about this issue? Should smoking be banned at the beach? Tell us your thoughts in the poll or comment section below.
Jack
6:14 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Add on public streets too.....just look at the gutters along Thames Street and you feel like you fell into an ashtray.......the majority of smokers just toss their butts when they are finished for someone else to pick up.....ban public smoking
James Wermuth
9:10 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Couldn't agree more - butts are highly toxic, part of the pollution problem as well as an eyesore.
Robert E
10:56 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
These politicians are just a bunch of Hippocrates they need to put their money where their mouths are. I get sick and tired of the politicians telling us how bad cigarettes are for us and how they need to be banned in certain places. That they need to raise taxes to get people to quit smoking it’s all BS. If they were serious about the hazards of smoking they would just outlaw cigarettes and smoking in the state but they don’t want to lose the revenue they get from cigarette taxes. The State Legislature is addicted to cigarette taxes and can’t kick the habit.
KO
4:09 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Sure...ban smoking on the beach....while youre at it ban ham sandwiches on the beach...all those pesky ziploc bags...and ban peanut butter on the beach....too many peanut allergies...and whats with leash laws? Ban dogs altogether...they may bite someone even when on a leash and all those troublesome owners who wont pick up after them...we cant have that...ban plastic water bottles and soda cans...we cant have such litter strewn about...ban children on the beach...or at least post some guidelines as to how children should behave there and STRICT penalties if their parents cannot control them....hell lets just ban people altogether from the beach...its obvious they cannot be trusted to control and police themselves and we must save these precious resources so that further generations may have the honor of being banned from using them.
Gordon
9:08 am on Sunday, February 19, 2012
Agree I am not a smoker and don't like the butts but I like less politicians thinking they can legislate good behavior.
5th Warder
6:48 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
I can live with the smoking outside. It's the cigarette butts. I just don't understand why smokers think that tossing butts on the ground after taking their last drag causes that butt to magically disappear into space. Maybe it's the nicotine high. Anyway, if it were my call, I'd let them smoke, but enforce a strict no littering law, with a really hefty fine. As in any state park or national forest, carry in, carry out; leave NOTHING.
Chuck
9:37 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Right on KO
pferd
9:51 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
I HAVE A BETTER IDEA. WHY DON'T WE BAN POLITICIANS FROM BEACHES AND FOR THAT MATTER FROM LAND. POLITICIANS ARE BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH AND THEY ROB YOU BLIND.
AS FAR AS SMOKING IS CONCERNED. NO = IT SHOULD NOT BE BANNED. I AM A NON SMOKERS, BUT I AM GETTING TIRED OF ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
WE NEED A REAL TEAPARTY. BUT INSTEAD OF THROWING TEA IN THE WATER WE SHOULD MAKE ALL POLITICIANS TAKE A LONG WALK OF A SHORT PIER.
KC1019
1:10 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
It would be nice to sit at the beach and not have my child have to play in a thick cloud of cigarette smoke from the person next to us, or WORST cigar smoke! The truth is that second hand smoke does affect others... It is rude... they should have to go to the parking lot to smoke...
Cathy Geary
3:31 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
KC....Maybe you should hold your breath when you walk outside. After all,you do know that your car polutes the air as well right? And let's not forget all the other stuff that goes into the air.If someone is smoking next to you then grab your blanket and move to another area!
Abiron
3:56 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
If it's legal to buy them it needs to be legal to smoke them. I am a smoker and if I am in a public area I ALWAYS make sure I step away from others, I find a place where nobody is going to be bothered and I always take my butts with me when I go! I have seen plenty of non smokers leave nasty stuff on the ground..condoms, needles, garbage.....You can single out one group of people and blame all of them for the actions of some....