Oregon Moves To Ban Smoking On Beaches

[HuckleB]

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Oregon-moves-to-ban-smoking-on-beaches-5644609.php

"Oregon is taking steps to ban smoking on all 362 miles of beaches along the Pacific coast.

The move this week by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department follows an earlier ban on smoking at most other state park properties.

It's partly a response to concerns that the earlier smoking ban, enacted in February, will push more smokers onto the coastline, said Chris Havel, an agency spokesman. The ban would also reduce litter on beaches and ensure consistent rules throughout the state parks system, he said.

...

Cigarette butts are the top trash item collected on Oregon beaches by SOLVE, a nonprofit organization that stages two annual coastal cleanups, said Maureen Fisher, executive director.

..."


Well...

[frazzled]

1. How about just banning littering?

I mean, really, if refuse is the problem (and I don't deny it is), they should also be banning picnic items and food altogether: the plastic straws, plastic bags, and styrofoam cups and other refuse are highly dangerous to ocean life.

This demonization of smoking is getting somewhat dangerous. I can't get this recent story out of my head; and I bet we'll see more of it. Hate crimes against smokers: it's ridiculous and sad.

A North Side business owner slapped a 79-year-old Cook County judge in the face, spit on her and called her “Rosa Parks” after becoming angry that she was smoking near him outside the Daley Center, authorities said.

Monday's attack outside the courthouse came as a shock to friends of Judge Arnette Hubbard, a silver-haired African-American jurist who was the first female president of the National Bar Association and Cook County Bar Association, both black lawyers’ groups.

“She’s an icon in our community,” said Delores Robinson, past president of the Cook County Bar Association, who noted that Hubbard, a former commissioner on the Cook County Board of Elections, had been an international election observer in Haiti and South Africa and had long been a voice on civil rights and women’s issues.

Cook County prosecutors said Tuesday that Hubbard was outside the Daley Center smoking a cigarette when she walked past David C. Nicosia, 55, who became angry that she was smoking near him.

The two argued and Nicosia, who is white, stepped near her face and said, “Rosa Parks, move,” and spit in her face, prosecutors said. As he walked away, the Law Division judge followed him and called out for assistance.

Nicosia then turned and allegedly slapped the judge on the left side of her face with an open hand, prosecutors said. He was then arrested by sheriff’s deputies and charged with four counts of aggravated battery and a hate crime.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-man-charged-for-slapping-spitting-on-judge-outside-daley-center-20140715,0,5771071.story

[Aristus]

3. If people can't smoke on the beaches, they're less likely to leave their cigarette butts there.

Since the careless tossing of cigarette butts anywhere and everywhere by smokers is a symptoms of laziness and thoughtlessness, it seems highly unlikely that smokers will bag their butts and transport them to the beaches specifically to get rid of them. That means fewer cigarette butts fouling our shores.

As for 'demonizing' smoking and smokers, I'm hard put to think of another way of describing a voluntary action that pollutes the air and the environment. If smokers are upset at being 'demonized', they can always quit smoking...

[frazzled]

6. Wow, you sure didn't read that article

I'm not a smoker (an ex-smoker, though, and one who always properly disposed of their butts), but your vitriole leads me to believe my fears about demonization are really true. It's that's how the game is going to be played, I'm all for banning all beer and all disposable goods on beaches. I fucking hate the inconsideration of people who leave bottle caps, straws, and plastic baggies around: they are truly ruining the environment and are pigs, to boot. No one needs to drink beer or even soda--both are really bad for you; they can always just quit. They deserve to be publicly shamed, too.

[Aristus]

8. Yes. I didn't read the article. I read your response regarding the 'demonization' of smoking.

You're right. People who litter needs to do a better job of cleaning up after themselves. I focused on smokers since the issue at hand was about smokers and smoking.

You fell into the trap of insisting, like a lot of smokers and ex-smokers, of insisting "Well, why don't we just ban everything then?"

Drinking soda and beer doesn't pollute the air that other people breathe, the way smoking does. Not to mention the fact that, unlike the moderate consumption of beer and soda, there is no safe, moderate level of cigarette consumption.

You are attempting to demonize non-smokers for the crime of not enjoying breathing cigarette fumes and a landscape littered with cigarette butts. Non-smokers aren't the problem; smoker are.

[PDJane]

2. If smokers would pick up after themselves, I would be less inclined to ban smoking........

let alone on beaches. Butts are a hazard to all kinds of things that inhabit this world. If you are going to smoke, putting your butts and matchsticks someplace logical is a good idea.

My least favorite places to find butts:

On the patio
In the sink or tub
In the bottom of a cup
In the bottom of a cup in half an inch of sugar
On the kitchen counter, especially if it's sitting in a burned spot
On a beach
In my garden
In a flower pot (I've had a ficus benjamina go up in smoke; compost is flammable

Smokers are amazing slobs.......

[Tikki]

4. Excellent news...Oregon beach camping is grand.

Now cleaner and healthier for all....


Tikki

[dilby]

5. As an Oregon smoker, all I have to say is,

About damn time. I love my beaches and hate to watch people throw butts on it. Seriously if you need a smoke that bad just walk on up to the parking lot and have a smoke, pretty easy.

[Arugula Latte]

7. Good idea. Sometimes my state does good stuff.