Mr. Langford: You say that businesses should have the right do decide whether or not they should be smoke-free or not. Did it ever occur to you that I should have the right to patronize these businesses without having to put my life and my health at risk??? I suppose you would have me try to find some sort of entertainment venue that doesn't allow smoking such as movies.

Just how am I supposed to meet my future soul mate at a movie theater? I guess I could go up to single women coming out of the movie and ask them what they thought of the picture. Sure, that would work great.

What I'm getting at is that I shouldn't have my chances to socialize, relax, or recreate severely restricted just because I don't want to expose myself carcinogens and the dirt and smell that go with them. We regulate establishments that serve food in the name of public health. Why shouldn't cigarette smoke be restricted also???

When I went to college I often had to visit the Veteran’s Administration offices at the Louisville federal building and suffer through thick, choking tobacco smoke because nobody wanted to trample upon smokers’ rights. I think it’s time for smokers to stop trampling upon the rights of the majority of citizens who choose not to rush themselves to an early grave.

I'll add one other thought to this debate. When only about 20% of all adults smoke, why should that one out of five trump the four out of five majority that doesn't want to be around cigarette smoke? I've read newspaper reports about smoking bans elsewhere and I think that Louisville business people will be pleasantly surprised with the positive effects on business receipts soon after it takes effect.

Business people should have the RIGHT to run their business anyway they want to.As long as it is legal.It is their place not yours.If you want to ban smoking,or anything else buy it.By the way i don't smoke.It is a bad and expensive habit

Slipshod wiring was undoubtedly legal at one point until buildings started burning down. Laws are changed when unnecessary risks become evident. The hazards of second-hand smoke have become abundantly clear in the last couple of decades and society is increasingly deciding that it is an unwarranted risk to expose workers and the public to. Just because something is legal today does not mean it will be forever legal. Marijuana was completely legal at one time.

Toast I don't get it, you have a right to patronize businesses without having your health threatened? Did you ever or do you frequent the ones that went smoke free before the Nazi police put the ban in last year?
You say 20% smoke and have the clout to impose their habits on you? If your side is so numerous why not let business owners make their own decisions and see which clientel supports the business more and watch which way he goes.
You sound like a group out here near me (church/baptist) that fought and won to keep a c-store business owner from selling beer two miles from the church when there are numerous other outlets closer that offer it. They were suppose to support this store after they took money out of his pocket but that seemed to wane fast.
This is a matter of small business rights, you should organize and get your favorite social spots to ban smoking becase the majority of the patrons want it not because government dictates it.
Oh and one more thing lets all vote Mayor Jerry out of office and his counsel supporters just to send a messege.
Abramson has a vision for this town...HIS it's palin and simple this guy is the modern day Binghams. Make no mistake this is his baby and make no mistake we are no better off than 25 years ago.