Smoking or Non-Smoking?Nov 05 2006 10:03AMReported by Lindsey Seavert One of the key issues this election is whether to have a smoke-free Ohio or a state with less smoking. Voters must decide whether they want to allow smoking inside places, like bars and restaurants, or whether they want to snuff out cigarettes inside all public places. Joe Theibert's got a cold beer, a good football game on T.V., but he says one thing is missing. His cigarettes. He says he's tired of going outside everytime he wants to take a smoke break. The Short North Tavern is smoke free under the Columbus smoking ban. The owners say business has suffered since the ban went into effect. Some customers believe it's the owner's right to decide whether or not to allow smoking. Voting yes on issue four would give smokers more rights in public places. While voting yes on issue five would take those rights away, and prohibit smoking in most public places. Linda Weisneraur is a non-smoker, and she would rather customers put their cigaretts out inside. She says her vote is close to her heart, and her health. "My dad died of lung cancer," Weisneraur said. "That secondhand smoke is not good for the kids." Here's the tricky part of issues four and five. If they both pass, four overrules five because four is a constitutional amendment. If that happens, it means the smoking bans in 21 Ohio communities, including Columbus, would be snuffed out. |
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