Answers: Nicotine Ban

What do you think of a proposal to ban nicotine products and electronic vaporizers from parks and trails in Marion? Is it a good or bad idea? Should other cities follow Marion's lead?

FROM OUR INBOX

I can see both sides. I've been a smoker and quit about 16 years ago. I've been sensitive to smoke in my environment since. If I can practice tolerance, why can't you?

Ideally a park or trail should be a pristine atmosphere insofar as possible. But, to restrict anyone from using trails and parks that they have paid taxes to enact via this prohibition is wrong.

Simply put: 'To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” - Thomas Jefferson

We all need to learn and practice tolerance for others. Even the 'I'm offended” crowd need to at times.

Michael J.

Cedar Rapids

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Since we all have to breathe, there should be a ban from all parks including vehicles in the parking areas of the parks, because the pollutants that are coming from a burning substance are not only harmful to the people breathing it first or second hand, but if they have offspring it can carry down damaged DNA for generations.

We as a society have to realize cancer genes are handed down so when you breath those pollutants you are injuring more than just yourself.

Plus the smoke can carry a virus from the person who just sucked it down into their lungs and blew it out, if you can smell that you are likely to catch their virus that they may be caring, whether it's just a cold virus or something worse, the smoke helps carry it into your lungs or your kids, grandparents or whoever might be out trying to enjoy the nice day.

We all have to breathe. I shouldn't have to leave a park with my kids so I don't have to be subjected to these things, or who ever I may be responsible to care for. A smoking area is not possible because the wind circulates it all around the park and where will the poor kids be when the parents are off having their cancer stick (pacifier)?

Bernard W.

Cedar Rapids, former Marion resident

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FROM FACEBOOK

' Denny F.: I don't like it because I feel that factories and businesses send more noxious chemicals into the air than smokers do. My wife and I don't smoke, but if we did, we would still be putting the same amount of smoke into the air if we smoked at home or if we smoked in a park.

' Gary W: I think they should be banned everywhere in Iowa. We need safer recreational drugs. Tobacco kills.

' Steve E.: Give me a break. It's water vapor!

' Valerie B.: I'm a non-smoker. It's not right to ban, but people who smoke please don't smoke around the kids. I hate it when I see someone smoking while swinging a child.

' Beth W.: Do not ban smoking outdoor areas. I understand the ban for indoor facilities, but parks and golf courses should allow smoking. Smoking is not illegal.

' Dan Y.: Maybe we should stop breathing also! It is bad for you with all the crap floating in it!

' Sher S.: I would like it banned on trails, the picnic pavilions and at playgrounds. I don't want to be trying to bike or walk and have to suck in someone's smoke ahead of me especially if I am gasping for air and I don't think children should have to be exposed to it more than they already are in their homes.

' Darcy T.: Are they also going to ban gum and patches? What if a child picks up a discarded one of those?

' Bill O.: What else are they going to say we can't do?

' Rachael W.: Would love to ban it everywhere in public! Truly disgusting and smelly habit.

' Tim N.: I'm a non-smoker, but it's a bad idea.

' Malinda F.: I don't support it! The officers need to be doing real police work! There's already enough infringement on people's rights now and it requires resources such as police officer's time, clerk's time and court time. It's a very expensive proposal! Government is already saying they are short money and raises taxes frequently. I will drop the Blue Zone project from my to-do list if they get this ban.

' Greg S: I think this is another prime example of people trying to push their personal agendas on others. I can somewhat understand (not agree with) cigarettes, but all nicotine products! Ridiculous! So much for land of the free!

' Patricia N.: I am a non-smoker, but I think banning it in the park is wrong, maybe we should go farther and ban screaming kids - that hurts my ears. What's next?

' Jane G.: I use to smoke so I remember how incredibly hard it is to quit. I don't think they should ban it all together. Just like smokers have a section, give these people a section too. I guess. Banning this will discourage those who are really trying to quit.

' Bryce B.: Love it. Wish it would have been brought up sooner.

' Georgia S.: I'm a non-smoker, but my husband smokes. I don't care if they give off smoke or vapors. If it's non-smoking you shouldn't be blowing any kind of smoke.

' Karolynn R.: I would appreciate any smoke free park. Nothing ruins the fresh air like a smoke or bonfire!

' Doralee H.: I think it's a great idea. Smokers have no idea how hard their putrid smoke is on certain people like those with asthma, Emphysema, allergies and heart problems.

' Chuck W.: Overreaching!

' Lynn W.: Would be a great idea! I can't stand smoking anywhere!

' Amie K.: Amen! Why it's not banned already should be the question.

' Kim A.: From a non-smoker's perspective, I think this ban is a ridiculous abuse of power. If this law is passed, who knows what they're gonna ban next. Candy? Trampolines? Bikes? Soda? There are plenty of 'dangerous” things out there - which is why kids have parents. We don't need Big Brother peering over our shoulders., presuming they know what's best for everyone

' Matthew S.: I think lawmakers who propose this should take more time to learn about the product. This is an innovative product that is turning away millions from toxic smoke, and carcinogens, and is going to save lives. Having government's stamp of indecency on this sends the very wrong signal.

' Roxanne P.: The only good thing would be not having butts all over the ground, but how much more of our rights and freedom are going to be controlled? People better open their eyes and use their head as to what kind of future our younger generation is going to have, if any.

' Nicholas A.P.: This is America, I have the freedom to smoke wherever I want. You can politely ask me to move, and I can politely move for you. That is called respect for each other. No one has the right to dictate how and when someone lives their life. Respect each other and talk instead of point fingers and get upset. Someone sitting on a bench by themselves having a cig is not hurting anyone. Now if he blows the smoke iintentionally in someone'sface that is different. People need to stop trying to control others and let people be. This is a stupid ordinance.

' Charles M.: What is with the hostility toward vaping? What needs to be done is enforcement on littering by smokers tossing their butts.

' Kayla J.: I will support e cigarettes as long as a statewide ban 100 percent no exceptions is placed on all cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. If that happens, I will fight tooth and nail for people to have the right of using e cigarettes.

' Christina M.: What about banning all the food we eat with all the chemicals in it.