Portland, Tennessee Blog

That's true, but I don't think our state lawmakers are much better. Everytime we turn around, someone is reporting yet another scandal, arrest, or conviction.

...WOW...but these laws you are talking about are Tennessee Laws not laws passed by Congress.

I thought we lived in America! What will they say next? We can't drive to WalMart in Franklin to buy our groceries, because they are tax free? Or that we can't go to a resturaunt in Ky and eat because we don't live there? We can travel on vacation and purchase anything we want while we are out of state, but now they are saying it is illegal to drive to Ky to buy our cigarettes. This country might as well be communist. What happen to democracy and America being a free country? Want to know something interesting?

This is statistics on a company that has a little over 500 employees.

*29 have been accused of spousal abuse
* 7 have been arrested for fraud
* 19 have been accused of writing bad checks
*117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
*3 have done time for assault
*71 cannont get a credit card due to bad credit
*14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
*8 have been arrested for shoplifting
*21 are currently defendents in lawsuits
*84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year

Can you guess which organization this is?

It's the 535 members of the United States Congress.
The same group that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.

What does this say about America and the people who make these ridiculous laws that takes away our rights as Americans?

I just read those guidelines again for the Smoke Free law.....seems to me the pool hall would not be exempt. They can be reported and if they are in violation -- they will get a fine. (possibly...who knows if it will be enforced or not ???? )

Last night my i went to the pool hall on main and it didnt accure to me until just now that there were several people there smoking away. I guess I am so used to walking into places like that and smelling the smoke (it's a pool hall) that I guess I wasn't thinking about the new law in TN. Does the new law not state that it's pretty much any public place other than those who serve only those 21 and older people? I was never asked for my ID so I assume that the Billiards Parlor on Main St serves people under 21???? What's up with that? Are they exempt?
I love the new law!!! It's one thing to harm yourself with smoking but it something else when you are harming others. People who smoke are putting non-smokers at risk for health proplems. It's like people who drink...that is fine if you want to do it but it's a hazard to others when you decide to get behind the wheel of a car. That's when you are affecting others not only yourself. But you don't hear many people upset and complaining that they can't drink and drive or that the law is unfair in that respect. In my opinion it's the same concept.

Last night my i went to the pool hall on main and it didnt accure to me until just now that there were several people there smoking away. I guess I am so used to walking into places like that and smelling the smoke (it's a pool hall) that I guess I wasn't thinking about the new law in TN. Does the new law not state that it's pretty much any public place other than those who serve only those 21 and older people? I was never asked for my ID so I assume that the Billiards Parlor on Main St serves people under 21???? What's up with that? Are they exempt?
I love the new law!!! It's one thing to harm yourself with smoking but it something else when you are harming others. People who smoke are putting non-smokers at risk for health proplems. It's like people who drink...that is fine if you want to do it but it's a hazard to others when you decide to get behind the wheel of a car. That's when you are affecting others not only yourself. But you don't hear many people upset and complaining that they can't drink and drive or that the law is unfair in that respect. In my opinion it's the same concept.

Does this ban include smokeless tobacco? I just love stepping on someone's chew spit and tracking it every where I go!!

That's all cool, I checked out the link and read everything, I have also check out other sites that have said that it has never been proven, but it really doesn't matter to me, I do thank you for the link, it has opened my eyes.

Also from the American Lung Association web site, you can read how harmful second hand smoke has proven to be.....just a short excerpt from the site:

The current Surgeon General’s Report concluded that scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second hand smoke. Short exposures to second hand smoke can cause blood platelets to become stickier, damage the lining of blood vessels, decrease coronary flow velocity reserves, and reduce heart rate variability, potentially increasing the risk of heart attack.

DC,
Second hand smoke has been proven harmful. Regardless, of my opinion of the law, second hand smoke is harmful. Follow the link to read about it from the American Heart Association:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_2X_Secondhand_Smoke-Clean_Indoor_Air.asp?sitearea=PED

I only tried the Den once as well.thankfully my child was not with me at the time, but I was gagging and my friend and I decided to leave not only because of the smoke but because everything we ordered,they were out of go..go figure :-P Anyway, I'm glad to hear that they have taken to the smokefree policy and I just may stop in for a bite to eat with the little one in tow sometime..It would be nice to have a good ole country homecooked meal without an ashtray smelling waitress :)

I'm not a smoker, and I don't agree with the law, just like I don't agree with the seatbelt and helmet law. I think we all should wear seatbelts and motorcycle riders should wear helmets, but should we all not have that choice? Should the owners not have the choice too? Next thing you know, the government will be telling you that you can't eat at McDonald's more then once a week because your to fat, or tax fast food more because it's making people fat. Go figure, just my two cents worth.

Jessica, you said something about your lungs, hello, just walk down the street and you can get a big lung full of whatever you want. Second hand smoke has not been proven. However, I do agree with you on children being around smoke, but then again, you have to keep a dust free home, and what about the stores you go in that are dusty, it's a never ending battle with a child, my heart goes out to you. As far as the smell on their cloths, heck yes I agree, you can smell a smoker a mile away, if they only knew..LOL. Panther Den, come on, you have to be kidding there right, I mean, I agree with you, but who in the world would go there if you're a non-smoker. I went there once about two years ago, took three steps in, was hit by a big cloud of smoke, the place smelled like a old bar out in the middle of nowhere, so I turned around and left and never went back, so you're right about that place, I just don't understand why anyone that doesn't smoke would go there. The place was just nasty, however, I will give them a try tomorrow since they are smoke free, I've always heard their food is good, so what the heck, I'll give it a try.

I agree that it should be up to the business owner. Private business owners and consumers are perfectly capable of making their own decisions and don't need government interference in places where a person's presence is a choice and not a requirement.

If you are a smoker and can't stand to go without an after dinner smoke - you can choose to go to KY - which many are already doing anyway, so I don't understand the fuss. But I contend that pre-ban, non-smokers could have made the same type of choice by not patronizing facilities that allow smoking.

Children's allergies, health risks and pungant smells are valid arguments, do doubt, but all of those things can exist as well for reasons other than smoking.

wheres this going before long we all will have number stamped on our head without it you want be allowed to do anything we will be controlled so much for freedom united states is not free country and to say i was born here

Just a little FYI this is how things get started around here. I went and ate at the Panther Den Today. THEY ARE SMOKE FREE. I spoke to the owner and he said he has not really had any complaints about being smoke free. I Think that everything will be fine with this new law.

I personally am thrilled!! I have a small child who has terrible allergies and is allergic to smoke...TNT,in a tiny place such as the Panther Den,exactly how is ANY table considered "non smoking"? Just because I am not smoking at that table doesn't mean the people who are a whopping 3 tables behind me are not affecting me or my family..Everyone is in one itty bitty confined space..the smoke is traveling everywhere..my food,my lungs,my clothing,and most importantly,my child..it is just nasty. The workers smell of smoke and I would rather smell a little too much musk than eat food that has been made,served and is sitting in a room full of smoke. I believe the Panther Den would attract more families if they would abide by the new law instead of being such stubborn "independent" business owners...that is nonsense. You can count me and my money out of the Den,for sure.

I too am a smoker. I agree with the writer that stated that they think it should be up to the owner of the establishment. The Panther Dens business will be hurting. But, what are they going to do? I honestly think that the deal with only being able to buy a certain amount of cartons of cigs in Kentucky is crazy!!!! When is this going to stop? There worse things in life than smoking. I am respectful of non-smokers. I do not smoke if I happen to be in a group of them. Or in their house or car. But, to limit our ability to buy cigs by the carton?!?

I don't have a problem with this ban, but I do have a problem with going out to a restaurant and having the people sitting next to, behind me, or the waitress/waiter stinking of rancid perfume or cologne where you are forced to ask for another seat or leave entirely because you cannot breath. A little goes a long way but I honestly think people pour it on to the point that someone near them can tast it!! I've had my dinner napkin reaking because someone that wrapped the silver coated their hands with perfume before going to work. People have allergies and it's not fun going in public places and gagging!! I could deal with the smoking issues by going to nonsmoking section, you can't get away from commercially branded stench!

I'm a smoker and I don't have a problem with the smoking ban as long as it doesn't come into my house. Smoking is not a crime and it's not illegal. I think the government can just push this ban so far before they start intruding on people's rights.

It's not the government's business whether or not there are people smoking in a privately owned business. It should be up to the business owner.

I just looked at those guidelines about the smoking ban. It looks like the only penalty is paying a fine. First offense is a warning, then the next is $100, then $500.

Maybe they will just see how long they go before they get reported or have to pay a fine.

It'll be interesting to watch and see how the no smoking ban will go in a lot of places......I noticed that convience stores were on the list, too !

In the link above, it states the guidelines & tells how to report a business if they aren't following them.

I heard a rumor that the Panther Den isn't going to honor the smoke free policy! is that possibe? how can they do that?