Jump to full article: Amarillo Globe-Times, 2008-05-03
Author: Jon Mark Beilue Column
Intro: On Friday, Jon Mark Beilue's column focused on the views of those who back the smoking ban ordinance. Today, he focuses on those who oppose it. The ordinance prohibits smoking in public places and places of employment within the city. The vote, the second in three years, is scheduled for May 10. It was defeated in May 2005 by 556 votes - 15,274 against, 14,718 in favor.
Devil's Advocate introduced himself to another group, pulled up a chair and sat down. He thought he'd take his little fan and blow the smoke their way, but thought better of it. Besides, the air was fresh and clean. There were some non-smokers and reformed smokers in the crowd.
JMB: Now, come on, you've got to admit the dangers of second-hand smoke are real. Don't you agree?
Ken Cochran: "Smoking ban proponents have put a lot of faith in the 2006 Surgeon General's report on second-hand smoke. The 'report' is just that - same old junk science with slanted data along with the same death toll numbers pulled from thin air and nothing scientific to back up anything. I'm not saying secondhand smoke is completely harmless, but it's not the death gas it's made out to be." . . .
't this be following a healthy trend?
Cochran: "They mention other states, but this is Amarillo, Texas where we still value personal freedom. We're different from other people."
Camarata: "Other parts of the country offer same-sex marriage, too.
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