Jump to full article: Joplin (MO) Globe, 2010-08-27
Author: Dave Woods New media and marketing manager
Intro: The effort to ban smoking in bars and restaurants -- any indoor space, for that matter -- is heating up in Southwest Missouri.
The Webb City council on Monday night voted to take a closer look at the issue and have a proposed ordinance drafted, which would ban smoking in public places. The local group pushing the issue, The Clean Air Project, is looking for support for the smoke-free idea and has approached other city governments, as well.
Joplin officials will hold a public hearing this fall to take the public's temperature and the Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce has taken a poll of residents to see where they stand on the subject.
I don't really have a dog in this fight. I smoked cigarettes during my Navy years and was in the last boot camp company in Orlando, Fla., where smoking was allowed. . . .
Earlier this week I decided to head out and see what some folks in Joplin think about going smoke-free in Joplin's watering holes. I stopped in at Rumors Lounge,1825 W. Seventh St. in Joplin, and sat down next to a guy with whom I sometimes swap stories and drink beer. . . .
Where the dangers of second-hand smoke are concern, Dave is unconvinced.
"I'm don't know about second hand smoke," he said "They say it's bad, but I don't know. Being a smoker right now, I wouldn't go into a bar where I couldn't smoke. I'd grab a 12-pack and a carton of cigarettes and just go home where I can still smoke -- at least for now."
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