tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post871209211889126712..comments2024-01-01T16:01:35.711+00:00Comments on Dick Puddlecote: Prohibitionists Still KillDick Puddlecotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-19781069611496610232014-02-17T14:55:03.161+00:002014-02-17T14:55:03.161+00:00A new twist on car bans…………..you might just like i...A new twist on car bans…………..you might just like it<br /><br />New smoking law may not go far enough<br /><br />Senate Bill 2659 proposes to penalize drivers who smoke with minors in a vehicle. The intent of the bill – to protect our children’s health –is good. But does this legislation really go far enough?<br /><br />While trying to outlaw smoking with kids in the car, perhaps lawmakers should take a closer look at how other driving-related laws could be improved to provide more protection for our children.<br /><br />The law should protect kids from smoke in all types of vehicles, not just passenger vehicles. The proposed law should by all means apply to and be enforceable for drivers of semis, travel homes, and boats.<br /><br />Beyond outlawing smoking with minors in vehicles, there are existing driving laws that would be enhanced to better protect children. For example, drivers ticketed for speeding or DUI with kids in the vehicle could be given stiffer penalties than they would get with no kids present. Anyone caught texting or illegally using a phone with children in the car could be given a larger fine, maybe double, since these kids are being subjected to greater risk by the driver’s phone use.<br /><br />Seatbelt laws might be amended to offer better protection for child passengers.<br /><br />Legislators who write bills such as SB 2659 have good intentions, but these lawmakers may be falling short of providing more comprehensive protection for our kids. One can only hope that officials promoting non-smoking legislation do not let anti-smoking sentiments cloud their view of the bigger picture.<br /><br />A broader scope of thinking might also call for a closer look at seat restraint laws and penalties. Lawmakers who take a more complete view of such issues are more likely to have an ear with intelligent, responsible citizens, even if those citizens happen to be smokers.<br /><br />Paul Van Camp<br /><br />http://herald-review.com/blogs/letters/new-smoking-law-may-not-go-far-enough/article_995d68e0-16b6-55fe-8561-a53d20458af2.html%3Fcomment_form%3Dtrueharleyrider1778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-76489661990345655052011-11-15T12:15:04.320+00:002011-11-15T12:15:04.320+00:00English Pensioner - this attitude does not surpris...English Pensioner - this attitude does not surprise me in the least.<br /><br />I have two major problems with his response and the speeding issue:<br /><br />1. I thought, obviously mistakenly, that were still living in the UK, however all vehicles nowadays seem to have speedometers where the outer and easiest read figures are in Kms per hour and the inner, smaller and harder to read figures are the mph. On my 02 plate car, for example, the mph figures go up 20, 40, 60, etc and the lines in between are all the same length, thereby making it impossible to see, at a glance, if I am doing 30, 50 or 70 mph.<br /><br />This is totally crazy when our speed limits are (still, currently) in mph - or is there something we are not being told?<br /><br />2. If drivers are watching their speedos to ensure they do not get caught exceeding the speed limit, how can they be aware of what is happening aroung them? Example; if I happen to be travelling at, say, 35mph in a 30 zone, but I see a child come out of the gate and disappear between parked cars, I am already slowing down and therefore doing well below 30 and am ready to stop should that child appear in the road. If I am watching my speedo in order to maintain the dictated speed then I have not seen any of this and am therefore legally and lawfully travelling at the prescribed 30 mph when the child appears in the road from between the parked cars and I have hit him doing 30mph!<br /><br />Which, does common sense, deem to be the better scenario?<br /><br />The response you received regarding the death penalty, it seems, is heavy handed as it is more often than not the more innocent of the victims that pays the ultimate price - the scenario above, the child!<br /><br />Of course, should any politician read this it will completely baffle them!Lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09090967182504400137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-39585995424536946942011-11-14T16:07:23.836+00:002011-11-14T16:07:23.836+00:00I had a "run in" with a local LibDem Cou...I had a "run in" with a local LibDem Councillor. They were proposing to put in more obstructions in the road, and I pointed out that a number of the existing ones were unlit and that "someone would kill themselves one day".<br />His response was "Not if they aren't exceeding the speed limit" My comment, at the Public Meeting, was that I was glad that the LibDems now accepted the death penalty, but I thought that it was a bit OTT for speeding. Didn't go down too well with those on the platform!<br />But it does illustrate the current thinking of all too many of those in power.English Pensionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15271488641341955140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-30570668889938619902011-11-14T13:14:10.091+00:002011-11-14T13:14:10.091+00:00Nisakiman - perhaps someone should make the surgeo...Nisakiman - perhaps someone should make the surgeon general aware of the fact that we ALL die, eventually!<br /><br />Ivan D - oh yes that Duncan Bannatyne is a total smoking anti of the worst and most vicious order, even though he supports the Roy Castle lot, despite the fact that dear old Roy actually smoked, albeit cigars!<br /><br />Neal Asher - Nice one!<br /><br />As for "...the incessant refrain from anti-smoking organisations is that smoking kills one in every two tobacco users..."<br /><br />I would rather smoke and enjoy myself (in the best I can in these nannying and dictorial days) and die of whatever when the time comes, knowing that I have lived my life MY WAY and am not some dried up old, pinch faced prune (like Gillian McKreith[?]) by obeying everything government and their quango's along with their corrupt scientists dictate. Just being free and honest to myself will do just fine - thanks! Anyway, if I gave up everything they said was bad for me, I would starve to death long before smoking could kill me!Lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09090967182504400137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-79435368865888338002011-11-13T11:26:01.949+00:002011-11-13T11:26:01.949+00:00Oops. That would be Roy Castle.Oops. That would be Roy Castle.Ivan Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18364023294207490403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-60830021914809672782011-11-13T10:52:27.216+00:002011-11-13T10:52:27.216+00:00nisakiman, yeah, I did a post about that ages ago....nisakiman, yeah, I did a post about that ages ago. We should ban 'something else' because most people seem to die of it.Neal Asherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13933911904170752700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-46086182005855457562011-11-13T00:41:28.536+00:002011-11-13T00:41:28.536+00:00I was given a leaflet referring to life insurance,...I was given a leaflet referring to life insurance, promoted by Halifax, underwritten by Scottish Widows. It stated that your premium would be higher if you smoke OR USE NRT!timbonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06985165416240833253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-22002250772415553972011-11-12T19:14:48.970+00:002011-11-12T19:14:48.970+00:00I am a bit confused by the Duncan Bannatyne thing....I am a bit confused by the Duncan Bannatyne thing. Here is a guy with an OBE for charity work who seems to support a lot of genuine good causes and is a trustee of Comic Relief. I would expect him to be decent and compassionate. I am aware that he supports the Royal Castle mob and that he is not keen on smoking but why “despise” a harm reduction alternative to cigarettes. Is that tweet for real?Ivan Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18364023294207490403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-19631491261716009562011-11-12T16:27:37.474+00:002011-11-12T16:27:37.474+00:00"...the incessant refrain from anti-smoking o...<i>"...the incessant refrain from anti-smoking organisations is that smoking kills one in every two tobacco users..."</i><br /><br />Ah yes, of course. Which puts me in mind of <a href="http://verydemotivational.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/129121838983491465.jpg" rel="nofollow">this</a> amusing, (and according to the tobacco control industry's information standards) <b>completely true</b> little rejoinder.nisakimannoreply@blogger.com