KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |KSLA News 12 Speak Out Responses

KSLA News 12 Speak Out Responses

UNDATED (KSLA) - Viewers were asked, "What are your thoughts on the state possibly banning smoking in all public places, including bars and casinos?"

Here's what some of our viewers had to say:

"I think that it is a great idea to ban smoking inside the casinos. With the current state of our economy, many people have to turn to second jobs in these fields. I've always found it to be unfair that those employees' health is jeopardized due to exposure to excessive cigarette smoke."  -Nikki

"That's the most asinine statement coming from our state government that they've dreamed up yet! I work in the gaming business and people who smoke have the right to, the government is taking away all our rights as Americans. They tell you what you can and can't do If that's not a dictatorship in the making what would you call it?"  -Phil

"We used to go to Horseshoe often, but smokers are so inconsiderate and light up because "they have a right". We have health problems which keep us from going anymore. Asthma and heart problems. If you stop the smoking we could go again. We are waiting to see what the decision is."   -Wanda and Dale in Waskom, Texas

"I think smoking should be ban inside ALL PUBLIC places, as well as within 500 ft of ALL OUTSIDE ENTRANCES to any of these places.  The current ban on not smoking within 25ft of these entrances is a joke.  You still have to walk right through the middle of the smoke.  And in most places, even the 25th ban is not enforced.  It should be STRICTLY enforced, with a LARGE fine if not obeyed.  IT IS A PROVEN FACT THAT 2nd HAND SMOKE KILLS.  Why should we (the non smokers) have to put our lives in danger because of someone else's bad habit?"   -Wanda

"I'd prefer smoke-free gaming floors in the casinos. That's why I don't come back to the ones in Shreveport. If they keep the smoking privilege then the operators need to advertise it as such and/or provide a smoke-free gaming floor. Just my 2 cents worth."   -Charlie Waco, TX

"I think the government is trying to take one of our freedoms that our service people are fighting for! When is our government going to start taxing the NON-SMOKERS, Non-Smoking businesses? This could be applied to our Social Security, Our Schools! Are we becoming a Dictatorship?"   -Vicki, Doyline, LA

"I work in a casino and I have heard very few complaints from patrons, I have had one ask do we have a pavilion. The environmentalist have destroyed some of our restaurants and caused many to close down because of this ban. I work in security and there are very few complainers, those that do complain are whiners." If smokers don't come to Shreveport, they'll go to the reservation in Oklahoma." It's going to cut down on our revenue. They will go to places where they can smoke like the video poker room." I don't like it; they are taking away our rights little by little."   -Henry, Bossier City, La

"Crap!  I'm so damn tired of government and other sick {literally} attempting to dictate what smokers can or cannot do.  Since you're so sensitive to ALL of these bad things, I suggest you don't go to where these things are occurring.  Get a life and stop trying to make others live in "your" very tiny world."   -Sherolyn

"Smoker or Not...You have to be 21 to enter a casino or a bar, so you're making an adult decision, knowing that people smoke in bars and casinos, to enter them. Unlike a restaurant, where there are children. It is understandable to not smoke in the restaurants. I personally think this will harm a lot of businesses in the state of Louisiana. You always have the choice to go into one of these establishments. Let the business owner decide if it will be smoking or non-smoking."   -Lee Ann

"Most of these smart ellicks who want to say who can and can't smoke, they are probably the ones that go out and drink free at these casinos," smokers should get together and say let's start charging them for these free drinks." They are jeopardizing our lives too, just as they say smokers are jeopardizing their lives." We didn't contest the smoking in restaurants ban, but now they want it all. Maybe they should stay at home. If they ban all this, it's going to hurt our state moneywise. They have already lost some residents; many more will leave because they can't smoke in the restaurants. Probably the ones that smoke will spend more money, and the ones that can't are just up there drinking for free."   -Joella, Bossier City, La

"I am a smoker and I have been thinking about quitting, but now I'm thinking about changing my mind. It appears that non-smokers in our city are chronic complainers. I can remember when areas of restaurants were made just for smokers, but no smokers complained, they just went to that area. I'm afraid that even if we gave non-smokers their own section at casinos and bars, they would still complain. So based on all this, I don't want to quit smoking anymore, I don't want to be put in this category. It's time now for smokers to start standing up and government needs to know now that they have pushed just a little bit too far, they are now sounding more like control freaks. Maybe those complainers have something else bothering them, maybe it's not the smoke after all."   -Jo, Bossier City, La

©2009 KSLA-TV. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.