OK, the blue law thing I can go for. Blue Laws exist many places other than SC. I live in Ma. and they also have stupid Blue Laws.
    As a smoker I take exception to the government banning smoking in all public places. It makes sense as a business owner to provide a smoke free environment for the customers and I can deal with that. I respect other peoples right to not breath my 2nd hand smoke, but where are my rights to go out and enjoy a night on the town without have to go outside in 10 degree weather to slowly kill myself. If all business owners decided to ban smoking then I would accept that. I take exception to the government telling all business owners how to run their business. I take it you are an entertainer, so you should also have the right to refuse to work in a smoking environment and not be penalized. Business owners don’t need the governments interference to make smart decisions.

Apparently they do need the government…ever heard of government bailouts?  The thing is in certain areas I don’t have a choice as an entertainer or as a consumer.  There isn’t a single smoke free bar in Hartsville.  You know the “I only smoke when I drink complex,” is prevelent.  The city of charleston still allows cigar bars to operate around this deal.  Options do make people happy.

I have heard of government bailouts and I don’t agree with them either. Why not start petitions around the area that request owners of specific businesses to become smoke free. If the owners of a business see how many people would prefer a smoke free environment maybe they would do it. I’m not against smoke free, I’m just against the government telling someone how to run their business. Government banned smoking borders on the line of discrimination.

I agree that government involvement is not always good.  However, when public health is a concern than they should be.  After all it is why we have restaurant grading for an example (which sometimes is a joke).  Which brings me to my biggest defense…second hand smoke…which is what this is all about.  Case closed.

Apparently you didn’t like the idea of the petition. There will be public smoking until the government bans cigarettes totally. I doubt that will ever happen. The amount of tax monies that are derived from cigarettes is HUGE. It would be nice if the business owners would make the decision so we could have both. The government is too involved in private enterprise as it is and we need no more. If you don’t like second hand smoke then stay out of it. Maybe I don’t like breathing clean air. KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF MY BUSINESS… Case closed

Timothy:  Hartsville’s City Council has exempted the Blue Laws on Sundays during the months of November and December 2009. This means only those businesses within the city limits can sell retail items at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays instead of waiting until 1:30 p.m.

On January 1, 2010, this exemption will no longer apply.

Thank you for being a concerned citizen.

Liz Taylor
Communications
City of Hartsville

To mrx404
I too try my best to be considerate of people wishes not to breath my smoke. If I am in a group of non smokers I excuse myself to get away if I want to smoke. I imposed my own non smoking rule 32 years ago when my children were born. My houses have been smoke free (by everyone) since then. Instead of the government getting involved and telling people how and what they can do, I would prefer the business owners to make that decision themselves. If they will not do it then get a proposition put on the next election to let the people say what they want. I’m not against non smoking establishment, I’m just against the government getting involved. If the citizens of Hartsville vote and say they want every public location smoke free then that is the wish of the majority. I realize the hazards of smoking and in no way am I trying justify it as my “right”.

Liz -

Is there any chance we could do away with those barbaric blue laws permanently?

If council can so easily exempt us from them during the annual “winter holiday” formerly known as “christmas” - why cant we eliminate them for good? What would it take to bring our town out of the dark ages?

If I want to be in a smoke free environment, then I don’t go where people smoke.  I am a big boy now and have learned how to make those decisions on my own now and don’t need government help.  Many restaurants are smoke free because the OWNERS decided on their own to do so.  That is there right.  Many restaurants are not smoke free.  Guess what?  That is their right, too.

You keep talking about restuarants.  But name the number of bars that are smoke free gentleman?  You don’t have a choice in that matter do we? But look there is not a sporting event in America that you can go to an smoke.  And people don’t seem to have a big problem with that one.  They’ve learned to deal with it.  Isn’t it nice to go to a football game without some idiot smoking two levels down and the smoke blowing back in your face…

Wow you are very observant aren’t you.  Guessing not.  Cause you would realize that not everyone that leaves a bar is going to be driving under the influence, or drunk.  However, everyone that leaves a bar will smell like smoke.  Then again maybe they could use that spray stuff that every smoker keeps with them right?  I’ll take that one point now please.

Bars are a commercial enterprise like anything else.  If the people that want a smoke free bar quit going, sooner or later the free enterprise system will work and smoke free bars will open.

Mrx, you have a choice.  Go or don’t go.  You want to take away someone else’s choice to satisfy your own.

Mrx, so, in order for you to be able to go to any restaurant you want, those who currently have the right to smoke in many establishments should have that right taken away? Regardless of how the owner and property tax payer of the restaurant feels?
Does mrx stand for mister x or (karl) marx?

Read carefully.  The right I was talking about is the business owner’s right to determine whether his property that he owns and pays taxes for to decide if it shall be smoking or nonsmoking.  No matter what reason you come up with, you are trying to take away that business owners right to allow legal activity on his property.  You do not have the right to go to his restaurant, you have the privilege.  So, tuck your liberal tail between your legs, claim I am afraid of some kind of made up conspiracy, and run.  Do you think you can get the trains to run on time?

To eliminate the blue laws entirely, there would need to be a voter referendum.

So how DO we get the blue law issue on the ballot? If there needs to be a referendum, lets get it done.

Does the City Council have to propose the referendum? Can someone from the public do it? Why are we dragging our feet on this?

I for one would like to see the yellow rope at wal-mart come down forever. Im not talking sunday beer sales, just let the stores open when they chose. Flush the antiquated laws into the sewer where they belong.

In keeping with my feelings about establishment owners being allowed to decide if their place is smoking or nonsmoking, they should also be allowed to decide when to be open.  Wal-mart may decide to keep the rope up to save on cost.  Lowes has decided to not open until 1:30.  Will it be cost effective to open earlier?

Exactly my point…. Remove the blue laws. Let the store owner decide. A removal of the restrictions does not force them to open. Look at chik fil a… They can open on Sunday and choose not too. Wal mart has said they would love to throw out the yellow rope, but the blue law shackles them. It probably isn’t cost effective now. 1030 vs 130? Wow big deal. But eliminating them all together? That’s different!

Well, according to the CDC, only around 21% of the US population smoke on a regular basis. Now, I think for the overwhelming majority of non-smokers, it would behoove businesses, citizens, and local governments to support smoking in public places. Most of the time it only takes 51% of a majority to win, so in this case it should be clear that businesses may lose some of the 21%, but how many of the 79% would they gain?

Secondly, when it comes to government intrusion, I don’t see anyone calling socialism when it comes to our public schools, the post office, student loans, Medicare, etc. The government is already in our lives. Remember, telling one that they can’t smoke is not taking your rights away, it is giving rights to others, the right to enjoy a night out without getting a hoarse throat, smelly clothes, or cancer. Remember, smoking is highly linked to more than just lung cancer. This is more of a public safety issue than an issue of people don’t like having other people blow carcinogens in their face all day and night. Drinking does not have a negative effect on others..unless you drive, then it can affect others, and therefore is illegal. Do you get this?

As far as blue laws, they are studid..period.