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I'm amazed at how strident and uncompromising the health officials are getting. In Minnesota, for instance, there's a proposal to allow bars to construct "smoking shacks" completely separate from bars; they would keep non-smokers inside from getting so much as a whiff of smoke, and employees can't even serve drinks out there, but the anti-tobacco people won't have a word of it. Even veterans of our wars, men and women who have lost limbs or use wheelchairs, are being chased out of their own VFWs; they gave their all for their country, but they have to stand outside in the rain just to smoke a cigarette. I'm sure all the health nuts are smug about THAT, too.

The current Kansas City regulations for smoking are extremely weak. There are no limits on bars and even restaurants can have smoking at certain times of the day. As if the smoke suddenly exits when the smokers do!

Jeanette -

Nobody is chasing anybody out of anywhere. Stop drinking the company (big tobacco) koolaid. If our veterans want to smoke, that is their choice. Just don't infringe on MY rights to enjoy CLEAN AIR. You can smoke OUTSIDE or in the PRIVACY of your home. The fact is, as this article points out, THE MAJORITY OF KANSAS CITY DOESN'T SMOKE. You are a MINORITY. Stop ruining MY AIR! I'm an ex-smoker that quit so I wouldn't die from it. I don't need you killing me. Profits have been proven to INCREASE in NY and Cali because people like me will now frequent bars that we wouldn't before the ban. VOTE YES on 3! JOIN THE 21st CENTURY!

Well said, wlw! I'm tired of hearing the smokers complain about their rights! They should have no right to pollute our air! Those who are telling us to vote no either are being paid by Big Tobacco or they are small businesses that are being shortsighted to the fact that business will improve when the non-smokers feel free to patronize any business they want!

This is ridiculous, it should be up to the restaurant/bar owner to decide if he wants smoking or not. Then if he has smoking and non-smokers dont want to do there that is their choice. It is no business of any form of government if a owner allows smoking or not. I am sick of people trying to force their convictions on others.

"If our veterans want to smoke, that is their choice. You can smoke OUTSIDE or in the PRIVACY of your home."

Like I said: SMUG.

I'm sick of ignorant retards endangering my health because they're lacking anything resembling the will power to quit. Cancer isn't a "conviction" it's a scientific fact. If you want to choke those things down then great, I hope your cancer doesn't take long to develop, and it's just a violent as can be. But do in you're own home, and hopefully your smart enough not to do it around your kids.

Quick question: Why did we outlaw smoking on airplanes, public transportation, and the workplace? BECAUSE EXPOSURE TO SECOND HAND SMOKE KILLS! Why is it such a stretch of our liberties and rights to remove smoking from bars, too?

Quick question: Why did we outlaw smoking on airplanes, public transportation, and the workplace? BECAUSE EXPOSURE TO SECOND HAND SMOKE KILLS! Why is it such a stretch of our liberties and rights to remove smoking from bars, too?

I'm hoping that this article is correct and people do make it out tomorrow to voice their opinions by voting. As something that has spent the last 6 years in the KC area, I was beginning to think that people here weaned their kids on cigarettes because it seems so thick here.

I think "strident and uncompromising" are more appropriate terms for the smoking addicts.

This whole thing is stupid. If something that you don't like/don't do is happening in a particular place, don't go to that place. I don't like wimpy, pansy rap music, so should I try to get the rappers out of the club just because I want to go to that club ? No. I don't have the right. Just as the people who don't smoke have no right to try to stop smoking in bars. You know there is smoking in bars, so if you don't like smoking, don't go where there is smoking. It's as simple as that.

Well, I haven't been going to bars. Not because I don't want to, but because there's too much smoke. There's no alternative, so your "this whole thing is stupid" comment is stupid. Grab a clue little smoker.

Sorry, smokers! You lose. Guess you can't pollute my air anymore! Go to the casinos or across the state line. But beware, they're going to kick you out soon too.

Sorry, smokers! You lose. Guess you can't pollute my air anymore! Go to the casinos or across the state line. But beware, they're going to kick you out soon too.

Happy to see this positive move for KC. I know the smokers will be unhappy for quite some time, but in my direct experience (living in another city where smoking was banned), a majority of the smokers themselves will come to appreciate how much nicer bars can be without the noxious fumes. Yes, it will be cold and wintry when you take your smoke break in the winters, but ultimately all you need is few quick puffs to get your nicotine fix. Consider that 70-80% of your cigarette was spent burning without being inhaled anyhow, and where did that smoke go??? Into your non-smoking neighbors lungs instead. Good on you KC voters!!! I'll be seeing you at the bar!

Yeah! I can go to bars and not smell like an ashtray the next morning. Thank you Kansas City!

"so should I try to get the rappers out of the club just because I want to go to that club ?"

Don't be retarded. Rap doesn't kill you.