As a society we are ruled by big government to a point that sometimes I feel we are just spinning our wheels and working to support government and those who think higher taxes and more programs will produce better results; this is, in many a case, is a lot of double-talk.  Now, we are asked to allow a group of anti-smoking people dictate what is or is not healthy for us.  What about people who drink liquor/beer to excess, people who are obese, those who are diabetic?  Are they then going to go after businesses who sell or allow sugar, alcohol, and unhealthy food sales to the Public in their establishment for fear it might somehow hurt them?  Where are the rights of the individual?  If one chooses to go into an establishment that permits smoking, they have made that choice. Whether they smoke or not is irrelevant as it is apparent they know what to expect.   To condemn smoking because it is detrimental to one’s health is quite obvious, yet, many still elect to smoke.  Some claim it calms them down, some believe it suppresses their appetite and some simply get satisfaction and relaxation from lighting up a cigarette.  Smoker or not, each person has constitutional rights and to have anyone try to take that away is totally self-serving. I find smoke repulsive and offensive and, yes, I wish people did not smoke but who am I to condemn them – nobody.

In doing research, I found it very interesting to find this data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About 7,300 people who never smoked die from lung cancer due to secondhand smoke every year – I assume this is a nationwide figure.  Radon, which is a naturally occurring gas that comes from rocks and dirt and can get trapped in houses and buildings (cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled, per EPA). Radon causes 20,000 cases of lung cancer each year.  Other substances found at workplaces such as; asbestos, arsenic, diesel exhaust and some forms of silica and chromium increase the risk – many of these substances, the risk of getting lung cancer is even higher for those who smoke.  Cancer survivors who had radiation therapy to the chest are at higher risk of lung cancer.  There are so many factors that appear to raise the risks of lung cancer – even foods and dietary supplements are being studied to see whether they change the risk of getting lung cancer.  My information is abridged, so I invite folks to do research, if for no other reason, for educational purposes.

I smoked 30 years ago. 30 years later I am a severe asthmatic and also take monthly shots for my allergies which are triggered by food and the environment as a whole. Is this a secondary problem (effecting countless people) due to an increase in many more plants/trees that have been planted – resulting in more pollen.  Where does it all stop?

Mesquite, NV has been our home for many years and the thought of our economy suffering because some people feel compelled to take away people’s rights is absolutely scary and unconstitutional in my opinion.  Wasn’t the recession that hit us so hard in 2008 a perfect example of how much we have suffered in a small city?  And, how can a small town that has gambling as its primary economic engine, which also stabilizes and helps other businesses by bringing in many tourists, be compared to larger cities with much more diverse economic bases.  I do not want our economy, as a whole, to suffer; hotels, restaurants, retail stores, etc. etc.  Have you anti-smoking petitioners who think you are doing us a huge favor even bothered to reflect on this? It will happen and if you think otherwise – well – open your eyes people and realize you are hurting a whole city and population of 15,000+ residents who live here.   WE ARE NOT A BIG CITY – WE ARE SMALL AND TRYING TO SURVIVE AS A GROWING COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN THRIVE AND ENJOY OUR LIVES WITHOUT WORRIES OF SOMEONE TRYING TO DESTROY – OUR ECONOMY/OUR CITY AND, FOR MANY, THEIR RETIREMENT CHOICE – A PLACE WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE LOOK LIKE A BLIGHTED CITY… 

Mesquite was a gaming town before most, if not all, of the petitioners came here – with gaming comes partying, smoking, drinking, and unfortunately some events that can get pretty rowdy.  Knowing this, why did these people move here?  I hate a smoky casino but who is forcing me to go there? no one – I have to take the bad with the good and the ugly or find other ways to entertain myself – and there is plenty in this small but lively city.  I will admit I hate it when a smoker sits next to me and blows smoke in my face and is then offended when I use my hand to disperse the smoke.  Then there are those who are so polite and ask if they can light up a cigarette.  I simply reply with, “I am a severe asthmatic but it is your right.”  They leave or I leave – simple as that.

I have heard that some years ago a test program had been put in place at a Mesquite casino, making a specific area (an alcove) a non-smoking area.  True or not, I have never seen one in 24+ years of living here. I can only hope some type of compromise would help dilute this whole smoking mess!   It is my hope that at least one of the casinos steps up to the plate and implements at least a 6 month pilot test (documented)  to see how a particular area would or would not be used by non-smokers, and put up a sign that can be easily be read by the Public showing the non-smoking alcove.  Granted the 2nd hand smoke is always around, but how great would it be if one could at least sit down in a section of a casino where a smoker cannot sit right next to us – that alone would be outstanding — showing concern and compromise and giving people a choice. 

Finally, I would like to see the whole proposal that this anti-smoking committee is putting up for a vote printed in our local newspaper so that there is no doubt as to what their full intentions are.

OR, if there is a website/link please post it in our newspaper if it has not yet been done.

Citizen of Mesquite,

Yoli Bell

THE PROPOSAL: