I don't want to see your butt at the beach!

Yesterday, the Wrightsville Beach board of Aldermen voted 3-2 against a ban on smoking on the beach. The votes against the ban mentioned costs and public rights as their reasons. As mentioned by the Star News, there were many more public supporters of the ban than opponents.

I am all for it for two reasons. First, I don't want to smell it and I really don't want my child smelling it. For those that say the beach is big enough that it does not matter, have not been to the beach. The wind blows all the time! I can smell smoke from an easy 100 yards away. Second, the biggest form of litter on our beaches are cigarette butts. Why smokers are more likely to litter is beyond me, but it is true. I guess if they want to trash their lungs, might as well trash the planet as well! Think about it, how nice would it be to walk on the beach and not have to smell or step over cigarette butts?

The two opposing arguments to me do not hold up. It is too expensive? Really? Wrightsville Beach is famous for slapping you with a parking fine for being 1 minute over your meter. This is a big revenue generator for the town. Why not write tickets for anyone who is caught smoking on the beach? The beaches are already being patrolled anyway! The second argument on people's right to smoke. True, it is not illegal to smoke. However, you can't smoke it public restaurants, office buildings, government building or on their grounds, or many public parks. So, designate smoking areas at one of the beach accesses and keep a butt collector there.

Now, I am very much a individual rights person. I do not feel that the government should force people to wear helmets on bikes or motorcycles, not smoke, wear seat belts, or any other matter of personal choice that does not effect the welfare of others. If I get in an accident without a helmet, it is my own fault for not choosing to wear one. In addition, the insurance company should have the right not to pay a claim if they find that I was not wearing a helmet.

The public smoking debate however effects others. If you are smoking on the public beach and exposing others to second hand smoke, you are effecting my health. If you want to smoke at your house, go right ahead, I could care less. Smoke whatever you want, legal or not, just don't expose me to it.