I was curious about the state law about smoking; is it allowed in places such as parks and are they allowed to smoke within 1-2 feet of other people, especially children?

I was at the park earlier where they were having a church function and one of the patrons of the church was smoking his tobacco pipe within a couple of feet of other people’s children. I told him that it was inappropriate to do so, and he replied, “This is a public place and I can smoke anywhere I want.” I told him that he did not have the right to subject other people and their children to the smoke.

He stated that we could not smell the smoke just the flavor of the tobacco, and that it is OK because it is not as bad as cigarette smoke. Another little girl told him that it was just as bad, but he kept smoking anyway. Sometimes he was smoking as close as a foot away from little kids while they were waiting in line for a sno-cone.

I do not know if the 25-foot rule applies to such things as this, and for someone who is supposed to be a church-going man, he wasn’t very friendly. I used to be a smoker, but quit 12½ years ago so I do understand the craving one gets, but I would never smoke in my house nor around other people’s children. That’s just plain rude, especially when it is a family event put on by a church.

– Francesca González, Auburn