Why should they?

That's ridiculous. They obviously think they're better than everyone else.

Why not? They deserve it

What the Hell? Does being a veteran mean that you should get to run red lights whenever you want? I see no valid connection between being a vet (God bless you and thanks all the same) and getting to smoke indoors. Geez, you'd think vets should be spared every inconvenience and annoyance in life or something. Should they get speed passes for elevators so they don't have to waste so long?

Now, it does seem cruel that people in a physical condition where going outside in the winter could be dangerous could be subjected to that because they're smokers. I think old smokers in rest homes ought to have a heated place to smoke out of the elements.

Thats stupid.

I agree with Laugh that old people, vets or not, who can't get outside should have a warm, well-ventilated place to smoke. Which i think is the point of the article, just that it addresses vets directly. By the time you're in a VA hospital or a rest home, smoking probably isn't the worst of your medical concerns..

No that's nasty.

This sh_t is so unrelated. We need to allow veterans the right to spread cancerous stinky fumes to people who enjoy fresh air. And why not? They fought for our country, didn't they? Might as well let them off on murder charges and give them all the winning lottery tickets too, cuz dammit they did something great for the nation. I'D HATE TO UPSET THEM. Man, is there any end to the excuses? HEY! jf2k2rj reported some suspicious terrorist activity to the government last week, where's his new right to buy alcohol for minors and blow smoke in elderly people's faces? He did a good deed, he is owed.. Just keep the little smoking rooms perfectly ventilated so not one cubic millimeter of that rancid fumage seeps into the fresh atmosphere of the rest of the home, and I'll have no problem.

If I was at the age of 86 and felt like smoking I sure would laugh out loud about people concerned about my health. When you're that age comfort is more important.
Give them a break!

I think that if old-ass people want to smoke, they should not have to go outside.

But I'm just talking about old farts in general, not just service people

Washington is trying to pull this ban on public smoking BS, too, and I hate it. But I don't think veterans should have special privileges.

Surely you would think some of them would respect their caregivers enough not to smoke around them. I think its just courteous for the veterans to go outside and smoke instead of potentially damaging the health of caregivers.

But there are always the few old bat's who want to cause a raucous.

no smoking kills, i live in the smoking ban country of ireland and oits brilliant, everywhere is smoke free!

I would need to know how veterans' homes are set up. If it's like an apartment complex, then the fumes shouldn't spread from room to room anyhow. Let 'em smoke.

Let them smoke. If they are in a veteran's home that means they LIVE there -- we can smoke in our own homes if we want to, so should they. Regardless of whether or not we think smoking is gross, it really isn't our business if someone smokes in privacy.