The Smoking Gun: The Ban of Smoking in Public
In a country as great and free as the United States of America, rights are an important piece of the country’s foundation. When it comes to smoking in public, one must ponder, who is more deserving of the right? Is it the citizen who is for smoking in public or is for the citizen who is against it? While many people are convinced that it should be the right of a legal age smoker to smoke wherever they wish, smoking in public should be banned due to the fact secondhand and thirdhand smoke are just as dangerous as first hand smoking. In fact, secondhand and thirdhand smoke can be associated with numerous cardiovascular health risks, such as, lung cancer and acute myocardial infraction (AMI). …show more content…
The history of banning smoking in public areas can be traced to the great state of California twenty-one years ago. The golden state was the first to implement smoking bans in bars and restaurants in 1994. According to the American Nonsmokers’ rights Foundation, as of July 2013, thirty-three states in the U.S. have restricted smoking in restaurants. Indiana is the most recent state to adopt the ban of public smoking. The Hoosier state made the smoking ban official in 2013. The remaining seventeen states have localized smoking bans that vary from county to county …show more content…
Well yes, however, the argument for smokers does exist. For instance, smoking is not illegal, in fact the laws on purchasing tobacco is less stringent as those regulating alcohol. An eighteen year old can legally purchase and partake in tobacco products. But a citizen must be twenty-one years of age to purchase and consume alcohol. So why is there so much regulation on something that is not against the law? It is normal for people to drink alcohol at restaurants and bars but many states have repercussions for those who smoke in public. Why? Well it is simple, people who do not wish to consume alcohol are not forced to taste it. However, a nonsmoker would be forced to smell and partially consume secondhand smoke if they are in close proximity to a smoker in a public place. It is understandable that smokers feel oppressed by the campaign to regulate smoking for their own good. However, the real argument is not for the wellbeing of the smoker, but the prevention of harm to others (The Heartland
In a country as great and free as the United States of America, rights are an important piece of the country’s foundation. When it comes to smoking in public, one must ponder, who is more deserving of the right? Is it the citizen who is for smoking in public or is for the citizen who is against it? While many people are convinced that it should be the right of a legal age smoker to smoke wherever they wish, smoking in public should be banned due to the fact secondhand and thirdhand smoke are just as dangerous as first hand smoking. In fact, secondhand and thirdhand smoke can be associated with numerous cardiovascular health risks, such as, lung cancer and acute myocardial infraction (AMI). …show more content…
The history of banning smoking in public areas can be traced to the great state of California twenty-one years ago. The golden state was the first to implement smoking bans in bars and restaurants in 1994. According to the American Nonsmokers’ rights Foundation, as of July 2013, thirty-three states in the U.S. have restricted smoking in restaurants. Indiana is the most recent state to adopt the ban of public smoking. The Hoosier state made the smoking ban official in 2013. The remaining seventeen states have localized smoking bans that vary from county to county …show more content…
Well yes, however, the argument for smokers does exist. For instance, smoking is not illegal, in fact the laws on purchasing tobacco is less stringent as those regulating alcohol. An eighteen year old can legally purchase and partake in tobacco products. But a citizen must be twenty-one years of age to purchase and consume alcohol. So why is there so much regulation on something that is not against the law? It is normal for people to drink alcohol at restaurants and bars but many states have repercussions for those who smoke in public. Why? Well it is simple, people who do not wish to consume alcohol are not forced to taste it. However, a nonsmoker would be forced to smell and partially consume secondhand smoke if they are in close proximity to a smoker in a public place. It is understandable that smokers feel oppressed by the campaign to regulate smoking for their own good. However, the real argument is not for the wellbeing of the smoker, but the prevention of harm to others (The Heartland