It has been common
knowledge for years that tobacco is harmful and dangerous to the human body.
Nevertheless, this unhealthy pastime is still practiced by Americans
everywhere. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… reported that 43.4
million US adults were current smokers… — about 1 out of 5 people.” Although it
will probably never be completely outlawed, smoking should be banned in all
public places. 

Self-destructive
behaviors such as excessive drinking and chewing tobacco are immoral and sinful,
but unfortunately under America’s constitution they cannot be outlawed. When
these behaviors become harmful to others, however, laws can and must be imposed
to put a stop to them. Becoming intoxicated with alcohol is perfectly legal as
long as the inebriated person’s actions harm only him or her self. When an
drunk person gets behind the wheel of a car, however, he is putting not only
himself but also others at risk. It is therefore illegal for him to drive. The
drunken man has a right to harm himself, but not others. This should also be
the case with smoking. 

  

Smoking, unlike other
forms of ingesting tobacco, releases the toxins from the tobacco into the air.
Other people who are near a smoker have no choice but to inhale this toxic and
foul-smelling smoke. Why doesn’t this fall under the same category as drunken
driving? Second-hand smoking does not carry an immediate risk like driving on
the same road as a drunk, but it carries an increased risk of health problems,
which develop over time. For those with asthma and other throat and lung
diseases, second-hand smoke can trigger an immediate and sometimes fatal
attack. Smoking should therefore be banned from all public property. 

  

When a person enters
private property, whether a home, business, or otherwise, where smoking is
allowed, he makes a conscious decision to take the risk of inhaling second-hand
smoke. Public property is another matter. We are protected by law from drunk
drivers on public roads. We should be protected from the danger of second-hand
smoke as well. We have a right to use sidewalks and enjoy public parks without
being forced to inhale unpleasant and unhealthy smoke. 

  

In conclusion, a
national law must be imposed to ban smoking on all public property. This law
may be a long way in coming, but eventually our lawmakers will see the sense in
these arguments.

 —Kevin Jones