There is no doubt that cigarette smoke is very harmful. Even second hand smoke can be harmful if you are exposed to it frequently. However, when does lawmaking go beyond the point of providing cautions about health and wellness, and begin to become overly invasive?
Law makers in many states are considering bans on the public smoking of cigarettes….outdoors. I don’t smoke, nor do I care for the smell of smoke blowing in the breeze. However, at what point do the laws become too invasive by allowing the government to control what we do to our own body?
Laws are created to protect people from harm caused by other people. If I decide I want to do something that is damaging to my body, then I should be able to do it. I love bacon cheeseburgers, and they are horrible for my health, but that doesn’t mean they should be illegal. What about laws concerning doughnuts, beer, tanning beds, and soda?
You might say that the second hand smoke actually can harm you. Yes that is true, but irrelevant in an outdoor setting. A few sideline sniffs of second hand smoke is not going to cause any harm that can’t be easily repaired by your lungs. If you don’t want to be exposed to the second hand smoke, then walk away from the smoker! It’s a simple solution. Honestly, if you are worried about inhaling carcinogens, then you probably shouldn’t ever go near any city, because you will experience much more lung damage from car exhaust and industrial byproducts in the air than you ever will from second hand cigarette smoke.
I certainly am not promoting smoking in any way. I find it to be an unattractive and extremely dangerous habit. However, people should have a right to make their own decisions about what risks they take and what pleasures they allow themselves. Once properly informed about the risk of a product, a person should have every right to do what they please, as long as it doesn’t cause harm to another person.
Smoking outdoors simply does not harm anyone except the smoker. It has become socially unpopular to smoke, and as a result it aggravates people and makes them upset. This is not a reason to make it illegal though. There are many elements of society that I find aggravating such as loud people in restaurants, screaming children, noxious levels of perfume, and tacky or overly-revealing attire. However, this doesn’t mean it should be illegal. If smoking bothers you to the point you can’t stand it, then my advice is to avoid the smokers or stay at home.
If you are struggling to stop smoking, there are products such as Zyban which can help control the cravings and help you quit.
We specialize in providing our over 1,000,000 customers with relevant product and condition information created by our professional editorial staff which includes our team of medical writers, medical practitioners, and health educators. eDrugStore.com Staff on Facebook