By Nick Roettiger
Western Sun staff writer
During a time when annual California felony crime rates are soaring into the millions, it seems a bit ridiculous to be focusing public attention on a “smoke-free California.”
Just the same, anti-tobacco activists are as eager as ever to try and outlaw cigarette smoking completely.
It started simple; as studies on the negative effects of cigarette smoke became more and more conclusive, the state began to ban smoking in public buildings such as workplaces and restaurants, and eventually managed to pass a bill that outlaws smoking even in a bar setting.
Understandable, right? Nobody wants to have smoke blown in their face while they’re trying to enjoy a meal, and they don’t want to be gasping for air while they mellow out at the bar, but the idea of not allowing people to smoke anywhere can be summed up in one word: ludicrous.
The accusation always seems to be the same: Cigarette smoke poses a threat to everyone, not just smokers.
But in 1998, the World Health Organization conducted a study to find the effects of second hand tobacco smoke on nonsmokers, and as the study unfolded, they realized that they weren’t going to end up with the results they had expected.
The study concluded that of 1 million people exposed to no or light second hand smoke, 11 of them would develop lung cancer anyway. Of 1 million people exposed to moderate to heavy second hand smoke, 12 would develop lung cancer. Ultimately, the study found that second hand smoke had no statistically significant risk to nonsmokers.
If the risks of second hand smoke are almost nonexistent, it seems to me that there really isn’t any reason to complain. Aside from the physical addiction factor, people smoke because they like to smoke, and should be able to if they so desire.
We haven’t outlawed junk food, though some people are morbidly obese, and we haven’t outlawed alcohol, though many people are drunks. So does it really make sense to outlaw tobacco, some people think it’s an “eyesore” and the smoke stinks?
As we smokers are laying on our deaths beds, hacking up our lungs, we will have known it would come to this, despite the dire outcome.
But for those of you who are appalled by smoking, and cringe every time you see someone with a cigarette, don’t worry, you’re going to be just fine.
Don’t be extorted by all the ads you see on TV telling you that tobacco users are putting you and your family in danger- they’re all just blowing smoke.
