In regard to the smoking ban that is becoming effective today – what happened to equal rights? Oh, yeah, smokers do not have rights, and non-smokers do. A big portion of the price of a pack of cigarettes is taxes; the state gets its fair share. Funny, it is legal to buy them, but it is not legal to smoke them.
Those who smoke know the risk, but it is their choice. Isn’t that part of freedom of choice?
The biggest cause of deaths on our highways is from driving under the influence of alcohol. How many fatal highway deaths can be attributed to cigarette smoking?
I am not saying smoking is right. Those who smoke and have smoked for many years either have tried many times to quit and never succeeded, or do not wish to quit. Are we any less American citizens because of this habit? There has to be a better solution that will enable both smokers and non-smokers to live in this world, without banning smokers from all public places.
The businesses that will really be affected by this are the night clubs, taverns, bars and cocktail lounges because most of their clientele are smokers. Last time I was in a bar there appeared to be about one non-smoker to every 10 smokers. Yet this law does not affect the tribal casinos. How fair is that? Guess we know where those who smoke will be going when they want to have a drink and a smoke.
Joanne Sealund
Marysville
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