2008 Woodie Awards
Smoking restrictions encroach on individual rights
BARRY FRANKLIN
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Smoking used to be a free-for-all. People could smoke anywhere they pleased and everyone else simply had to deal with it. Since then smoking has steadily been regulated down to possible eradication in every public setting.
There used to be a smoking section on airplanes, in restaurants and even movie theaters and other people simply had to deal with the hazy blue smoke. They had to inhale the fumes of others’ habits. Then came the research and the science and the truth. Society found out smoking is bad for us and it causes cancer not only for those who smoke, but also those who breathe in the second-hand smoke. Rightfully so, those who choose not to smoke are mad about second-hand cancer.
Legislation was passed and smokers can no longer smoke in public settings. Recently, bowling alleys fell to the non-smoking legislation. There’s even talk of non-smoking parks and even our own college campus.
Smokers are ever increasingly being ousted outside and pushed to edges of gathering places. The Big Easy Concert House has non-smoking shows and The Funnybone has non-smoking nights. Utah is even thinking about banning smoking inside vehicles when children are riding in the cars.
Non smokers have a right to rise up against those who slowly kill themselves (and others around them) and to demand non-smoking establishments.
The people who don’t smoke can stand up for their personal space because smoking does infringe on their personal rights.
Even when they choose not to smoke, they’re still forced to inhale the deadly fumes.
Yet, there is a voice silenced in all of this non-smoking frenzy. Don’t the smokers have rights as well? Don’t get me wrong, in no way am I condoning smoking for anyone (it’s a bad habit) but I also don’t condone infringment on personal rights. When does the line stop pushing smokers away?
I can understand banning smoking in public establishments, especially when non smokers are directly affected by the smoke. If you don’t smoke and smell like a cigarette when leaving the bowling alley you have the right to not like it. But cigarettes are a part of society today whether we like it or not. They are readily available for anyone over 18 years of age (or those who can get away with using fake identification or ask someone of age to buy them a pack). People are still choosing to smoke even when they know the harmful effects.
The decision might be stupid but it is still up to the individual to make it.
When lawmakers put forth legislation to ban smoking in a personal space (like inside a vehicle) they’re walking a thin line. America was founded on the principles of indivdual choice and now the government wants to control it.
I’m surprised more Republicans don’t get up in arms about it. It’s fine and good to exercise our right to own a firearm, but not to light up a cigarette? There’s a disconnection here between mortality.
Infringing on personal rights is a slippery slope, however far a reach it might be, who knows what might happen if we allow government regulation on the personal right to smoke. We might find ourselves not able to listen to certain kinds of music inside our cars, or restricted to a certain kind of political dialogue. We might find that we can’t wear certain clothes or our hair a certain way. As it stands now, a person with a certain haircut might not get a certain job because of it, but it’s not against the law to wear your hair any way you please.
What if we weren’t able to practice our religion in our cars because it was offensive to others? What if we couldn’t flash our lights at oncoming cars because the other person might be epileptic? Personal control over others through law is an avoidable offense at all times.
The more we let the control in, the worse off we will be as a society. Our phones can already be tapped easily, and who knows who listens to our cell phone conversations.
Anyone who owns a cell phone or has a GPS system in their vehicle is trackable anywhere they go on the planet. Color me a conspiracy theorist but I wish to keep my personal rights even if it is the right to do something stupid like smoke.
There used to be a smoking section on airplanes, in restaurants and even movie theaters and other people simply had to deal with the hazy blue smoke. They had to inhale the fumes of others’ habits. Then came the research and the science and the truth. Society found out smoking is bad for us and it causes cancer not only for those who smoke, but also those who breathe in the second-hand smoke. Rightfully so, those who choose not to smoke are mad about second-hand cancer.
Legislation was passed and smokers can no longer smoke in public settings. Recently, bowling alleys fell to the non-smoking legislation. There’s even talk of non-smoking parks and even our own college campus.
Smokers are ever increasingly being ousted outside and pushed to edges of gathering places. The Big Easy Concert House has non-smoking shows and The Funnybone has non-smoking nights. Utah is even thinking about banning smoking inside vehicles when children are riding in the cars.
Non smokers have a right to rise up against those who slowly kill themselves (and others around them) and to demand non-smoking establishments.
The people who don’t smoke can stand up for their personal space because smoking does infringe on their personal rights.
Even when they choose not to smoke, they’re still forced to inhale the deadly fumes.
Yet, there is a voice silenced in all of this non-smoking frenzy. Don’t the smokers have rights as well? Don’t get me wrong, in no way am I condoning smoking for anyone (it’s a bad habit) but I also don’t condone infringment on personal rights. When does the line stop pushing smokers away?
I can understand banning smoking in public establishments, especially when non smokers are directly affected by the smoke. If you don’t smoke and smell like a cigarette when leaving the bowling alley you have the right to not like it. But cigarettes are a part of society today whether we like it or not. They are readily available for anyone over 18 years of age (or those who can get away with using fake identification or ask someone of age to buy them a pack). People are still choosing to smoke even when they know the harmful effects.
The decision might be stupid but it is still up to the individual to make it.
When lawmakers put forth legislation to ban smoking in a personal space (like inside a vehicle) they’re walking a thin line. America was founded on the principles of indivdual choice and now the government wants to control it.
I’m surprised more Republicans don’t get up in arms about it. It’s fine and good to exercise our right to own a firearm, but not to light up a cigarette? There’s a disconnection here between mortality.
Infringing on personal rights is a slippery slope, however far a reach it might be, who knows what might happen if we allow government regulation on the personal right to smoke. We might find ourselves not able to listen to certain kinds of music inside our cars, or restricted to a certain kind of political dialogue. We might find that we can’t wear certain clothes or our hair a certain way. As it stands now, a person with a certain haircut might not get a certain job because of it, but it’s not against the law to wear your hair any way you please.
What if we weren’t able to practice our religion in our cars because it was offensive to others? What if we couldn’t flash our lights at oncoming cars because the other person might be epileptic? Personal control over others through law is an avoidable offense at all times.
The more we let the control in, the worse off we will be as a society. Our phones can already be tapped easily, and who knows who listens to our cell phone conversations.
Anyone who owns a cell phone or has a GPS system in their vehicle is trackable anywhere they go on the planet. Color me a conspiracy theorist but I wish to keep my personal rights even if it is the right to do something stupid like smoke.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Cammie Ginkel
posted 9/24/07 @ 10:22 AM MST
Smoking in your own car is your right because it's yours. Whether there are children in the car is a different story. Children's rights to live without smoke is a right that they are entitled to. (Continued…)
Paul
posted 9/24/07 @ 8:44 PM MST
There should be no smoking allowed when there are other people who have to share the air. Smoking should be kept outdoors and away from non-smokers. If someone want to smoke fine, just don't do it around others who don't want to share the toxic smoke. (Continued…)
charles
posted 9/25/07 @ 12:36 AM MST
first, i would like to point out that addiction has already taken away the freedom of choice from smokers. are they deciding to smoke, or is their addiction making the choice for them? their free will has already been sorely breached. (Continued…)
Post a Comment