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Kudos to our Board of Aldermen, who are tightening up the ordinance protecting our kids and the general public from the dangers and inconvenience of being exposed to smoke in and around our public parks and play spaces.
We do live in a free society, but certain freedoms come with a few caveats and responsibilities, most particularly when harmful substances are potentially put into an atmosphere that we all have to share and share alike.
Smoking tobacco isn’t good for anyone, but while it still remains an adult’s right to do so, we need to make sure that others who choose not to breathe in that smoke are not involuntarily forced to do so.
Likewise, as with marijuana, its medical and recreational use has recently been legalized, but here also we need to be considerate and responsible when it comes to where it is used and who else may inadvertently be exposed to it.
Reasonable people should not have a problem understanding and following what is being asked here. There are still plenty of places where smoking outside of the home can be done without risking the health and happiness of others. Especially for the kids, the smokers among us should all agree to follow the rules and help keep these shared spaces smoke free.
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I’m glad to know that this is coming about. I have always been one that believes that people have a right to do anything to their bodies good or bad, but one issue I will always have is with smoking.
If someone wants to risk their own health and the possibility of lung cancer, that is their right and choice. But smoking not only affects the smoker, but those around them who breathe in the second-hand smoke.
Too many times I have experienced being outside around smokers who had no consideration for me or others by smoking. Just because they were outside, they wrongly assumed there’s no problem.
Smoke still hangs around the air outdoors where others can breathe it in. Should we all just leave because we don’t want to begrudge you your right to smoke? Not everyone has that choice.
If you are a smoker, you have every right to smoke in your own home or car if you are either alone or with those who have no problem with it. But if you are outside, no matter where you are, please have the consideration to not expose other people to your smoke. It just shows a lack of care on the part of the smoker for other people.
It seems that I may be stating the obvious here after all the information readily available about smoking and second-hand smoke. But it also seems that some people need to be told the obvious.