by Garene Tay

Created on: September 11, 2008

Asking whether smoking should be allowed in public places is akin to asking if murderers are allowed to get away Scot free. To smoke or not to do so is one of the many decisions that one makes and can be the result of different factors. Maybe it had been peer pressure or maybe even stress that resulted in the addiction but whatever the reason, smokers are potential murderers. There are not only a risk to others but also to themselves.

Surely everyone is aware of how harmful smoking can be. We are constantly reminded about this fact by countless anti-smoking campaigns. Even the cigarette pack itself displays a visual health warning to the smokers. If a smoker decides to continue with his bad habit despite ample warnings and completely disregard his health, then i say good for him. He has made his decision and he will face the consequences in time. However, if a smoker, while in a quest to commit suicide, is also killing others, do we sit back and do nothing?

I understand that it is impossible to completely ban smoking and destroy every cigarette on the face of the Earth. However, it is not unreasonable to request that smoking should not be allowed in public places where non-smokers will be affected. Why should non-smokers suffer from the harmful effects of smoking just because smokers are not willing to take the well-being of others into consideration? If smokers want to indulge in their habit, I say they should do so in designated smoking areas or do so in the comfort of their own houses. Of course then their children and wives and other family members would become the passive smokers but hey! If smokers are unconcerned about harming others, surely their own family members wouldn't matter as well!

If someone plunges a knife into another person's chest, a murder has been committed and the criminal is punished by imprisonment. If a smoker's second hand smoke enters the lungs of another person, resulting in a fatal disease, should the smoker not be punished for murder as well? Of course smokers would not be thrown into prison for their addiction but surely it is not too much to ask that they do it at a venue where their action would not affect others!

The bottom line is that lives of innocents should not be put at risk and banning smoking in public places is the only solution to ensure that selfishness does not lead to extremely undesired effects on others such as smoking-related diseases that might eventually lead to death. You wouldn't want another person's grave resting on your conscience.

Learn more about this author, Garene Tay.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.