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New York Bans Smoking in Beaches and Parks

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From my experience, many smokers will argue that a government’s attempt to make smoking a difficult pastime (by increasing taxes to make cigarettes unaffordable, and restricting the places where on can smoke) is an infringement on their rights to make decisions as individuals. And I would be inclined to agree, if smoking didn’t infringe upon the rights of others.

If one was strolling along, chewing on some sort of hazardous cancer-causing substance, I’d say hey- you’re dumb, that’s gross, but carry on. It is your right to do whatever you please with your body, and it is none of my business if you’re dumb enough to poison yourself. This is how many smokers actually view smoking- their decision, affecting only them. Except that’s just silly. Smoking in its very nature releases smoke into the air, which others inhale without really having a choice in the …

… matter. Therein the individual rights of the smoker impede on the rights of everyone around them. In my opinion, this negates their individual rights. You want to smoke? Do so in a manner where you can guarantee that only consenting individuals are breathing in your chemicals.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg may have an opinion similar to mine. In a vote of 36 to 12, the city council of New York decided to ban smoking in city parks and beaches. From the New York Times article:

“We’re moving towards a totalitarian society if in fact we’re going to have those kinds of restrictions on New Yorkers,” said Councilman Robert Jackson of Manhattan, who described himself as a marathon runner and nonsmoker.

Others said the ban would set a dangerous precedent. Councilman Daniel J. Halloran IIIof Queens said, “Once we pass this, we will next be banning smoking on sidewalks, and then in the cars of people who are driving minors and then in the homes.”

First of all, a totalitarian society will be created because people can’t smoke in city owned properties? My friends, that is what we call a slippery slope fallacy. One step does not equal many, in particular when the first ‘step’ has a very logic argument behind it, and the final step does not.

Second of all, up here in Toronto, the worst has already happened. Two years ago, we banned smoking in cars containing minors, and long before that we banned smoking on side walks in front of public buildings. And you know what? I’d still argue we are a pretty free society, and I think most people would argue these laws have worked for the better. After all, what smoker is going to try to argue that it is their right to blow smoke in their baby’s face?

I am all for personal choice, and the right to make decisions about what happens to your own body. But smoking just so happens to affect other peoples’ bodies as well. The individual choice argument just doesn’t fly here with me. While smoking is unlikely to be banned completely by any Western government (think of the tax dollars they’d lose out on!), I think it is silly to try to vilify a governing body for trying to make it difficult for people to make themselves and those around them sick.


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