Dear editor,
As a former smoker of 75 to 125 cigarettes per day for more than 35 years, and the author of several books that have helped so many smokers quit, it should be obvious that my main concern is helping smokers.
As such, I have to make a clear statement to each and every smoker in Orangeville that feels they have the right to smoke on publicly owned lands.
According to a report in The Times, Vinton G. Cerf, summed rights up as follows: “There is a high bar for something to be considered a human right. Loosely put, it must be among the things we as humans need in order to lead healthy, meaningful lives, like freedom from torture and freedom of conscience ...”
Where does smoking qualify in that definition?
Every person who smokes is an addict. Everyone knows that. A smoker is no different than any other junkie, with the exception that the law permits smokers to pull out their “works” and get their “fix” in front of anyone who happens to be standing nearby.
By so doing, smokers act to influence children and young adults by pretending what they’re doing is an acceptable and social act, rather than an unacceptable and dangerous addiction that causes a host of health issues to not only the smoker, but to others who are subjected to their second-hand smoke.
Second-hand smoke is a proven health hazard. The proof cannot be denied.
Merely burning a cigarette creates 4,000 to 8,000 chemicals, many toxic and/or carcinogenic.
There’s absolutely nothing beneficial in smoking. It’s not a sociable act (it’s anti-social actually), or something that makes you cool, sexy or glamorous.
