The right of smokers and non smokers

Smokers rights have become a big issue now that more and more states are banning smoking in all public places. Smokers say that since smoking itself isn’t illegal their right to smoke is being infringed upon by bans on smoking in public places like restaurants and bars. Smokers argue that they have a right to smoke as long as it’s not illegal to smoke. Non smokers say they have a right to an environment free of secondhand smoke, which has been proven to cause cancer and to damage the lungs of people exposed to it. Most smokers aren’t even saying they have a right to smoke anywhere in public, they just want the laws to make it so that individual businesses can decide if they want to allow smoking or not. That way market forces can decide if an establishment will allow smoking or not. People who don’t wish to be around smokers don’t have to patronize smoking establishments. Non smokers say that infringes on their right to go wherever they want. Non smoking employees say it that would limit their chances of finding a job since they could not work at a smoking establishment without putting their health at risk. Non smokers have organized into many local community groups and published non smokers rights articles and hand outs about non smokers rights.

Is anyone defending smokers rights?

There are groups of smokers who have organized to fight smoking bans saying that such bans infringe on their right to smoke. They are demanding equal rights for smokers. Some groups are writing a smokers bill of rights and hoping to get media attention directed to their cause. Smokers rights, according to smoker advocates, include the right to smoke in public places. Some smokers don’t agree with that and don’t want to smoke in all public places but feel that in a restaurant or bar they should be allowed to smoke if they want. Ask a smoker what they want and usually he or she will just say “ I want my rights as a smoker to be considered equally with the rights of the non smoker.”

The bigger issue

It’s smoking bans imposed in many states are jus the tip of the iceberg. Smokers rights are being taken away everyday, little by little. Private companies now are allowed to not hire prospective employees because they smoke. Companies cite higher health care costs as a reason to deny employment to someone who smokes, however someone with a pre-existing medical condition can raise health care costs for an entire group but a private company would not be allowed to refuse to hire someone because of it. That would be considered discriminatory, but the law allows companies to discriminate against smokers. Smoking rights will continue to be a very divisive issue in this country until smoking is outlawed completely.