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| Should smoking in cars with minors present be illegal? |
| Yes, we need to protect our kids from second hand smoke |
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65% |
[ 27 ] |
| No, my car, my kids, my business |
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26% |
[ 11 ] |
| Undecided |
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7% |
[ 3 ] |
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| Total Votes : 41 |
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| kibble n' bits |
 Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:23 pm
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| Melinda wrote: |
Your "rights" end when they infringe upon the rights of others. |
I understand that completely, but my point is that by banning smoking to stop infringing on the rights of non-smokers, we are, in turn, infringing on the rights of the smokers.
We should be able to create a law that respects each group's rights. |
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MidnightsDance Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Total posts: 777 |
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:16 pm
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| Nonamia wrote: | | You don't have the freedom to hurt your child. |
Is there conclusive proof that smoking in the car hurts a child? There's proof that it increases the risk of certain health problems, but so does feeding your child deep fried foods and letting them watch too much TV - both of which people also do in the car these days.
Personally, I don't think people should smoke in the car or house with kids around. It's not a choice I would make for my children, or any children in my care. However, even with my personal belief that it's wrong, I think legislating that belief is also wrong.
With this particular issue, I doubt the enforcement has been thought through completely. If you're caught smoking with kids in the car, you get a $100 ticket? This law says smoking in the car is equal to child endagerment/abuse. By extension it's saying child endangerment/abuse is worthy of little more than a traffic ticket. You get the same punishment for improper parking. Should those things really be equal in our society?
The other option would be to treat it according to the existing provisions for child abuse. As long as the parent that got caught 1) smokes and 2) has a vehicle, their child remains at continued risk of abuse, which leaves social services obligated to intervene. As soon as the ticket is issued by the police officer, the abuse becomes founded. Has anyone thought through the ramfications to social service agencies if they have to investigate every ticket because a child is at continued risk of abuse?
I'm sure the folks that drafted the legislation only wanted what was best, but as my Daddy used to say... poop in one hand and "want" in the other, then see which gets full first. |
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| mom2cocoa Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Total posts: 2619 |
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:20 pm
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I don't think anyone will dispute that second hand smoke is not good for one's health. However, I think it's a far stretch to consider it child abuse.
_________________
Angel 6/1998 - 1/3/2012
I love you and miss you, babygirl!! |
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| kibble n' bits |
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:50 pm
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| Completely agree! |
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Nonamia
Location: Northern California Gender: Female |
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:55 am
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Yes there is proof that second hand smoke hurts children. I live in California and it's been discussed plenty here it's been found that cigarette smoke inside the car is 10 times more hazardous then smoking inside the home because the smoke is so concentrated in the small space of the car.
Second hand smoke is hazardous to everyone but it's even more to a child. They have developing lungs and it effects their entire developing respitory system. Children who breathe in second hand smoke have higher instances of aggravated asthma, bronchitis, the number of colds increase, and even an increase of ear infections increase. It's not healthy in any, way, shape or form.
It's not a belief these are facts. I, as a child, had this experience. My father smoked in front of us. My brother, sister and I had colds all the time, I had bronchitis every year. Doctor said to stop smoking in the house. My father refused to allow anyone to tell him where he can smoke. When he moved out and my parents divorced, I never had another case of bronchitis as a child, and we had no more then one cold a year.
I think this is important and I am glad my state is taking this step. Hopefully next we will tackle making the environment as a whole more healthy for all of us.
_________________
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