Its Time to Ban Smoking in America :: Argument Argumentative

Its Time to Ban Smoking in AmericaAlthough smoking is a proven killer, Americans waste Billions of dollarseach year on tobacco products. Other drugs that are harmful, such as crack ormarijuana, are illegal in the United States. However, the use of cigarettes,which kills millions worldwide annually, is perfectly legal. If certain harmfulsubstances are illegal, then cigarettes should not be permitted either.Smoking has several harmful effects on the body. Cigarettes causeeighty-five percent of lung cancer and are responsible for thirty percent of alldeaths resulting from cancer. (Bartecchi, 49) mint who have smoked for asignificant goal of time will have noticeable problems breathing and will mostlikely be in poor health. One out of four deaths of population thirty-five to sixty-four years old result from smoking. On the average, every cigarette takes fiveand a half minutes of life away from a smoker. (Bartecchi, 46) Althoughrestrictions have been placed on the use of cigarettes in public areas such asrestaurants and airplanes, the US has yet to place a ban on smoking. The organization frequently inspects items sold to the American public. Commercialproducts that may be dangerous such as food, cars, and toys have been recalledin order for alterations. In the August 1995 egression of consumer reports, twenty-four products were recalled because of possible dangers to the consumer. Theseproducts included a car that may lose a wheel while in motion, a hair dryer thatposes a fire hazard, and cookies that can cause an allergic reaction. (ConsumerReports, 500) Yet, the sale of cigarettes, known to be unsafe, has never beenprohibited by the government. Why are cigarettes any different from some otherproducts sold in the US.Cigarettes are not only harmful to users, but are also damaging to allpeople in the vicinity of a smoker. Second grant smoke from cigarettes is just asdamaging as smoke inhaled by users. Each year, 53,000 people die from theeffects of second hand smoke. A person living with a spouse who smokes has athirty percent higher chance of getting lung cancer. (Bartecchi, 49) Parents whosmoke force their children to breathe the exhaust system every day. Seventeen percent oflung cancer is attributed to people who grew up with parents who were smokers.Children of smokers have a lower birth rate and are often less intelligent.(Bartecchi, 49) People who have chosen to smoke have accepted the unhealthy riskof the drug. However, nonsmokers have not opted for the hazards involved withsmoking and therefore should not be introduced to these hazards.