Letter: Smokers’ families have no claim

Wednesday, April 7, 1999 | 11:56 a.m.

I am a nonsmoker and my mom died after smoking all of her life. That gives me the right to go after the company that made the cigarettes that she smoked? I don't think so!

No one goes to the store, buys the cigarettes, and then forces these people to smoke. They do it of their own free will.

Just because the tobacco companies make smoking look like a pleasant experience does not make it mandatory that a person go out and do this. The good Lord gave us all a free will. How we use that free will is our choice.

My mother chose to smoke, I chose not to. Why should a tobacco company be held responsible for a choice?

In my opinion, by awarding a family $81 million, the Oregon jury just opened a huge can of worms. Now anyone who has a loved one who dies -- who smoked during their life -- can sue the tobacco company.

A precedent has now been set, and a very unfair one to tobacco companies.

Freedom of choice does not give one a right to sue if you use that freedom and something doesn't go the way you want it to.

What next?

DE ETTE GREENE