Letter: Second-hand smoke is form of child abuse

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003 | 8:55 a.m.

It is a clinically established fact that second-hand smoke kills approximately 53,000 Americans every year. Millions of children each year suffer impairments to their health caused by smoking parents -- many of these medical problems last a lifetime. My father was a three-pack-a-day man. Throughout my childhood I had thick, black bags under my eyes. As a teenager, I had to use an inhaler. As an adult, I still have breathing problems.

As a libertarian, I cannot bring myself to ask that laws be passed preventing adult Americans from exercising what some deem to be a "right" to harm their children in this way. But I can ask you, my fellow citizens, to help prevent this form of child abuse. While it is not illegal to bring a child into the smoking section of a restaurant is it not morally reprehensible?

Are there any restaurateurs in Nevada with the strength of character to say "no" to endangering a child's health? Which of you will step forward and refuse to seat children under 18 in the smoking sections of your restaurants?

JERRY E. SMITH Sparks