Letter: Ban smoking from public areas

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004 | 8:58 a.m.

Regarding the recent letters from Sandra Hanson concerning the unfairness that allows one-quarter of the population to annoy, disturb and endanger the other three-quarters with their curable smoking habit, I couldn't agree more! I smoked for 10 years, and still can't understand why I ever began ( at age 25) such an unhealthy and selfish habit. I went out of my way not to disturb others with "my habit," but I know I wasn't 100 percent successful. I knew what I was doing was bad for me and for those around me, but it still took me 10 years to quit.

Having moved to Las Vegas from a state that is now following the lead of California and New York in banning smoking in restaurants and bars (that are not entirely separate from nonsmoking and all eating areas), my Hawaii has made a conscious decision to protect the 85 percent of the residents that don't smoke.

Why can't Nevada do the right thing and eliminate smoking in restaurants, grocery store gaming areas and worker break rooms, gas stations, Sav-ons and Rite-Aids, etc.? All it takes is "guts" and the desire to protect the overwhelming majority of nonsmokers who cause no harm to anyone. Smokers will always have the casinos, but is it too much to ask for a few common everyday businesses to be off limits to those that can't or won't quit?

ROBERT GRAY