Letter: Smoking in public places is act of terrorism

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Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 | 5:14 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

January 17 - 18, 2004

Now that the New Year has passsed averting international acts of terrorism in this country, my question is: Why aren't we stopping the very blantant act of terrorism that goes on every day in this state -- smoking? What are cigarettes, cigars and pipes if not "chemical weapons of mass destruction?"

Every day we hear about how secondhand smoke kills and how it is more deadly and dangerous to the non-smoker than first thought. We hear about how lung cancer is the No. 1 killer in this country. We are told over and over again that "there is no safe cigarette."

Smokers possess a sick sense of thinking that they have a right to do this to others. Smoking is a senseless, aggressive, dangerous, self-righteous act of weakness committed against innocent people, the nonsmokers, the people who are not hurting anyone.

People have a right to go to a restaurant, a bar, a movie -- anyplace they want to go -- and be able to breathe without being put in danger by these "dirty bombs." When is the Legislature going to start protecting the nonsmokers from these "tobacco terrorists?"

SANDRA HANSON