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They Re Coming For Your Cigarette Analysis

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In the past few years, the bans on smoking cigarettes in public areas has become a huge controversy in America as bans on smoking have become more strict nationwide. In an editorial featured in the New York Times by Sue Ogrocki titled They’re Coming For Your Cigarettes. But That’s O.K., Ogrocki argues why bans on smoking cigarettes in one’s own home is necessary and beneficial for everyone else. Her editorial is in support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, whom is pushing to ban cigarette smoking in an estimated one million public housing units across America, including townhouses and apartments. Ogrocki’s argument contained many flaws, as she failed to provide facts and statistics to support her statements, and was too general …show more content…

She states that banning smoking in public housing will be “…protecting the health of non-smokers-children especially-reducing property damage, saving money on cleaning, painting and maintaining apartments, and preventing fires.” Without using any statistics to prove that cigarette smoking actually poses a risk to an individual’s neighbor and takes a toll on apartment health, she is not providing a persuasive argument. Although smoking inside one’s home is statistically a common cause of house and apartment fires, it is not the leading cause of home fires. According to research results provided by the state government of Seattle, cooking is the leading cause of home fires in America. Next to fires caused by smoking materials were candles. Candles pose the same fire hazard risk as cigarettes do, especially if children or pets are present. This means that banning smoking in one’s home will not significantly reduce fire hazards, especially if the individual properly disposes of their cigarettes. The threat to nonsmokers does not exist if the individual is smoking in their own home. The only way the threat would be imminent is if there is a nonsmoker present in the individual’s home and they are within a short enough distance to where they inhale the blown or excess smoke. Without providing any statistics as …show more content…

She claims that even though conflicts are arising because of the bans, smokers will become more understanding of the bans in the future. She uses Mayor Bloomberg of New York City as an example. She states that “Mayor Michael Bloomberg drew much fire in New York City by outlawing smoking in restaurants and bars. Now in a city of easier breathing and increased longevity, his efforts are seen as a solid legacy.” As long as individual liberties continue to be limited, smokers will never completely come to terms with banning smoking in their own home. In restaurants around the nation, smoking is commonly allowed, but only within a designated smoking zone, which is usually in a room separate from those who are non-smokers. Completely outlawing smoking in restaurants in New York City was a very poor political decision because it put a severe strain on individual liberties, for many New Yorkers are known for smoking cigarettes, but now can’t even enjoy a meal and smoke in designated areas. Banning this kind of smoking did not make for “easier breathing” and “increased longevity” for New Yorkers. In a big, populated city like New York City, litter poses a bigger threat to individual health. According to the New York City government website, there is even a main phone line to call about chronic littering

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