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Stop Them Before They Legislate Again
April 28, 2004
The California legislature is mulling a bill to ban smoking by adults in cars when children 18 and under are along for the ride. Backers say it's necessary because some parents don't know about the dangers of second-hand smoke. I think smoking is a vile habit. And I support smoking bans in indoor public places. But local ordinances in California to ban smoking on beaches, and now this proposal, are overkill. We know that soda pop boosts childhood obesity, and it has been banned or heavily restricted in lunchrooms and vending machines in some public schools. That's fine. But would we regulate ingestion of soda pop by kids in private homes or automobiles? Or television viewing? All are arguably as bad for kids as second-hand smoke. Gov. Arnold Shwarzenegger should make good on his goal of scaling the California legislature down to a part-time operation. A ballot initiative would likely pass, some observers say. Even with the state's pressing fiscal challenges, lawmakers have too much time on their hands. And a Nanny State costs more. Posted by Matt Rosenberg at April 28, 2004 10:23 AM Trackback Pings TrackBack URL for this entry: Comments:
dare I post again to this issue of smoking? As one who has paid dearly in terms of health for others smoking around me..YES! It would be great if people could only consider others in everything they do, including smoking inside or outside. But..that'll never happen. Posted by: Lorna at April 28, 2004 10:59 AMChildhood exposure to excessive sun is a serious risk factor for adult cancer. Maybe even more than second hand smoke. I'm waiting for somebody to ban outdoor play without hat and sunscreen. Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky at April 28, 2004 08:39 PMPost a comment
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