Smokers versus Nonsmokers in Today's Society
             Smoking is a controversial issue because people produce, advertise, and sell a product that will inevitably cause harm to those who purchase it. As a result of this a clear distinction between smokers and nonsmokers has become apparent in society. One particular issue that divides smokers and non smokers is the question of whether or not smoking should be allowed in public places. Numerous public smoking bills have been drafted over the years both supporting and denouncing the issue, however only in recent decades has smoking come into the limelight as an impending social and public health issue. For this reason the issue of public smoking is a crucial topic that must be viewed on a nation wide stage.
             Many of the new policies on public smoking have been created in response to overwhelming data that correlates first and second hand smoke to several major diseases, including a variety of cancers. Both smoking directly and breathing in second hand smoke have been linked to cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart diseases, and are known to be one of the major causes of deadly cancers such as lung cancer, oral cancers which includes cancer of the lip, tongue, hard and soft palate, floor of the mouth, gingival, and alveolar mucosa. Smoking also causes cancer of the esophagus, pancreas and gastric organs, as well as cancer of the larynx. (U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, page 30).
             The public dangers of smoking are great, as smoking remains one of the major killers in these United States and in many other countries around the world. People have known for a long time that smoking is a health hazard, but not until recently have the deadly side effects of smoking been taken seriously. Over the years as more extensive research has been done, the links between smoking and mortality have grown to be more profound. For example in Sullum's &quo...