Did you know that second hand smoke causes 3,000 non-smokers to die of lung cancer each year? Furthermore, your risk of developing cancer from second hand smoke is 100 times greater than from all other outdoor cancer-causing pollutants combined? How about the fact that passive smoke (second hand smoke) contains higher concentrations of ammonia, benzene, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and other cancer-causing agents than smoke inhaled by the actual smoker? The overwhelming evidence that second hand smoke is a major hazard to public health makes the fact that it has not been outlawed astonishing. It is way past time for people to take the initiative, and once and for all clear the air in public places!
             The debate on whether smoking in public places should be outlawed has been going on for years. There are the smokers who believe it is their right to smoke wherever they want, and the nonsmokers who believe in their right to safety. To me the answer is clear, there is no way smokers have the right to jeopardize the health of other people. If they want to smoke and endanger their own lives that's their decision, but they should not be allowed to endanger the lives of others. In any case, why should people unintelligent enough to make the choice to smoke, have any say in the matter?
             As I've mentioned before, the main danger in allowing smoking in public places is the second hand smoke. Second hand smoke is a combination of the smoke from a burning cigarette and the smoke exhaled by the smoker. It has been shown to cause birth defects, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, asthma, lower respiratory tract infections, ear infections, cancer, emphysema, and heart disease.
             To smokers it may be hard to believe, but banning smoking in public places benefits the nonsmoker and the smoker. The risks of second hand smoke would be removed for nonsmokers, and smokers would spend less time smoking and may even quit altogether.
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