Here’s a happy thought….
Police in Toronto could soon have the power to slap a $250 fine on anyone caught smoking in a car with children. Apparently, the Ontario government introduced legislation yesterday to ban the practice and seems to have the support of opposition parties as the bill begins its way through the approval process in the court system.
After reading this article I said to myself…HOORAY!!!! Now don’t get me wrong, smoking is up to each individual person and personally, I could care less if my friends (as adults) smoke or not. BUT, I do care about the effects that second hand smoke has on the tiny lungs our children.
Let’s put it into perspective, remember our clubbing days when smoking was still allowed inside the bars and restaurants? Remember being surrounded in that cloud of smoke? Remember removing yourself from that situation or popping outside for some fresh air? Imagine not being able to go outside to grab a breath of fresh air. As adults, we had that option, as a child stuck in the backseat of a car, they don’t. Many parents practice the rule of no smoking within their homes, but then pop in to the car with their kids and smoke anyway. That kind of defeats the purpose of protecting your kids from second hand smoke...doesn't it?
As an ex-smoker, I can see both sides of the situation and still agree with the proposal. For those that feel this is an infringement upon their personal rights, I say what about your infringement upon the rights of your children.
What do you think?
Police in Toronto could soon have the power to slap a $250 fine on anyone caught smoking in a car with children. Apparently, the Ontario government introduced legislation yesterday to ban the practice and seems to have the support of opposition parties as the bill begins its way through the approval process in the court system.
After reading this article I said to myself…HOORAY!!!! Now don’t get me wrong, smoking is up to each individual person and personally, I could care less if my friends (as adults) smoke or not. BUT, I do care about the effects that second hand smoke has on the tiny lungs our children.
Let’s put it into perspective, remember our clubbing days when smoking was still allowed inside the bars and restaurants? Remember being surrounded in that cloud of smoke? Remember removing yourself from that situation or popping outside for some fresh air? Imagine not being able to go outside to grab a breath of fresh air. As adults, we had that option, as a child stuck in the backseat of a car, they don’t. Many parents practice the rule of no smoking within their homes, but then pop in to the car with their kids and smoke anyway. That kind of defeats the purpose of protecting your kids from second hand smoke...doesn't it?
As an ex-smoker, I can see both sides of the situation and still agree with the proposal. For those that feel this is an infringement upon their personal rights, I say what about your infringement upon the rights of your children.
What do you think?
1 comment:
This was a great post! I found you through mssinglemama's blog and I'm glad I did. I cringe when I go by a car where someone is smoking in the first place, but with kids in it, I am horrified. My stepson had a mom who smoked when he was in utero and the health problems from that, and just from his smoke-tinged visits with her, are a nightmare...and it's not even his choice. I'd love a law. But she might break that one too...she's a lawbreaker. ;)
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